American pop-punk band State Champs are heading to Australia this month, locking in a special guest slot alongside Welsh pop-punkers Neck Deep.

The Albany, New York group are frequent visitors to Australia, making their debut Down Under in 2014 and last touring here in September 2022 with The Maine and Hot Milk.

The band, comprising lead vocalist Derek DiScanio, guitarist Tyler Szalkowski, bassist Ryan Scott Graham, and drummer Evan Ambrosio, have been described as “modern-day pop-punk torchbearers,” per Billboard. With bangers like Silver Cloud and Secrets, it’s little wonder why they hold that title.

Carrying the torch from their inspirations and touring mates, such as Fall Out Boy, Simple Plan, A Day To Remember, and Aussie group 5 Seconds Of Summer, State Champs have built an impressive career since forming in bedrooms and basements in 2010.

To date, they have five albums to their name: 2013’s Finer Things, 2015’s Around The World And Back, 2018’s Living Proof, 2022’s Kings Of The New Age, and their latest album, their ultra-confident self-titled album, released in November 2024.

This month, State Champs will celebrate their new music while having a hell of a time with Neck Deep. The tour begins at Metropolis Fremantle on Monday, 21 April. It continues at Adelaide’s Hindley Street Music Hall on Wednesday, 23 April, Sydney’s Roundhouse on Friday, 25 April, Melbourne’s Festival Hall on Saturday, 26 April, and wraps up at Brisbane’s Fortitude Music Hall on Sunday, 27 April. Low tickets remain; grab your tickets here.

Ahead of the tour, State Champs are celebrating their impending return to Australia by sharing their Australian tour bucket list, revealing the five things they’re excited about when it comes to this tour.

State Champs Australian Tour Bucket List by Ryan Scott Graham

1. Well, I'm keen to do another shoey. I'm always looking forward to that.

2. I've actually been talking to the guys, and I really want to go skydiving. I'm looking to try to go skydiving on a day off. I've been twice before and I'm obsessed, so I want to do it in Australia. I really think it would just be fun and beautiful. I'm trying to convince my band to go. I think I've got two or three dudes in neck deep who are interested. So, we got a little crew ready to go.

3. I'm looking forward to playing new songs. I mean, I don't know if that's a cheap answer, but I'm looking forward to it. Just bringing the new music to Australia, make new memories. We haven't been back with Neck Deep in ten years, and I feel like we're at different places in our lives now, in our relationships and in our careers. I guess that I am looking forward to seeing how the experience differs from what it did ten years ago.

4. And honestly, I'm really excited to drink some Australian coffee because I think y'all have some of the best coffee in the world. So, I’m super excited.

5. And Evan and I have started running quite a bit lately, so I'm really excited to do a couple of runs in Australia. I'm looking forward to seeing what I've already seen in a different way.

State Champs are touring Australia with Neck Deep and Late 90s this month. Tickets are available on the Live Nation Australia website.

Neck Deep 

The Dumbstruck Dumbf!*k Tour 2025

With special guests State Champs and Late 90s

Monday 21 April – Metropolis, Fremantle, WA

Wednesday 23 April – Hindley St. Music Hall, Adelaide, SA

Friday 25 April – Roundhouse, Sydney, NSW

Saturday 26 April – Festival Hall, Melbourne, VIC

 Sunday 27 April – Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane, QLD