Skegss Announce New Album, Share Single ‘Out of My Head’
The duo’s much anticipated third album arrives this October.
Skegss – now performing as a duo comprising Ben Reed (vocals, guitar) and Jonny Lani (drums) – are gearing up for the release of their third album, Pacific Highway Music. Set for release on Friday, October 18 via Loma Vista Recordings (pre-order/pre-save here), the album comes on the heels of the lad’s ARIA chart-topping sophomore album, Rehearsal, which dropped in 2021.
Produced by Paul Butler (Devendra Banhart, Michael Kiwanuka) and recorded at LA’s The Village and Topanga Canyon’s Fivestar Studios, Pacific Highway Music is inspired by the music of Iggy Pop and underground artists like Deepakalypse.
“In the past I’d deprived myself of using things like synthesisers, not realising how much texture and atmosphere they can add to the music,” Reed explains about the record. “Working with Paul felt like letting our guard down and completely opening up in terms of what these songs could be.”
Pacific Highway Music is also a nod to the Australian coastal road the band has travelled during countless tours and surf trips. “I’ve spent a lot of my life driving on the Pacific Highway, and most of the time it puts me in a bit of hypnotic state,” says Reed.
“With this album I tried to be as honest as possible, but I also wanted to create the kind of songs that give you that same feeling—songs where you can shut your eyes, let your imagination take over, and drift off into another world that exists only in your mind.”
READ MORE: Hard-Ons Announce New Album I Like You A Lot Getting Older
Along with announcing their third album, Skegss has shared new single ‘Out Of My Head’. A jangly surf rocker with a touch of The Strokes, it’s another welcome release from Skegss that’s accompanied by a music video directed by Vaughan Deadly and Nick Pollet (watch above).
"Don’t get caught up on how someone makes you feel for too long in a negative way, pretend you get to restart life again and go do the things that make you thrive,” Reed says of the track. “We all say and do dumb things no matter how wise someone seems. So don’t get too hung up on your mistakes if you recognise them."
The release of Pacific Highway Music comes after a year of change for Skegss, with bassist and vocalist Toby Cregan leaving the band last year, performing with Skegss for the final time at Splendour in the Grass. The band also recently wrapped their nationwide regional tour and will hopefully announce more dates in the lead-up to the release of their new album.
Pacific Highway Music arrives October 18 via Loma Vista Recordings. You can pre-order/pre-save your copy here and check out the album artwork and tracklist below.
Pacific Highway Music
1. Tradewinds
2. High Beaming
3. I Think I Can Fly
4. Brain On The Highway
5. Stuck In Cheyenne
6. Spaceman
7. Batten Down The Hatches
8. Aeroplane Heart
9. Out Of My Head
10. It Is
11. Kelly Heroes
The metalcore act will be supported by Silent Planet and Resolve.
The announcement comes after Childish Gambino canned his North American and European tour due to health issues.
The former Judas Priest and Iced Earth singer is heading our way in February.
Only two other Australian cities, Sydney and Perth, are getting a visit from the visionary electronic artist.
“Bastards Never Change" is my way of expressing gratitude and resilience, inviting listeners to reflect on their own journeys.”
The Californian festival’s bill also includes Missy Elliot, the Prodigy, Charli XCX, Megan Thee Stallion and Sam Fender.
The song ushers in a new chapter in the journey of The Audreys.
The Cat Empire will be joined by The Tullamarines, Audio Reign, Chicken Salt and more.
Sydney guitar-pop duo Royel Otis took home a whopping four ARIA Awards while pop singer Troye Sivan scored three awards.
The tour marks The Wonder Years’ first trip Down Under in six years.
The five-time Grammy Award-winning band will be playing all the big hits from We Like It Here along with fan favourites.
The five track EP features the previously released singles ‘Feels Like a Start’, ‘Peaches and Wine’ and ‘Bloodshot Eyes’.
Next year’s event is held at Frome Park/Nellie Raminyemmerin Park and features London DJ Ben UFO, Melbourne’s Pretty Girl (performing a DJ set), passionate DJ and producer DAWS.
The UK rockers will be joined on tour by American pop punk act State Champs.
This is The Kooks’ biggest tour since their 2022 jaunt performing their debut album In/Inside Out in full.
The eigth iteration of the festival takes place across four indulgent days in March 2025.
This is the duo’s first show in Adelaide in over a year.
The alt-rock icons are performing two nights consecutive nights in each city.
‘Night or Die’ follows the previously released single ‘Audacious’.
The announcement comes after an altercation between Alien Ant Farm’s Dryden Mitchell and CKY’s Chad I Ginsburg during their UK tour.
The multi-platinum selling indie icons return to Australia for the first time in 14 years.
The Supersuckers and Nashville Pussy are ready to rip Australia a new one over the long weekend in late January 2025.
The track is taken from the musical collective’s upcoming tenth album, Bird In Paradise.
Catch Mossy and his trio performing two sets of classic tracks from his stellar career.
The cover was recorded for the latest season of black comedy Bad Sisters.
The two punk acts will be performing at Pirate Life Brewery in March 2025.
The rock and roll Queen will play Adelaide Entertainment Centre in October 2025.
Catch Australian rock legends including Jet, Grinspoon, The Veronicas, Spiderbait and more when Lookout hits your town in 2025.
Also coming along for the ride are special guests Honey Revenge (East Coast shows only) and Grayscale.
The guitar virtuoso ends his tour in Adelaide at Her Majesty’s Theatre in May.