How two farm kids went from a converted stable to global stages

GROWING up in a small wheat-and-wool community in Western Australia, David House and Henry Carrington-Jones seemed destined for life on the land. But their journey took a very different turn when the pair began jamming together in an old stable.

Now known as Old Mervs, the duo released their self-titled debut album last year. It went on to earn triple j’s Feature Album of the Week, debut at number one on the ARIA album charts, and win fans worldwide with tracks such as Parched, What You’ve Lost and Forget It.

Renowned for their energetic indie/bush rock sound, Old Mervs have completed sold-out tours across Australia, the United States – including a slot at Chicago’s Lollapalooza – as well as the UK and Europe.

House and Carrington-Jones met at the age of five, growing up on neighbouring farms in Kojonup, around three hours’ drive south-west of Perth, and have been best mates ever since.

The band takes its name from Carrington-Jones’s childhood dog, Mervin, who came up in conversation while the pair were tossing around ideas.

“One of us said ‘good old Merv’ in passing and it came from that,” he said.

The duo will embark on a regional Australian tour in February that will see them perform alongside acts such as The Veronicas, Ball Park Music and Temper Trap at Tasmania’s Party in the Paddock festival before making their way to Hotel Brunswick in Brunswick Heads in March.

“We are super excited to get out to some ripper spots across the country at one of the best times of the year,” Carrington-Jones said.

“We have done Byron a few times at the Beachy plus Festival of the Stone last year, but it’s our first time playing Bruns and we’re so keen for it. The pub is a ripper – we’ve spent a fair bit of time there and have always been keen to play at some point, so we are stoked we finally get to jump up!”

Old Mervs perform at Hotel Brunswick in Brunswick Heads on Friday, March 13.

For more information and tickets, visit oldmervs.com