Gold Coast Punks Fake News Are 'Southbound' with New Song & Album Unveiling

Following the release of their EP Time and Place last year, Gold Coast Punks Fake News have kicked off 2025 supporting the legendary Millencolin and Pennywise for their joint headline trek around the country, impressing audiences with their brand of melodic punk rock and fun stage presence.  

Kicking things up a notch, Fake News have announced a new album Dead Set, set for release on May 7^th, and to give us a taste of what’s in store, the band gives us their first single, ‘Southbound’, complete with ‘local road trip’ style video (something that seems to have become a staple for Aussie punk bands. Not that I’m complaining - really dig the sticker-laden punk wheels in this one.)

The release marks a long journey for the band to put together this set of new tracks, noting recently, “We have faced many hurdles & challenges in the 8 years we have been a band, but we only ever used these challenges as fuel to the fire and now we stand on top of this hill stronger than ever.”

"The hardest part was making sure the songs went through the Fake News quality assurance filter of all killer no filler. We've evolved a bit on this album and we've done a few things that branches us out from being just a punk band. We wanted to evolve as a band but stay true to the nostalgic 90's So-Cal sound that people love us for, but still give them something new and fresh or unexpected."

‍Fake News have been repping their hometown of the Gold Coast not just around the country, but throughout the city with their branding/stickers placed in notable places around the tourist destination. When asked about a core memory involving a GC landmark during their time as a band, the boys were more than willing to divulge.

It’s hard to go past shooting our first film clip for 'Checking In' back in 2021. It was the first song from our first full length album and the first film clip we did as a band. We shot the video at a local school and then at the Gold Coast's very own iconic venue MO’s Desert Clubhouse. We had the place to ourselves and a bunch of our friends were there and kids - even a dog - and we all had such a ball filming it.

We still look back at photos from that day and smile like the one of Tim and Nat riding a pink elephant. That was a great memory that we will always carry with us and helped set the tone of this bane for the future

If you’re a fan of the number of Aussie melodic punk bands that have been kicking arse lately, such as Ebolagoldfish, The Decline or All Hope Remains, this will be an album to mark in your diary. Pre-save Dead Set here!

Words by Simon Valentine @SimonValentineAU