Adelaide Always
Local grassroots scenes are where all great artists start. Get ahead of the curve and meet these five emerging acts making waves in Adelaide.
The 745
What to expect: punchy punk charged with a high-octane DIY energy, made by Marcus (18), Ruebn (18), Cooper (19) and Ari (20)
Introduce yourselves – why did you want to start a band?
A couple of us were mates in primary school, but we were friends outside of that. We got bored and started to make music. Ari (guitar) and Cooper (bass) were both learning instruments and Marcus (drums) had a place to jam. Later, we found Ruben (vocals), who could not sing but was willing to.
Our first album has Australian punk influences, including bands like Amyl and the Sniffers, The Chats and local bands like STORK. The newer stuff is still Aussie punk (These New South Whales, Mini Skirt, Drunk Mums), but we’re adopting different sounds as we listen to a larger variety of music.
You’re from the mid-coast. How does your location influence the band?
The mid-coast has been a huge influence, especially being involved with local events and people we know who also play in bands. We feel that ourselves, and The 745, are a result of our community – we’re lucky it’s a really positive environment.
Tell us about your first gig – where was it? How did you feel?
Our first proper one was at Moana Surf Life Saving Club. It was good, but we didn’t tune the guitar properly and didn’t know how to fix it, which made [the gig] unique. We also had really bad haircuts at the time.
What about your best gig so far?
Nice Day To Go To The Club was pretty cool. However, we’d say our best would be our album launch [at Port Noarlunga Arts Centre] because it was a legit celebration of what we had come up with!
Go wild! What does your dream gig look like?
Porties pub rooftop, with the whole rooftop packed and people on the road dancing because it’s that big. But if we are to be ambitious with it, we’d love to play with Oasis on the Moon.
What SA artists are you loving right now?
There are too many! Kurralta Park, Swapmeet, Ethanol Blend, Colourblind, Winnerz Circle, Bolt Cutter, Homecourt and Pool Toy.
Follow everything The 745 get up to here.
Inkstain
What to expect: driving bass lines, funky drums and punk pop-rock sensibilities produced by Tobi (18), Elio (15), Oakley (18) and Lyric (15)
Who is Inkstain? Tell us why you started the band.
Inkstain formed in late 2023 to participate in the January holiday bands program run by Northern Sound System. Elio and Oakley knew Tobi and Lyric [separately], but the latter two had never met until the program. Local bands such as Teenage Joans, TOWNS, and Molly Rocket are major influences on our sound and stage presence, as well as international acts such as Foo Fighters and Arctic Monkeys.
How did you feel before your first gig? And how does that compare to how you feel before playing a show now?
The first gig Inkstain performed independently of Northern Sound System was at The Hotel Metropolitan in celebration of Tobi’s 18th birthday. Unfortunately, he caught COVID-19 the day before, so we had a friend step in! It was nerve-wracking in the beginning, but we eased up once we started playing. Now that we have a few gigs under our belt, we are less anxious and that allows us to have more fun!
What's your favourite all-ages venue?
The Gov. It's a really welcoming and safe environment that we all love playing and attending gigs at!
What does the dream Inkstain gig look like?
Our dream gig would be to play at Lion Arts Factory while on tour and to play a sold-out show. It would be awesome to have pyrotechnics, too! We take a lot of inspiration and admire TOWNS and Teenage Joans, so to play the show with them would be an absolute dream for all of us.
Follow everything Inkstain gets up to here.
Emerauld
What to expect: indie-rock cut with a gritty pop-punk edge, delivered straight from the heart of singer-songwriter Emerauld (19)
Introduce yourself! Why did you get into songwriting?
I got into music when I was around 10. I saw Grace VanderWaal on TV performing with her ukulele and something just clicked for me – it was how she owned her style and emotions at such a young age. I remember thinking, ‘That’s what I want to do’.
Do you find your personality impacts your songwriting?
Most of my songs come from whatever’s going on in my life. I’ve always been super loud—whether that’s in volume or standing up for what I believe in—and that energy is all over my tracks. At the same time, music has helped me figure out who I am. Growing up queer, dealing with bullying and the highs and lows of adolescence, those stories are in my lyrics. I want to make music that feels real and shows people they’re not alone, even if we’ve never met.
Tell us about your gig journey. What have you learnt? Have you developed any pre-show rituals?
