Rock supergroup to debut new tunes in

Australian alt-rock royalty has formed to make a new supergroup sure to make the ground shake in Queenscliff this August.

Mick Turner (Dirty Three, Mess Esque), Mick Harvey (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, PJ Harvey), Adalita (Magic Dirt) and Marty Brown (Art of Fighting) are new Melbourne four-piece Bleak Squad.

The unlikely quartet will play live on August 1 at the Queenscliff Town Hall ahead of the release of their brooding, noir-rock debut LP Strange Love.

The album sees all four members juggle multiple instruments, their own idiosyncrasies and in the case of Adalita and Harvey, lead vocal duties.

The nine songs percolate with their brooding guitars, slippery basslines and organ drones, a regal compilation of bruised tunes that swoon and sizzle.

Brown’s lyrical drumming and Turner’s guitar squawks are complimented by Adalita and Harvey’s swap and share tales of love dampened, hope on hold and threaded tendrils of acceptance.

“I think the name Bleak Squad speaks to both this loose collection of misfits, and the noirish mood of our music,” Adalita said.

“Everything seemed to flow really easily, with everyone just getting a vibe and stepping in or out with the feel.

“We all add our own strengths to everything. And we take turns in the spotlight.”

She said she couldn’t wait to get the band on stage for the first time over the coming months.

“I just really love the album we’ve made,” she said.

“This is the first time I’ve been in a band outside of Magic Dirt and my solo thing. So playing with different musicians I’ve always looked up to and being so inspired by being in an actual new band, is really exciting.

“They’re just f****** amazing. I really am pinching myself. It’s unreal. I really can’t wait to play live.” Strange Love is out August 22.

Tickets for the Queenscliff show are on sale now via oztix.