Spiderbait, the popular Aussie band which got its start in Finley, will be back in the region this summer to entertain music lovers.
Janet English, Damiam Whitty and Kram (or Mark Quor as he was known when going through local schools) will perform on the famed Riverboats Music Festival stage in Echuca.
Now in its 11th year, the festival will run from February 17 to 19 and will also feature Marlon Williams, The Whitlams, Katy Steele, and CW Stoneking.
Originally from Finley, Sipderbait spent their early years in and around the Shepparton area before making the move to Melbourne.
Janet, the band’s bassist and singer, recalls travelling to Shepparton on a regular basis to purchase their favourite records of the day.
“We had to drive an hour and a half with our parents to Shepparton to get our vinyl as it was then, since there were no CDs as yet,” she says.
“We would listen to 3SR and go and buy records we heard on that or saw on Countdown!
“When I was really little, my first record was ABBA’s Arrival album and I was so excited I held it in my hands the whole drive home.
“It was 40 degrees with no air-conditioning and by the time it got home it was warped from my fingers.
“I was devastated when it constantly skipped.”
For two of the band members, football was another passion that was integral to their upbringing.
“Both Kram (drummer and singer) and Damian (guitarist) played footy growing up but when I grew up, girls didn't play football, so I hated the game,” Janet says.
“That’s what I wrote the song Footy about.
“Finley revolved around football though and it was a huge part of everyone’s lives.
“Whitt still goes to watch Collingwood every time they play in Melbourne and Kram supports Carlton and used to captain Finley.
“I think playing music is a bit like playing sport but you’re much freer to do your own thing when you’re on stage.
“There’s too many rules in football for complete crazy self-expression.”
The group left the area in the early 1990s in order to pursue their musical ambitions.
“There wasn’t much of a music scene in the Riverina and Goulburn Valley back then,” Janet says.
“I think that all changed after Triple J started in the country.
“When we grew up there were only shows in Melbourne and not much regional action.
“We used to rehearse on my farm in the machinery shed, so that's the biggest memory we have of playing there.”
With their upcoming performance at the Riverboats festival, what can fans expect to hear?
“We want everyone there to just have a fun time after the year that they’ve been through,” Janet says.
“We’ll get them to dance and sing if we can and there will be a mix of old and new songs and some audience participation.
“We can’t wait to get up to the Murray again, as it's been a while.”