This Way North • Tullara

This Way North
 
Years on the road, touring in Australia and abroad, gave two-piece indie pop-rock band This Way North an appreciation for open space and adventure. Landing in north-east Victoria on Dhudhuroa country when the pandemic hit, long-time friends, collaborators, and partners, Jungalwalla and Leahy traded freedom on the road for a home amongst ancient trees and high-country valleys. This unexpected move, drawing in close and giving themselves the gift of stillness, prompted unbridled creativity and culminated in their upcoming debut album, ‘Punching Underwater’, set to be released in February 2024.
 
This Way North has previously been named Music Victoria’s Best Regional Act, and have continued their rise across Australia, New Zealand and Canada, supporting artists such as, Vika and Linda Bull, Ash Grunwald and Kate Ceberano. They’ve enjoyed killer sets at Australia and Canada’s favourite festivals, including Queenscliff, Mullumbimby, Wanderer, Woodford, Port Fairy in Australia and Mariposa, Ness Creek and Dawson City in Canada, sharing the stage with artists from Mavis Staples to Spider Bait.
 
Their new album features big harmonies and strong melodies. Whilst their previous records have been about traveling on the road, Punching Underwater travels within the self. The introspective nature came about when Cat and Leisha had the time and stillness to go inward and explore their own insecurities, imposter syndromes, and self-doubts. The battle of trying not to fall in love, confidence and self-love, anxiety, the highs of being content and happy, to the lows of war, the joy of evolution as a woman… there is something for everyone.
 
Full of rapturous nostalgia, This Way North’s music takes you from moody, tremolo-tinged heart-tuggers to pounding driving alt-psych rock through a sonic landscape of reverb-soaked guitars and rolling rhythms. With odes to 90’s rock sitting on air-tight grooves and full, cinematic spaciousness, This Way North’s music is a portal to summer festivals, their love affair with the road, and an open invitation to turn up the volume and let loose.
 
“Life affirmingly super unreal!”
- Tim Rogers
 
“This Way North are such an impressive live duo! Their blend of genres is unlike anything else around. Great grooves, and they know how to rock!”
- Ash Grunwald

With Special Guest Andrea Kirwin

Andrea Kirwin is an Australian-Fijian Singer-songwriter based on the Sunshine Coast,QLD, who has been performing at Folk Festivals since 2008 and has released 5 independent albums under her own record label, Peace Run Records. With a warm and welcoming stage presence, deeply soulful sound and a knack for storytelling, Andrea's live performances are a joy to experience. With Influences such as Tracy Chapman, Carole King and Eva Cassidy, Andrea has crafted her own personal style which she describes as a blend of ' Fijian Folk and Island Soul'.

“Andrea Kirwin has a rare voice that runs deep....deep enough to carry you back to an era where the way an artist delivered their message
was everything.”  - LIOR