Skaters + Darlia

Overview

New York punk rockers Skaters are a throwback to the sound that defined their home city decades ago. Blasting out tunes stripped back to their bare bones and exuding pure energy, it's no surprise that the band's debut album Manhattan is being critically acclaimed — especially with tracks like the uncontrollable-dance-inducing 'Miss Teen Massachusetts'.

Thankfully, those good folk over at Splendour in the Grass convinced the American quartet to bring their sound to Australia. The lads have subsequently decided to take in the sights while they're here and you can catch them at their sideshow at Oxford Art Factory in all of their pre-festival glory. No exhaustion, just pure, thrashing-about excitement.

Joining Skaters are fellow Splendour band Darlia, who were last year described by BBC Radio 1's Nigel Harding as "the most exciting new guitar band in the UK" — and Harding knows his stuff. Having only been in the game for a year, the British trio have headlined for the impressive likes of The Libertines. Their sound has been described as the eclectic blend of flavoursome Britpop and Seattle nineties grunge.

Nineteen-year-old lead singer, Nathan Day, says that he has been preparing music since the tender age of ten. In an interview with BBC he explained that he composed music with intimate venues in mind. He likens the endurance of rock music to that of mould. "The longer you look at mould and don't do anything about it… it will just get bigger." Weird, but we'll take it.

Two hypeworthy acts for a bargain price? Right on.

Words by Matt Watson and Natalie Freeland.