Wagons (Australia)

“Wagons’ poppy, soulful cow-punk is as clever as it is swagerrific” (Stars Now Album of the Week, Toronto)

Offering up a danceable dose of stomping outlaw country, irresistible crooning and classic songwriting, Wagons have been relentlessly lauded as one of Australia’s great bands. 

Led by the unique swagger and charisma of renaissance man Henry Wagons (real name Henry Krips), their live shows are dynamic, raucous and unpredictable. Henry always liked the songs of indie bands that tilted towards country themes, but it wasn’t until he got his first Johnny Cash recording that he was handed the key to unleash the beast. Wagons has been recording and touring with his band for the last decade. It is standard practice for them to deliver a floor-fracturing show no matter where or on what stage they set up.

From a broad-range of influences, a Wagons show is a highly charged roller coaster ride that draws from Cash to the bluster of the sweaty jumpsuit era of Elvis to the tenderness of a recently heart-broken Roy Orbison. 

The band has just completed their sixth studio album (due June 2014) called Acid Rain and Sugar Cane, produced by Mick Harvey (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, PJ Harvey).  Expect a show both turbulent and intricate; a controlled calamity and triumph…an entertaining ride in the best possible way.

Wagons is Henry Wagons (lead vocals/guitar), Steve “Harmony” Hassett (bass/vocals), Richard Blaze (lead guitar), Mark “Tuckerbag”’ Dawson (drums/percussion), Si the Philanthropist (washboard/drums) and Matty “Soft Moods” Hassett (keyboards).