Why In The Pines’ 25th Anniversary Is Going To Be Next Level

There’s a lot to digest on this year’s In The Pines bill, given it’s celebrating 25 years with a diverse bill that crosses multiple genres and decades.

From headliner Abbe May, recent addition Stella Donnelly and a slew of acts in-between, it might just be their best line-up yet.

Before this Sunday’s event at Somerville Auditorium, we had some legends on the line-up tell us their must-see acts.

FOAM's picks

Mei Saraswati 

Regrettably, I’ve only seen Mei Saraswati live once, but it was amazing. Thx camp dOogS. I really admire Mei’s imagination and creativity, she’s been across an array of dope projects like C0OL PO0L and swamp clubb.

Benjamin Witt

Surely one day some switched-on financier will come to their senses and give this fella a big bag of cash and a proper platform. An excellent blender of the accessible and the experimental, Ben is a genuine innovator and a true talent.

Calmly

Quietly one of the greatest bands in the country right now. In a world seemingly full to the brim of limp, uninspired indie rock bands, Calmly serve up an offering that is as clever as it is emotional, as raw as it is delicate, and as haunting as it is beautiful.

Erasers

Erasers make hazy, psychedelic pop music. Their songs have these hypnotic rhythms to them, making for a truly intoxicating experience. Recommended for those that want to get lost and have some very cool, very chill music wash over them.

Drowning Horse

One of the greatest metal bands this country has ever seen and one of heavy music's true hidden gems. Their music is tangibly powerful, in a way that most bands are rarely able to accomplish. To know this band is to know the sound of a mountain.

ANDREW TREVENEN's (BOLT GUN) picks

Samain

I saw Samain play sometime in the late '90s and it had a huge influence on me, up until that point this type of music wasn’t something I could imagine in a live realm. Emotionally charged black metal with utterly scathing vocals.

Drowning Horse

Essentially what I want in metal music, confronting, hypnotic and uplifting. A live favourite as well.

Tangled Thoughts Of Leaving

Great musicians playing intricate and overwhelming songs. Tracks like Downbeat are amazing, while The Black Captain release showcased a different side to them I really enjoyed.

Dirac Sea

These guys somehow manage to weave between crushing and truly emotive passages. One of my live favourites. Really looking forward to their debut full-length album.

Alan Lamb

Alan’s recordings are eerie and harrowing, Night Passage is especially haunting. Inspirational for anyone interested in unconventional approaches to creating atmospheric music.

FURCHICK's picks

Stina

A totally underrated, super talented and little known Perth artist is Stina. She is outstanding in her musicianship and creates pretty and discordant music to take you to another place. 

Ravens & Crows

This is Rachael Kuan, who played guitar in SMRTS. She is so secretive that many may not have heard of her. She had this incredible little-known side project called Ravens & Crows. I love her music so much that I had to make sure she was included on Ladyz In Noyz Australia released by USA based label Corpus Callosum. 

Jeremy von Kobra

The von Kobra is Jeremy Hicks who is based down South in Denmark. Originally hailing from New Zealand where he played in the notorious Harry Death and my first ever real band, Katerpillar Tractor Concept, he moved to Perth in the '90s and played in the legendary Thou Gideon and Energeia. Since he moved south and he has been creating beautiful electronic ambience as Jeremy von Kobra. He also has a project called Allison Labs with Sarah Turvey. I like this so much I released it on my own label:

Erasers

Rupert and Rebecca are not only the nicest people you will ever meet, they create the most honey sweet electronic music and every show always takes my mind and body on a holiday.

Samarobryn

Samarobryn is Cissi Tsang and she is well known around town as a super skilled guitar demon. This is her lesser-known project and it’s a delicious creation mainly created from field recordings from nature and vocals. I like this so much I released it on my own label:

The Sabre Tooth Tigers

My bonus band - this is my favourite party time band. When I arrived back in Perth at the end of 2000, after 13 years away, one of the first bands I saw was The Tigers who I loved and out of this band was born The Sabre Toothed Tigers. This was like The Tigers with teeth and after a carton of beer at a party so what’s not to like?

Head over to theGuide for more details.