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THE last time frontman Ian Kenny was in Bendigo he played at GTM with Birds of Tokyo as well as an outdoor concert at the Chinese Gardens.
But it will be a whole different experience when he fronts up with Karnivool at the Prince of Wales Showgrounds in Bendigo on May 3.
“I really know what the festival is about and an really looking forward to getting back to it,” he said.
“I think Groovin the Moo is one of those really cool festivals that carries a pretty great vibe with it.
“Most of the bands that have played there have said how wicked it is.”
Karnivool has had an impressive past 12 months with an ARIA win, sell-out tours and number one albums.
At the ARIAs the band was nominated for the best Australian live act and won best hard rock/heavy metal album with its 2013 album Asymmetry.
Asymmetry also debut at number one on the ARIA charts.
But for Kenny and the rest of the band, it is still the fans they want to please the most.
“Karnivool has built up very loyal fan base over the years. We’re lucky, to have the to pleasure to go round and play to these people and do what we love doing,” Kenny said.
“I don’t think Karnivool is a band that cares if we win ARIAs or not.
“We have been operating as a band for the last 10 years and doing our thing and following our own path.”
Kenny said what was cool about the band was how ARIA wins can promote different types of music.
“What Karnivool appreciates more is what the win can do for the alternate scene,” he said.
“There’s all types of music happening in this country, not just pop, rock and dance.
“I think the fact that Asymmetry debuted at number one and really, kind of, occupied the charts was the first time in a long time a band like Karnivool has been in that space. That was fairly exciting.”
Kenny founded Karnivool with Andrew Goddard in 1997 before forming Birds of Tokyo in 2004.
He splits his time between the two bands, something he says is a full-time job.
“There’s always something to come and work on and be part of. It’s back to back whether it’s writing, recording or performing. There’s always stuff to do,” he said.
“Thankfully the bands operate very differently - creatively and sonically.
“At times they can be very challenging but that’s what is exciting about music – it’s a challenge to see what can make of it.
“Karnivool has three records under its belt now and we can put together a pretty killer set out of that, which we will (for GTM).”