The rumours and innuendo are true – The Southern River Band is releasing their brand new album,. Easier Said Than done, through Civilians on the 17th October. To celebrate, the band is doing what they do best, hitting the road for a string of launch shows around Australia.“Trying to do a rock’n’roll band in Perth in the 21st century is not exactly the coolest thing in the world,” says frontman Callum Kramer. “Some people have told us you should change this or do that, but we’re just going to keep doing our own thing.”It’s an attitude that’s been winning over fans across the globe, from those who flocked to the group’s recent run of UK and European dates to The Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins, who proclaimed the four-piece “a proper fucking rock band” after hearing their 2023 single, “Stan Qualen”. More recently, it was Powderfinger vocalist Bernard Fanning slipped into the band’s DMs to tell them he loved what they were doing, and that if they ever needed a place to record he had a studio in Byron Bay with Grammy-winning producer Nick DiDia (Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen).So that’s exactly what they’ve done and it’s their finest work to date.
As a new era of rock & roll blooms in the world, Sydney-based Big Wheels are cementing themselves as one of Australia’s hottest exports. Doused in bare-to-the-bone songwriting and ethereal grit, the collaboration of Cass Ford and Lawson Doyle leaves a defining sonic impression.
Their latest single ‘The Only Thing I Know’ (due August 6, 2025) offers a haunting, untamed take on resilience and determination. The idea of persevering and dreaming big is woven throughout, especially in lines like, “My mama told me it’s never too late, you gotta dream to catch a break.” Doyle’s raw and emotional vocals wash over the record, joined by sultry guitar tones that build to an electric, bittersweet finale.
In the spirit of revolution and hope, Big Wheels formed in late 2021 as a reactionary feat to the world’s post-covid woes. Their roots run deep through classic rock, blues and Britpop swagger — calling to mind the likes of Fleetwood Mac, Oasis, and Neil Young.
2024 proved to be a breakout year for the band in the UK. Following a creative collaboration with acclaimed photographer Paul Gallagher (Creation Records, Oasis), Big Wheels hit a new stride — making waves across BBC Introducing, earning their first Spotify Editorial playlist placements, and even receiving a nod from Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty, who spotlighted their single ‘Silver and Black’ on his Instagram.
Back home, recent releases ‘Silver and Black’ and ‘Lose on You’ have continued to gain traction on Triple J and community radio nationwide, establishing the band as one of the most exciting voices in Australian rock. With an Australian East Coast tour on the horizon this August–September, Big Wheels are also gearing up for a 2026 return to the UK — following their sold-out London headliner and standout sets at The Great Escape and Maverick Festival.