At some point in their careers, the big Aussie bands we know and love started cutting their teeth in the local and emerging scenes, setting up their own tours and bringing along peers from the same scene in which they cohabit.
Sydney metalcore princes Harroway are a group that has time and time again always paid it back to the local scene, whether it be orchestrating In Peril Fest - a grassroots All Ages live music showcase - through to their current Price Of Existence Tour - kicking off in Melbourne on Saturday, October 19th with heavy-hitters Vilify in support (except Sydney) and a cast of the next generation of heavy bands from each city.
We grabbed frontman Matthew Banks for a chat about the tour, keeping costs down and the allowing All Ages to join in festivities.
You've put a real emphasis on cheap tickets for punters for this tour - why is it important to you and the band to have prices accessible like this?
I think it’s fair to say everyone is struggling for money these days given the state of things right now. The cost of living is crazy and even if you do have a decent-paying job, you're gonna be cutting back on things you don’t really need, like going to a smaller band's shows or even a decent-sized Australian band because you know you’ll most likely have the chance to see them again. I’ve had to miss out on shows because I just couldn't afford a $30 ticket (which seems to be the going rate for bands our size) for me and my partner.
So I was like ‘if I’m missing out on these shows, there’s gotta more people who also can’t afford to go’. And thus the idea for ‘the price of existence tour’ was born. Affordable tickets for a killer show! We just wanted to make sure anyone who wanted to see Harroway could afford to because it would really suck (to us) if money was the only thing holding someone back from coming out to a show.
You also have pushed for All Ages shows for both Sydney and Brisbane (woohoo) once again, why is it important to you to invite the next generation along?
I remember being a 15-17-year-old kid growing up in Campbelltown and the highlight of my month would be going to watch Sienna Skies, Thy Art is Murder, Resist the Thought or Hand of Mercyat Minto PCYC, Bridge 54 or Blacktown Masonic. But those days are gone. The teens haven’t stopped listening to heavy music, but the venues that allow them to see it aren’t around anymore. We had a few people message us because some of the venues didn’t actually specify if it was AA or +18. So I just asked the question and turned out the license these venues have can cater to All Ages as long as they are accompanied by an adult or guardian.
You love to see it, especially in Sydney. Lastly, we've seen Harroway rise in the local scene as tour support for some big names recently - how will this set differentiate and what are you most looking forward to?
I really believe this is the strongest Harroway lineup we have ever had. We have really focused on perfecting our live sound and the experience for the audience. We are pulling some old songs out of retirement and some never before heard new music too. But honestly, I’m just most looking for to playing. Every moment we aren’t on stage we are trying to figure out a way to be back on stage.
And of course we can’t wait to play with our very good friends in Vilify, as well as all the other amazingly talented bands we have supporting us at every show.
Grab a ticket and not only support the next generation of big bands, but introduce the next gen of heavy music fans to our inclusive and welcoming community.
Harroway - The Price Of Existence Tour
with guests Vilify
Sat Oct 19th at The Curtin, Melbourne (18+)
with Bitter Kind and Glow
Fri Oct 25th at the Chippo Hotel, Sydney (AA)
with Synge, Deathbeds and Elara
Sat Oct 26th at Backdock Arts, Brisbane (AA)
with Virtues and Violent Conflict
