Year: 2018

English hardcore rockers Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes returned to Australia and played 170 Russell in Melbourne on Friday 9 February 2018, touring behind their second album Modern Ruin. The former Gallows singer Frank Carter led his band comprised of Dean Richardson (Heights) on guitar, Tom ‘Tank’ Barclay on bass, and Gareth Grover on drums through a ferocious set that the crowd raged along with.

Canadian hardcore punk band Cancer Bats played Melbourne’s 170 Russell venue on Friday 8 February 2018 on their Australian Tour. Formed in Toronto during 2004, Cancer Bats are now Scott Middleton on guitar, Liam Cormier on lead vocals (who was celebrating his birthday this night), Mike Peters on drums, and Jaye R. Schwarzer on bass. They have released five studio albums and six EPs to date.

English punk rock band The Stranglers played Melbourne’s Forum Theatre on Tuesday 6 February 2018, to kick-off their Australian tour dubbed “The Classic Collection.” Formed in Surrey during 1974, and coming to prominence during the heady days of the ’70s/’80s Brit-punk explosion, The Stranglers are currently riding high on the crest of a resurgent wave of popularity, testament to their considerable musical talent and the enduring quality of their songs. They had major mainstream success with their 1982 single Golden Brown, following on from hits of the ’70s including Peaches, Always the Sun, Skin Deep, and No More Heroes, plus their 2003 Top 40 hit Big Thing Coming, which was seen as a return to form.

England’s reggae-influenced punk rockers Ruts D.C. (The Ruts) played the Forum Theatre in Melbourne on Tuesday 6 February 2018, to kick-off the Australian leg of their tour supporting fellow UK punks The Stranglers. The Ruts formed in 1977 as the punk revolution swept across England, and are noted for their 1979 UK Top 10 hit Babylon’s Burning, and highly-regarded first single In a Rut.