Legendary rockers Grinspoon are back with Unknown Pretenders!
Unknown Pretenders marks the first new music from the band in 12 years. The track’s unbridled power is quintessentially Grinspoon – heavy riffs, pounding drums, and charismatic vocals from one of Australia’s most highly-regarded frontmen, Phil Jamieson.
This single ushers in a new era for Grinspoon: their 8th studio album titled ‘whatever, whatever’ will arrive on August 9. It’s an album of ferocity; an injection of adrenaline that marks a period of rejuvenation and a new peak for the band, who’ve spent recent years touring nationwide celebrating their untouchable seven album-strong discography and legacy to date.
The band have also today announced they’re heading out on an extensive 45 date ‘whatever, whenever, wherever’ tour across the country, kicking off in September. The mega run of dates will see Press Club jump in as main support for all shows, and fans can check out the tour dates HERE.
Unknown Pretenders kicks off this new chapter in Grinspoon’s enduring story. With 13 ARIA nominations and 2 wins, countless Platinum accolades and a live reputation that is untouchable, contemporary Australian rock bands regard the band as a blueprint of enduring success. It’s clear with Unknown Pretenders that the band were ready to unleash some pent-up creative energy.
“It’s with a curious trepidation but ultimately a feeling of unfulfilled wonderment that we reach into the caverns of our beings for a new journey of recorded endeavours, one which we are proud but tentatively a little scared of releasing”, Phil said when asked about releasing a new single and record.
On the new single, Phil said that “Unknown Pretenders was written in the dawning of the pandemic in a small studio in Adelaide February 2020, with a number of other tunes as well. It’s a magical riffy song about the end of the world and who will actually survive”.
For Unknown Pretenders and ‘whatever, whatever’, the band enlisted Oscar Dawson (Holy Holy, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers) as producer, working with him over the last couple of years to shape the sound of this record. Speaking about this, Phil said that; “Oscar is an incredibly talented creative, engineer and producer. We hadn’t worked with an Australian producer for a very long time, and it was a refreshing change. Recording with Oscar became very collaborative, he’s humble and understands the different dynamics within the band”.
Grinspoon’s influence on the Australian scene has extended beyond the success of their early material; the band contributing to the blueprint of Australian rock music that has celebrated the embrace of different sounds and influences.
Excited to hit the road, Phil said, “This thing ain’t for the faint hearted, we’re really trying to get to as many places as possible, it kind of harks back to the olden days of touring; 4 guys in a van with some guitars. With the release of new music we wanted to give everyone the opportunity to see Grinners, and we’re going back to some venues we haven’t played in 20 years!”
Phil continues, “To say we’re excited is a massive understatement! Over the last 6 years we have played arenas and stadiums and theaters and what not, and it’s all been tremendous and we have loved every minute of it, but there is nothing like the 3 hour drive after a show, the 9am checkout from the hotel, and the first stop to get a chiko roll and strawberry milk – black coffee for me, I am now an adult. These gigs will be madness – sweaty Tuesdays, taking the day off work on a Wednesday, remembering the reason you go to pubs. Our venues are suffering out there in the regions so we are bringing the show to them. We can’t wait to see you all!”
