WA Day Festival headliners Eskimo Joe heap praise on West Australian music scene

WA has a history of thinking everything outside our State is better, but according to Eskimo Joe frontman Kav Temperley, that is not the case.

The Fremantle-based band will headline the rescheduled WA Day Festival next Sunday at Burswood Park forming part of an all-WA line-up featuring San Cisco, Great Gable, Noah Dillon, Maatakitj, Angie Colman and Anna Schneider.

Veteran rocker Temperley said he was honoured to be recognised in the band’s home State and encouraged the community to get around local music acts.

“We’ve got nothing to prove, we should just be able to go out there and be great bands who just happen to be from WA,” he said.

“In Fremantle alone, where I live, we have ourselves, San Cisco, Tame Impala, John Butler; these are amazing bands who do huge things internationally, bands that people from all over the world look at for inspiration so we should be celebrating WA music.

“We have such a positive group of bands who’ve come through and call WA home and are doing great things on a national and international level, I feel like it’s a great time to be a Perth band.”

Eskimo Joe, whose hits include Black Fingernails, Red Wine, plan to include a collection of their greatest hits fans know and love to see live.

It will include their latest single, The First Time, released in March and has gained huge radio support. The sweet blast of nostalgia is their first new music since 2021’s 99 Ways, but there is more on the horizon.

Temperley teased that he, lead guitarist Stuart MacLeod and drummer Joel Quartermain have been spending 10-12 hours in the studio the past few days working on another new song, set for release next year.

The trio are also gearing up for a jam-packed season of summer gigs including the Red Hot Summer Tour where they will play at Sandalford Winery on March 22.

As for next Sunday, Temperley urged “everyone to get down and support WA Day as it’s a great initiative celebrating WA culture”.

“We’re really excited it’s going ahead now because everyone was disappointed that it got cancelled,” he said.

“We have a lot of underage fans who don’t usually get to come to shows so we hope they can still come in to see this one because it’s such a good chance for kids who don’t get to go to proper venues, festivals to come and see us play for free.”

It replaces the event which was cancelled in June due to wet weather.

Event organisers have promised a day full of entertainment, featuring a drone light show, fireworks, carnival rides and food trucks.

Patrons are encouraged to take advantage of the free public transport available to Burswood Park as part of fare free Sundays for all SmartRider holders.

With six studio albums under their belts and sales in excess of 750,000 in Australia alone, Eskimo Joe have seen three of those albums debut at No.1 on the ARIA charts.

And as the Eskies enter their 28th year, there are no signs of slowing down.