Psych rock band mark retrospective return

NINETIES psychedelic rockers Tumbleweed are set to hit the road in belated celebration of their thirtieth anniversary with a recent addition that will kickstart the tour.

For the first time since the decade of grunge, the band will be taking their show to Ballarat this Friday, where they will play at Volta to mark the first gig in their string of concerts.

Tumbleweed was originally slated to play the Grindhouse in Snake Valley Festival, but with those plans falling through, frontman Richie Lewis said the band was determined to play the city one way or another.

“We’re chomping at the bit. It’s been a good while since we’ve played a show there so we figured it’s definitely about time,” he said.

“It’ll be a whole new audience that we’re playing to which is always exciting. Our last time there was packed, and I’ve always loved the big open roads and the beautiful gold rush buildings that Ballarat has.”

Alongside their tour, the band has also reissued two of their albums, Galactaphonic and Sounds from the Other Side, on vinyl for the first time, which will be available to purchase at the Ballarat gig.

In another call back to the past, Tumbleweed will be joined for the first time in three decades by fellow stoner-psych stalwarts Fridge, who will open for nearly all six shows.

Sydney-based band Grinding Eyes will also serve as support, and Lewis said the Ballarat gig will be a great way to get back into the swing of live shows.

“It’s a nice toe in the water but it’s also something new and interesting for us. I don’t really know what to expect,” he said.

“That’s one of the good things about it, really, it’ll keep us on our feet, and we’ll be pulling a lot of old songs out of the hat that we don’t often do which Ballarat will be the testing ground for.

“I think it’ll be a nice ease-in. Anything goes that night so it’ll be kind of wild and wooly.”

Tumbleweed will play at Volta on Friday, 22 April, with tickets at $40.