Spring Loaded announces jam-packed lineup of Aussie alt-rock royalty

Words by Will Brewster

Featuring Grinspoon, You Am I, Regurgitator, Magic Dirt and more.

After kicking off with a bang last year in Queensland, Empire Touring have announced the return of their alt-tinged Spring Loaded festival, with this year bringing a packed lineup of ’90s Australian rock titans around the country for nine enormous shows.

Dubbed as an homage the era of Big Day Out and Homebake, Spring Loaded will be headlined by Grinspoon, You Am I, Regurgitator and Jebediah, with Frenzal Rhomb, Magic Dirt, Tumbleweed and Custard also locked in to play this year’s run of shows.

Additionally, Spring Loaded will host performances from Screamfeeder, The Meanies, The Fauves and Caligula, with Frenzal Rhomb guitarist and radio personality Lindsay ‘The Doctor’ McDougall also slated to MC the event.

Kicking off in Sydney on May 8, Spring Loaded will make its way around the country over the span of six months, travelling to Cairns, Bribie Island, Adelaide, Darwin, Gosford, Wollongong and Perth before wrapping up at a yet-to-be-confirmed venue in Victoria on November 27.

Empire Touring’s Marc Christowski expressed his sentiment towards the relaunch of Spring Loaded in a statement shared today, saying that “Having been at various Big Day Outs and Homebakes over the years, it is a massive buzz for us to produce Spring Loaded. Bringing together such an amazing lineup that will go to every corner of the country, flying the flag of indie rock is a dream come true.”

You Am I frontman Tim Rogers also reflected on the nostalgic value of Spring Loaded in a statement of his own, saying “It’s kinda unavoidable that nostalgia surrounds these shows, but the past year I’ve heard new music from most of our friends here that is as vital and visceral as any they’ve done in the past, which makes these potential shows all the more thrilling.”

Check out all the dates and details below. Tickets go on sale on Wednesday March 24 at 10am AEDT, with Telstra customers being able to access a presale from Thursday March 18 to Sunday March 21.