Brisbane punk rock lifers Dune Rats have officially released their highly anticipated new album ‘OLD MATES’, anchored by the re-release of fan favourite Ratbags (re-recorded). The 12-track record celebrates the band’s formative years, blending the raw, scrappy energy that made Dune Rats an Australian punk institution with the polish and confidence of a band at the peak of their powers. Ratbags stands as the album’s focus track, capturing the nostalgia, chaos, and carefree spirit that has defined the trio’s music and live shows for over a decade.
At its core, Ratbags is a snapshot of the band before the accolades, before the charts, and before the industry expectations, capturing the freedom of backing yourself purely because it feels right. Reimagined with fresh energy while retaining its scrappy charm, the track bridges past and present, embodying the loose, loud, and unapologetically fun ethos that continues to fuel Dune Rats on stage and in the studio.
“We wrote ‘Ratbags’ in this worn down rehearsal room one night right before heading into the valley for a night of mayhem. We’d always meet there to jam and drink before hand so the lyrics spewed out quickly, much like the literal spew at nights end. Realising it probably wasn’t always gonna be this way we wanted some nostalgia vibes to it. We love how bands like The Shins can get that across but our hearts have always sunk into thrashier surf punk bands so thought it’d be cool to make those worlds collide.”
Dune Rats, Brisbane punk rock mainstays, have built a reputation for high-energy live shows, chart-topping releases, and a decade and a half of defining Australian punk, including multiple ARIA Award nominations and iconic triple j performances.
Renowned for explosive live performances that turn every venue into a celebration, Dune Rats have sold out major national tours and dominated festival stages across Australia including Splendour In The Grass, Falls Festival, and Laneway Festival, while also captivating international audiences at RiotFest (Chicago) and Mighty Sounds (Czech Republic), and 2000 Trees (UK) alongside extensive touring throughout the USA, Europe, and South Africa. Off the back of their recent support slot on YUNGBLUD’s Australian tour, the band brought their signature chaos to arenas nationwide, inviting special guests including Murray Cook, DZ Deathrays, Beddy Rays, and Adelaide rock royalty John Brewster of The Angels to join them on stage, securing national media coverage across outlets including The Music, The Rock Pit, and Amnplify.
Beyond the stage, Dune Rats continue to expand their cultural footprint. Their recent Tooheys New regional pub tour collaboration earned a 2025 ARIA nomination for Best Use of an Australian Recording in an Advertisement, while their latest singles Sharks and Fuck It received coverage across more than 20 outlets including Rolling Stone, The Music, Happy Mag, HEAVY Magazine, and Good Call Live, alongside major editorial playlist support across Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. The band also helm their own imprint Ratbag Records under BMG, supporting Australian acts including Skegss and The Gooch Palms, and have partnered with brands including Volley and KFC on high profile campaigns.
With upcoming national touring across March and April, major UK and European festival and headline dates in June, and an accompanying podcast series exploring the band’s formative years, ‘OLD MATES’ arrives as both a celebration and a statement. It honours the rehearsal rooms, house parties, and late-night misadventures that sparked it all while reaffirming Dune Rats’ place at the forefront of Australian punk rock.
With over a decade and a half together, hundreds of shows worldwide, and a catalogue that has defined the sound of modern Australian surf punk, ‘OLD MATES’ and Ratbags! prove that Dune Rats are not simply revisiting their roots, they are reinforcing them louder than ever.
‘OLD MATES’ IS OUT NOW – LISTEN HERE
Dune Rats
2026 Australian Tour
Friday March 20th – Crowbar, Brisbane QLD
Saturday March 21st – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney NSW
Friday March 27th – Torquay Hotel, Torquay VIC
Saturday March 28th – Corner Hotel, Melbourne VIC
Friday April 3rd – Club Sapphire, Merimbula NSW
Saturday April 4th – Sussex Inlet Tavern, Sussex NSW
With thanks to G.Y.R.O
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