Wagons (band)


Wagons are an Australian alt-country band from Melbourne, Australia, led by singer/songwriter/television and radio presenter Henry Wagons.

History

The band was formed in Melbourne in 1999 by Henry Wagons with his school friends from Glen Waverley in Melbourne; Si "The Philanthropist" Francis, Richard Blazé, Steve "Harmony" Hassett and Mark "Tuckerbag" Dawson.
The band has cited influences including Johnny Cash, Scott Walker, Nick Cave and Vegas-era Elvis on their musical style. A regular feature of their live shows is a version of the Wayfaring Strangers song "Willie Nelson". They are known for their energetic and dramatic indie country rock performances in which Henry Wagons engages in banter with the audience between songs.
Henry Wagons is the grandson of Henry Krips, a Viennese emigree conductor of the South Australian Symphony Orchestra. He was named one of the 100 most influential people in Melbourne by the AGE magazine in 2009. Prior to forming the band, Henry, was synthesizer player in a Melbourne improvisational quartet called Dworzec.
Wagons released their first album in 2000. On 11 March 2002 they released their second album Trying To Get Home on Chapter Music.
In 26 July 2004, they released Draw Blood on Spunk Records. The Curse of Lightning was released on 15 October 2007 on Spunk Records.
The Rise and Fall of Goodtown was released on 21 April 2009 on Spunk Records. The album was produced by Cornel Wilczek. In 2009 they won The Age EG Best Band and Best Album awards.
Rumble Shake and Tumble was released on 16 August 2011 on Spunk Records, and was again produced by Cornel Wilczek. Wagons toured in the USA and Canada appearing at the Bumbershoot festival in Seattle in September 2011. They won The Age EG awards for Best Band, and the Best Album award for Rumble Shake and Tumble. The album also won the Best Independent Country Album award in the Jägermeister Independent Music Awards 2011.
Wagons performed in the USA and appeared at SXSW in March 2011.
Acid Rain and Sugar Cane was released on 16 May 2014 on Spunk Records. The album was produced by Mick Harvey of the Bad Seeds, who also played on the album. Wagons again toured North America in 2014 appearing at festivals including the Vancouver Folk Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, and RBC Ottawa Bluesfest.
Wagons have toured extensively in Australia as well as in New Zealand, the USA and Canada, appearing at music festivals including SXSW, Bumbershoot, Montreal Jazz Festival, Bluesfest, Big Day Out and Laneway.

Members

Current

  • Henry Wagons – vocals, guitar, keyboard
  • Mark "Tuckerbag" Dawson – drums, bass guitar
  • Si "Philanthropist" Francis – drums, Bass guitar
  • Richard Blazé – guitar
  • John Guscott – guitar
  • Matthew "Softmoods" Hassett – keyboards, backing vocals

    Former members

  • Chad Mason
  • Steve "Harmony" Hassett
  • Chris Altmann

    Awards and nominations

  • 2009: Best live act in the Mess and Noise Readers' Poll and best album for The Rise and Fall of Goodtown.
  • 2009: The Age EG awards for Best Band, and Best Album, for The Rise and Fall of Goodtown.
  • 2011: The Age EG awards for Best Band, and Best Album, for Rumble Shake and Tumble.
  • 2011: The Best Independent Country Album award in the Jagermeister Independent Music Awards
  • 2014: Nominated for Best Country Album in The Age genre awards and nominated for best band in The Age Music Victoria awards.

    Discography

Albums