Woodlock are a Melbourne-based Alt Pop/folk band who gained popularity by busking the streets of rural and capital cities. New Zealand-born brothers Zech Walters (guitar/vocals) and Eze Walters (guitar/vocals) struck up a friendship with Bowen Purcell (drums) after moving to Australia. In search of adventure, the three travelled around the country busking, before eventually settling in Melbourne. Now signed to Nettwerk, the group have released three independent EPs and an album, The Future of an End.
History While travelling overseas, New Zealand brothers Zech and Eze Walters met Australian-born Bowen Purcell. After relocating to Purcell's home of Australia, Woodlock was born. Following the formation of the band, the trio spent several private sessions writing songs and rehearsing, before planning to visit several towns and cities to busk. The three purchased a caravan, painted it and began traveling up and down the east coast of Australia to perform their music on the streets.Woodlock Bio Triple J - Unearthed. Retrieved 25 June 2015 They captivated crowds with their "energetic" and "creative" performances, the band found themselves in Airlock Studios in early 2014 to record their first EP: Lemons. This release featured five original songs and was produced by Australian producer/engineer Wayne Connolly.Woodlock - Lemons Bandcamp. Retrieved 25 June 2015 Follow the independent release of their first EP, the band received media attention, and soon made appearances on BalconyTV and Triple J.
Woodlock became regular buskers in the CBD of Melbourne, appearing largely in Bourke Street. In early 2014, the band returned to the studio with Connolly to record their second EP, Labour of Love. Their second CD featured seven original tracks, and charted on both iTunes and the ARIA Top 100 Charts. The trio continued to busk in the city, working their new material in with the old, and beginning to cover new songs to expand their repertoire. To celebrate selling over 25,000 EPs independently, the band launched a country wide tour, selling out shows in several locations, including Melbourne and Brisbane.
2015 saw the band tour the East Coast as a support act for The Pierce BrothersLast busk before touring with the Pierce Brothers Facebook. Retrieved 25 June 2015 as well as busking between shows. It was announced via social media on 17 June that the band had returned to the studio with Andy Mak to begin work on their third EP.Beginning work on new EP Twitter. Retrieved 25 June 2015 In August, Woodlock announced their new EP Sirens and released the title track of the same name as a single. Along with this release, the band announced a country-wide Australian tour (with support at selected shows from fellow local bands) that would take place from October to December.Sirens Tour announcement. Woodlock, Facebook. Retrieved 5 September 2015
In June 2016, the band announced that in the following month they would release a new single. Australian music website Tone Deaf premiered "The Only Ones" a day before its initial release, deeming it "a distinct move away from the acoustic folk that's been their bread-and-butter up to this point, bringing instead a more electronic influence of pop synths, thumping drums and melancholy atmospherics". The song was released on iTunes on July 15, coupled with the announcement of 'The Only Ones Tour' that consisted of three dates in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.'The Only Ones' Tour Dates Woodlock, Facebook. Accessed 16 July 2016
Discography Albums Title Album details The Future of An End Released: 26 February 2021 Label: Nettwerk Records Format: CD, vinyl, digital download
Extended plays Title Album details Peak chart positions ARIA Top 100 Lemons Released: 23 March 2013 Label: Independent Format: CD, digital download — Labour of Love Released: 16 May 2014 Label: Independent Format: CD, digital download 97ARIA Chartifacts ARIACharts.com - 24 May 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2015 Sirens Released: 18 September 2015Woodlock - Sirens - EP, iTunes. Retrieved 2 Sept 2015 Label: Independent Format: CD, digital download — I Loved You Then Released: 8 October 2021 Label: Woodstock Format: digital download, streaming — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Singles Year Title Album 2014 My ThroneWoodlock - My Throne - Single iTunes. Retrieved 25 June 2015 Labour of Love 2015 Sirens Sirens 2016 The Only OnesThe Only Ones - Woodlock iTunes.com.au. Accessed 16 July 2016 TBA Last Train to Clarkesville Something Broke That Day 2021 "I Loved You Then" I Loved You Then
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