Community
19 July, 2024
Convict Class heading overseas
WARRNAMBOOL Punk Rock band Convict Class will fly out to the UK next week.
The band is set to perform four gigs at some of the best venues in the UK and Belgium.
The tour will coincide with the release of their debut album ‘Generation of Discontent.’
“It’s crazy the response we have had people wanting to buy our album and also the gigs we have planned overseas,” band member Shane Stenhouse said.
“We’ve had messages and emails from all over the world wanting to know more about us and where people can buy our merchandise and see us play.”
According to Stenhouse, Convict Class was recently mentioned as one of the up-and-coming bands that punters must see at this year’s Rebellion Punk Music Festival.
“In Spite magazine is one of the leading punk music magazines and for us to get this sort of mention from them is absolutely massive and humbling,” Stenhouse said.
The Rebellion Festival has over 300 punk bands from all over the globe and some of the biggest names are headlining the festival.
Lots of surviving bands from the English Punk explosion in the late 70s and early 80s such as The Stranglers, Cock Sparrer, Stiff Little Fingers, UK Subs, Sweet, Toyah and GBH still feature as well as many others.
“The longevity of the festival, which has been running for 28 years, relies on bringing in new bands such as ourselves so to be earmarked as one of those is pretty special,” Stenhouse said.
Convict Class has secured its first gig in Bristol on Friday, July 26, alongside three other Australian bands.
The UK promoter has titled the event ‘The Aussies Are Coming.’
Convict Class will then head across the channel to play a one-off European gig in Kortrijk, Belgium with a band from China and another from South Korea.
They will then return to England where they will play in a horror-themed bar in Blackpool as part of the festival’s fringe events.
The festival will start on Thursday, August 1 at Winter Gardens – where seven indoor stages will run simultaneously over four days.
Convict Class will play on the Arena stage on the last day of the festival, Sunday August 4.
“The hall containing the Arena stage fits about 2000 people so we’re hoping to play in front of a large audience,” Stenhouse said.
“We know there will be a big Aussie and English contingent coming to see us and being backstage with some of our heroes is going to be a real pinch-me moment.
“This is this biggest punk gathering in the world and the exposure we will gain from this will be invaluable.”
On return the band will play gigs and festivals around Australia to promote its new album.