Presented by Triple M
Grinspoon ‘whatever, whenever, wherever’ Tour
Supported by Press Club
TUE 17 SEP | BALLINA RSL, NORTHERN RIVERS, NSW | AA / 18+
WED 18 SEP | SOPO – SOUTHPORT RSL, GOLD COAST, QLD | 18+
FRI 20 SEP | THE TIVOLI THEATRE, BRISBANE, QLD | 18+
SAT 21 SEP | THE POWERHOUSE, TOOWOOMBA, QLD | 18+
SUN 22 SEP | MIAMI MARKETTA LANEWAY, GOLD COAST, QLD | 12+ w/ Guardian / 18+
TUE 24 SEP | THE DAG PUB, D’AGUILAR, QLD | AA w/ Guardian / 18+
WED 25 SEP | BROTHERS SPORTS CLUB, BUNDABERG, QLD | 18+
FRI 27 SEP | HARVEY ROAD TAVERN, GLADSTONE, QLD | 18+
SAT 28 SEP | GREAT WESTERN HOTEL, ROCKHAMPTON, QLD | AA / 18+
TUE 1 OCT | SEABREEZE HOTEL, MACKAY, QLD | 18+
WED 2 OCT | MAGNUMS HOTEL, AIRLIE BEACH, QLD | 18+
FRI 4 OCT | QUEENS BEACH HOTEL, BOWEN, QLD | 18+
SAT 5 OCT | DALRYMPLE HOTEL, TOWNSVILLE, QLD | 18+
MON 7 OCT | HINCHINBROOK SHIRE HALL, INGHAM, QLD | 18+
FRI 11 OCT | BURDEKIN MEMORIAL HALL, HOME HILL, QLD | 18+
SAT 12 OCT | BROTHERS SPORTS CLUB, CAIRNS, QLD | AA / 18+
WED 16 OCT | THE STATION, BIRTINYA, QLD | AA / 18+
FRI 18 OCT | RACEHORSE HOTEL, IPSWICH | QLD, 18+
SAT 19 OCT | THE PRINCESS THEATRE, WOOLLONGABBA | QLD | AA BALCONY / 18+ FLOOR
SUN 20 OCT | DISTILLERY ROAD MARKETS, BEENLEIGH, QLD | 12+ AA / 18+
TUE 22 OCT | METRO THEATRE, SYDNEY, NSW | AA BALCONY / 18+ FLOOR
FRI 25 OCT | SAWTELL RSL, COFFS HARBOUR, NSW | 18+
SAT 26 OCT | WEST TAMWORTH LEAGUES CLUS, TAMWORTH, NSW | 18+
SUN 27 OCT | FINNIAN’S TAVERN, PORT MACQUARIE, NSW | 18+
TUE 29 OCT | BAR ON THE HILL, NEWCASTLE, NSW | AA / 18+
WED 30 OCT | DRIFTERS WHARF, GOSFORD, NSW | 18+
FRI 1 NOV | SYDNEY COLISEUM, ROOTY HILL, NSW | AA BALCONY / 18+ FLOOR
SAT 2 NOV | THE CUBE, CAMPBELLTOWN, NSW | 18+
SUN 3 NOV | WAVES, WOLLONGONG, NSW | 18+
TUE 05 NOV | 170 RUSSELL, MELBOURNE, VIC | 18+
FRI 8 NOV | BRIDGEWAY HOTEL, POORAKA, SA | 18+
SAT 9 NOV | THE GOV, ADELAIDE, SA | AA w/ Guardian / 18+
SUN 10 NOV | NORTHERN SOUND SYSTEM EVENT CENTRE, ELIZABETH, SA | LIC / AA
TUE 12 NOV | COMMERCIAL HOTEL, SOUTH MORANG, VIC | 18+
WED 13 NOV | VILLAGE GREEN, MULGRAVE, VIC | 18+
FRI 15 NOV | PIER BANDROOM, FRANKSTON, VIC | 18+
SAT 16 NOV | ALL SEASONS, BENDIGO, VIC | 18+
SUN 17 NOV | BARWON HEADS HOTEL, SURF COAST, VIC | 18+ (AA TBC)
THU 21 NOV | DISCOVERY, DARWIN, NT | 18+
FRI 22 NOV | NOONAMAH TAVERN BEER GARDEN AMPHITHEATRE, NT | 18+
TUE 26 NOV | ASTOR THEATRE, PERTH, WA | AA BALCONY / 18+ FLOOR
FRI 29 NOV | MUNDARING WEIR HOTEL AMPHITHEATRE, MUNDARING, WA | 18+
TUE 3 DEC | COUNTRY CLUB TASMANIA, LAUNCESTON, TAS | AA BALCONY / 18+ FLOOR
WED 4 DEC | FRANKIE J’s, DEVONPORT, TAS | 18+
FRI 06 DEC | ODEON THEATRE, HOBART, TAS | AA BALCONY / 18+ FLOOR
STREAM UNKNOWN PRETENDERS
‘whatever, whatever’ will be released on August 9, 2024 – PRE-ORDER HERE
With thanks to On The Map PR
