Newcastle, Australia has already given the world Silverchair and The Screaming Jets. But Loons are actively trying to rebuild what a music scene is supposed to feel like. While most bands are quietly competing for scraps, this five-piece helped build a 200-strong collaborative space for up-and-coming Aussie acts. Oh, and they make pretty great music too.
For those who haven’t heard of you yet, whereabouts are you from and what’s the local scene like?
We’re from Newcastle, or “Newy” as it’s also referred to, on Awabakal Land, the traditional home of the Awabakal people. It’s about two hours north of Sydney, where the beaches are pumping, the coal ships are always lurking, and the music scene punches way above its weight. The Newcastle scene up and down the east coast is definitely rebuilding post-COVID. It’s getting there, but if you’re in it, you notice it can still feel a bit cliquey at times. Instead of just complaining about it, we figured we’d actually do something about it.
How did the band come together?
We kicked off back in 2019 after Elijah and Bailey met at youth group. Since then, Rocco and Kye jumped in, Banjo jumped on keys, and it somehow turned into a real thing. The sound is basically five different music tastes colliding. Elijah’s on the nu-metal wave, Rocco leans metal, Bailey plays like he’s in a punk band, Banjo’s repping Aussie indie rock, and Kye’s off somewhere psychedelic. It shouldn’t work, but it really does.
How would you describe your sound to someone who’s never heard you?
That’s a dangerous question. Honestly, the best answer is: jump on Spotify and find out. We’ve been called genre-blurring punk, surf punk, coastal rock, which is all pretty fair. If we had to pin it down, it’s a mix of all that, fast, a bit gritty, a bit coastal, and not overly interested in fitting neatly into one box. Basically, we’ve got our own thing going on.
Who are your biggest influences?
We’re basically a melting pot of everything we grew up listening to. Linkin Park, AC/DC, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Blink-182, then a bit of Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard and Catfish and the Bottlemen. So yeah, not exactly one lane. Right now we’re constantly rinsing Hockey Dad, Amyl and the Sniffers, Spacey Jane, King Stingray and Pinkshift among others. It’s a bit all over the place, but that’s kind of the point.
Tell us about your latest single, ‘Feeling Out’.
‘Feeling Out’ is about that weird disconnect where you’re technically in the group, but not really with it. Like you’re there, you’re nodding along, but internally you’ve already checked out. It leans into that contrast between what you’re supposed to feel, included and all good, and what’s actually going on, which is just nothing. A bit empty, a bit out of place, like you’ve missed a memo everyone else got. If you’ve ever felt like the odd one out in your own circle, it’ll probably hit a bit close to home.
What should we listen to next?
‘So Long’ is the next one to chuck on. It sits in a similar lane but leans more into the emotional toll of friendships, the slow burn of things changing, drifting, and not quite knowing where you stand. If ‘Feeling Out’ is that numb, disconnected headspace, ‘So Long’ is what happens when it finally starts to hit you.
Any memorable or funny gig stories?
We rocked up to a show in the Northern Beaches feeling pretty organised, which should’ve been the first red flag. When we got to the venue, we were told there was no drum kit. Not “missing a snare”, fully no drums at all. So Bailey does a quick lap of Manly trying to borrow a kit from literally anywhere. No luck. Zero. He chose creative. Bailey built a full Frankenstein kit out of whatever was lying around, buckets included. The sound guy mic’d it up like it was totally normal, and we just sent it. Genuinely one of the funniest gigs we’ve played. Not our best sounding, but definitely our most resourceful.
What’s been your highlight gig so far?
Playing the Cambridge Farewell Festival was a big one for us, stacked lineup, big crowd, and a proper send-off for an iconic Newy venue. That said, this year’s shows with Hockey Dad have probably taken the cake for 2026. We’re also playing with the very talented Jack River on 14 May at King Street Hotel as part of NSW’s Great Southern Nights initiative.
Tell us about the community work you’re doing for the Aussie scene?
We spotted a gap and helped set up a collaborative space that’s now got 200-plus up-and-coming Aussie bands in it. It’s pretty simple: bands get in touch with our manager Ben from Farrell Management and get added into a big group chat where people share music, gigs and ideas. Bands are already offering each other paid gigs across the country, which shouldn’t be revolutionary, but somehow is. We’ve also got a Spotify playlist, ‘Aussie Bands Supporting Bands’, pushing the same idea. The whole thing runs on a strict zero-dickhead policy. If you’re not supportive or inclusive, you’re out. It’s early days, but it’s already helping bands link up and actually build a scene instead of competing for scraps.
Any plans to come to the UK?
We’re keen to get over to the UK late 2026 or into 2027, mainly to try out a new scene and get our music into different ears. From what we can tell, the UK crowd feels pretty similar to back home, really supportive of smaller bands and into watching them grow, which is exactly the energy we love. Dream shows would be sharing a stage with Catfish and the Bottlemen, Bring Me The Horizon, Sam Fender and Nothing But Thieves. Give us a sweaty pub in Manchester, Leeds, Reading, Brighton or Newcastle and we’re happy. And yes, we know there’s a Newcastle in the UK. We’d love to play there just to show them how it’s done.
What’s coming up next?
We’re currently working on a new EP aiming for a mid-year release. Beyond that, we’re hoping to land a spot on Yours and Owls Festival in 2026, which would be a bit of a full-circle moment. After that, it’s more singles, more shows, and hopefully more chances to take the music further than we’ve managed so far.
Finally, any last words for our readers?
We care a lot about the Australian music scene actually feeling like a community rather than a competition. We’re trying to push that in our own way, making space for bands to support each other and share opportunities, because if it’s going to change, someone’s got to start it. So we figured we might as well try. Go have a listen to ‘Feeling Out’, follow along on socials, and thanks for giving us the space to share what we’re about. Big love.