From getting into the Top 30 of Australian Idol to playing at the Semaphore Music Festival, [I’ve done] a bunch of awesome gigs. I started with open mics and smaller gigs (my first paid one was the Gawler Markets) but things have levelled up since then! I still get nervous, but I’ve learned to handle it better. My pre-show ritual is pretty simple: warm up my voice, mentally run through my setlist and chug a Monster Mango Loco – caffeine makes everything better!
What does your dream gig look like?
It’d be at Wembley Stadium in the UK. It’s massive – like 90,000 people! For support acts, having someone like Noahfinnce or Mother Mother would make me lose my mind. I’d also love bands like Sleeping With Sirens or The Front Bottoms – it’d be the ultimate lineup! The atmosphere would be about feeling safe to vibe however you want – cry your eyes out to one song, then go feral and mosh to the next.
Follow everything Emerauld gets up to here.
Awnings
What to expect: chaotic guitar sounds that make you pay attention, performed by talented trio Greyson (19), Orlando (18) and Daniel (17)
Introduce yourselves! Give us the rundown of what you make and why.
We are a three-piece math band playing on Kaurna Land. We’re heavily inspired by the works of Nick Reinhart (Tera Melos, Bygones) and Zach Hill (Bygones, Death Grips). We make wacky crazy guitar sounds and ‘try’ to create intricate, chaotic arrangements for anyone who will hear.
Why did you start making music?
Orlando and Greyson were initially in a hardcore punk band that fell out. Feeling unfulfilled, we wanted to start a band that really tested our abilities and was enjoyable. We were inspired by local bands such as The Munch, Stripes and War Room. Along the way, we recruited Daniel to fill out the lineup. School was also very important to Orlando and Daniel – they played in jazz ensembles together for years, which helped inspire us to create cool sounds.
How does your personality and identity impact your creativity?
I think there is an inherent need for us to do something out of the norm. Anything created by a marginalised group is going to be influenced by their identity and the oppression they face – nothing exists in a vacuum. Awnings kind of just be poop from the butt, but still poop from a queer leftist butt.
What’s been your favourite gig so far?
It would be when we played with Perfect 50 and Flowerbed, which we have dubbed our ‘friendship gig’. It was really fun to put together and perform with some of our dearest pals. We also probably played our best, so we were chuffed overall!
Are there any SA artists on your radar right now? Who are you loving?
‘Thief’ by Mule Trade has been on repeat in our minds for weeks. ‘Bloody Nose’ by The Genevieves goes crazy; Twine’s new record, Old New Horse, is so flames; ‘CPR Rock’ by Ponybite is so good (please come back!); and The Munch’s new material they’ve been performing recently is awesome, we’re excited for what comes from it.
Follow everything Awnings gets up to here.
Perfect 50
What to expect: Folk sensibilities and an alternative sound, produced by best mates Erin, Jaz and Lex (all 20)
Introduce yourselves!
We are Perfect 50, a three-piece band from Adelaide. [We’re] best friends and have been jamming together in different projects on and off before forming this one. Our genre is probably indie alternative folk, but honestly, we struggle to answer that question because we tend to experiment with different genres.
What do you remember about your first gig?
Our first gig was at the Crown and Anchor, which we hurriedly prepared for and were probably not ready to play. Since then, [performing] has become much more comfortable. This band has helped us all become better and more confident musicians since.
What’s been your favourite gig so far?
One that especially stands out would have to be our recent performance at Jive supporting The Empty Threats alongside our mates Jackulson and The Munch. Any gig that we play with our friends is always fun.
Do you have a favourite all-ages venue?
Northern Sound System! We were lucky enough to jump on a lineup there recently and fell in love with the all-inclusive creative art space. We value working with the community, so being able to get involved in one of their events and collaborate with like-minded people was amazing!
Are there any South Australian artists on your radar right now?
There are too many to name! Dandy Buzzkills are a real favourite. We just played for their EP launch which was an absolute dream. If you haven’t listened to their release yet, then we suggest that you do. Our friends, The Munch, also released their debut album, No Supine, in 2024, which is a must-listen. The Genevieves’ new single, ‘Bloody Nose’ is totally awesome as well.
Tell us about your dream gig – make it as ambitious as you want.
Every show at the Cranker that we get offered feels like a dream gig to us. But if we are talking big, we would love to support Alex G or Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Follow everything Perfect 50 get up to here.
Teen Spirit was produced in partnership between Carclew and The Note magazine, supported by the Government of South Australia via the Music Development Office (MDO), the Department for Education and Arts South Australia. Read the full magazine online here.
