CHEERSQUAD Records & Tapes Residency (Northcote SC 20th Birthday Celebration!)

NSC is turning 20 and we’re throwing one helluva party!

To celebrate two decades, we’re rolling out 20 Gigs for 20 Years — a huge birthday series running through July and August, stacked with some of our all-time favourites.

As part of the birthday blowout, Cheersquad Records & Tapes is taking over Wednesday nights from July 2 to August 27 with an eight-week residency stacked with familiar faces, label favourites and local legends. CRT Wednesdays tips the hat to the artists, crews and crowds that have helped shape both Cheersquad and NSC over the years.

Grab tickets to individual shows, or snag a season pass and catch every single one. Check out the stellar lineup —

Wed 2 July - Davey Lane, Queenie + Marcel Borrack TD Band

Following the release of his raw and heartfelt single God, I'm Fucked Up Over You, Davey Lane returned with Over, Over and Out — a melodic pop gem. Now comes the third single, the white-boy soul sounds of Not Expecting to Fly, from his upcoming fourth solo album, Finally, A Party Record.

The debut album from Queenie, Mew Moult, has made quite the splash since its release last August, with the band touring extensively ever since — including a sold-out launch show at NSC late last year. One last hurrah before they head back into the studio to work on the follow-up, Queenie are stoked to be part of these 20th birthday celebrations.

Kicking off the night is longtime Cheersquad family member Marcel Borrack with his TD Band. They're not far off recording album #2 — the follow-up to Telecaster Diaries (2023).

Wed 9 July - Checkerboard Lounge, Sime Nugent & The Capes + Roller One

Checkerboard Lounge have been a staple of the Melbourne blues scene for over three decades, with a string of releases under their belt — including Sun Sessions and Rollercoaster, both proudly released through Cheersquad. And there’s more in the pipeline.

Sime Nugent is no stranger to the NSC stage, but only recently joined the Cheersquad family — though we’ve been longtime fans. So far, the sole CRT release is The Crow by Sime Nugent & The Capes, with much more on the horizon.

Another new addition to the Cheersquad roster — but far from new to the local scene — is the fabulous quartet Roller One. Their new single So Far is set for release on July 3

Wed 23 July - Phil Jamieson, Al Matcott’s Forever Band + Lava Fangs

Phil Jamieson — frontman of Aussie rock heavyweights Grinspoon — released his mighty fine solo debut Somebody Else via Cheersquad back in 2022. He’s now bringing his band of merry musos to help us celebrate NSC’s 20th birthday in style.

Joining them are special guests Al Matcott’s Forever Band. Al’s debut album Summer’s Coming was an outright classic, with the follow-up due in late 2025. The first single from the new record drops June 27 via Cheersquad Records & Tapes.

Opening the night are local power pop legends Lava Fangs, whose album Sub Auroram is a fuzz-filled, poptastic garage stomper you’ll want to blast on repeat.

Wed 30 July - Matt Walker & Ashley Davies, Smoked Salmon + Ash Santilla

I Listen to the Night by Matt Walker & Ashley Davies is an absolute gem of a country blues album, reissued by Cheersquad in 2023. This show marks a very rare chance to catch the duo live — their first time on stage together in 18 months. Don’t miss it!

The support cast is equally stacked. In the middle slot, Kim Salmon’s Smoked Salmon return fresh from a European tour promoting their incredible self-titled LP, released via Cheersquad/FOLC Records.

Kicking off the night is Ash Santilla, former frontman of 67 Special, bringing his new brand of dark, moody, and tuneful songs to the NSC stage for the first time. His single Nightcrawler, from the upcoming album of the same name, drops June 26.

Wed 6 Aug - Hard Ons, Budd + The Maggie Pills

Sydney punks The Hard-Ons are easily Cheersquad’s most prolific act — with three new albums, a reissue, and three 7” singles under their belt. Busy? You bet. They’ll be fresh off yet another international tour, this time supporting none other than Napalm Death and The Melvins.

Joining them are Budd — Brisbane-turned-Melbourne masters of sludge-fuzz rock — who recently joined the Cheersquad family. Their seminal EP Ovit is set for reissue later this year.

Opening the night are goth-punk outfit The Maggie Pills, hailing from Venezuela and Argentina via Melbourne. They’ve kindly agreed to kick things off, and their brilliant new single Velobell dropped on May 30 — keep an eye (and ear) out!

Wed 13 Aug - The Chris Wilson Cheersquad

The Chris Wilson Cheersquad is a phenomenal gathering of artists coming together to celebrate and perform the music of the late, great Chris Wilson.

The band is led by longtime Wilson guitarist Shane O’Mara, alongside seasoned collaborators Chris ‘Dodgy’ Rogers and Ashley Davies. They'll be joined on stage by a stellar lineup of guest vocalists paying tribute, including:
Sarah Carroll, George Carroll-Wilson, Barb Waters, Van Walker, Freya Josephine Hollick, Meghan Maike, Lisa Miller, David M Western, Jodi Phillis, Joyce Prescher, Patrick Wilson, Shannon Bourne and Tim Rogers.

On the wheels of steel, DJ Max Crawdaddy from 3RRR will be spinning tunes throughout the night.

Wed 20 Aug - Skyscraper Stan, Hobson Bay Coast Guard + Cahill Kelly

New Zealand-born, Australia-based Skyscraper Stan and his longtime touring band The Commission Flats have built a rich body of work that’s earned them a loyal — and increasingly global — following. Fans are drawn to Stan’s easy lyrical style, inventive arrangements, and deft genre-hopping: from folk and country to indie rock and soul, all of which shine across their diverse album Those Were the Days.

Stan and the gang will soon be heading to New Zealand and the UK to tour the album, so this show will be your last chance to catch them live for a while.

Supporting on the night are the delightfully quirky punk-pop outfit Hobsons Bay Coast Guard, whose new album Weather Report is set to drop via Cheersquad in late September. Lead singles Earthquake and Monsoon are already making waves on the airwaves.

Also joining the lineup is Cahill Kelly, whose album Classical & Cool Jazz (spoiler: it’s neither!) was one of Cheersquad’s earliest releases — and it still holds up beautifully. Expect new music from Cahill very soon!

Wed 27 Aug - Nunchukka Superfly, The Meanies + Super American Eagle

Last year, Cheersquad unearthed and released Nunchukka Superfly’s long-lost debut — recorded and shelved back in 1995 — and fittingly titled NS95. Fast forward to now, and they’re back with a brand new record: If You Go Down I Go Down Too, launching on this very night.

Joining them are none other than local punk legends The Meanies — longtime friends, fans, and close Cheersquad collaborators — making this lineup feel like one big, chaotic family reunion.

Opening the show is the incomparable Super American Eagle, featuring members of Immigrant Union, Courtney Barnett, and The Dandy Warhols. Expect tracks from their fuzzed-out self-titled debut (released 18 months ago), plus a couple of fresh bangers to boot.

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Come raise a glass and help us celebrate 20 years of great gigs and good yarns at NSC — we wouldn’t want to do it without you! 

Our show is being held on the lands of the Wurundjeri People and we wish to acknowledge them as the Traditional Owners of this land we are gathered on. We also pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and Aboriginal Elders of other communities that may join us for our show.

This residency is presented by Triple R. The birthday series is supported by Oztix and Revive Live – an Australian Government Initiative.