On Saturday June 21, the third annual Rock n Load Festival returns to The Espy, St Kilda with its biggest lineup yet.
The entire venue will feature some of the best live rock n roll acts this nation has to offer, including the legendary Tumbleweed, Sydney’s Born Lion fresh off their national Karnivool tour, plus locals King Of the North, My Echo, Sun God Replica and heaps more.
To celebrate the Rock n’ Load festival and to celebrate Aussie rock we asked a few bands on the festival line up to tell us why they believe The Espy is a rock n’ roll institution.
Don Fernando
“The Espy is a rock and roll institution purely because of the way it supports and nurtures new and emerging talent on the Melbourne rock scene. Its easy to concentrate on all the amazing shows that have taken place over the years from some amazing local and international high profile band.
But for me it’s all about the grass roots support, we have launched two albums at The Espy and they were so supportive of us in the early days, they had faith in the band and we delivered in spades, filling the front bar on a number of occasions. The Espy have been such a massive part of the independent live music scene in Melbourne and a lot of bands have used The Espy as a spring board to successful careers.” – Andy Simpson
Sun God Replica
“As rock n’ roll venues come and go, there are a handful of stalwarts that remain concreted in the Australian music scene culture; The Espy is one such sonic haven.
Were it to ever disappear you’d have the feeling of Melbourne’s musical foundation crumbling, dropping the less established places into a cultural sinkhole. It’s always heartening to know that there’s a ripping, rocking island south of the Yarra.” – Link Mclennan
Tumbleweed
“The Espy oozes rock n’ roll out of every open door, spilling out onto the footpath and into the bay, it’s the 4/4 heartbeat of St Kilda, the one constant beat.
There is nothing like sunset jugs of beer on the Esplanade at an all day and all night rock and roll marathon, a million bands, in every bar. From front bar mayhem to the faded elegance of the Gershwin room, Everything has changed around it, but The Espy remains true, an Iconic Rock and Roll venue like no other.” – Richie Lewis
King Of The North
“In two words: history and originality! The Espy has hosted so many amazing shows and bands from local, to national, to international acts over so many years that you just feel it when you walk in the place.
I remember first seeing it as a Adelaide kid coming over to play in the front bar in the early naughties, it just blew my mind, with all the stages it was more like a festival to me than pub rock joint! There is no other place like it in Australia (if not the world) if that doesn’t make a place an institution I don’t know what does.
For King Of The North we feel like the Front Bar Stage is our unofficial home ground. A part from having played it close to 50 times, there is just this feel and confidence we have by taking that stage, some of our best, loosest and most fun shows have been there! The punters make it!” – Andrew ‘Higgsy’ Higgs
Born Lion
“For as long as I’ve played in bands it has been common knowledge that The Espy is a definite must do for any rock n’ roll band worth a damn. To have played The Espy is both an initiation and a badge of honour.
It’s just an amazing pub and is like no other I have seen, bands across multiple stages every night of the week… how fuckin’ tops is that? We’ve rocked the coveted Front Bar, we’ve rocked the basement and now at Rock’n’Load we will be rocking the Gershwin room and will have officially rocked the entire joint!” – John Bowker
Rock n’ Load 2014
3pm-3am Saturday 21st June
The Espy, St Kilda
For tickets and info visit rocknloadfestival.com
