The sounds and flavours of Bendigo will flow on Saturday night when Four Lions launches its fifth album.
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Held at the Old Palmer's Gym in Farmer Lane, the album launch will be the culmination of almost two years work on the album.
The gym, which has long been closed now has a dirt floor and fading murals on its walls. It perfectly suits a launch party for a rock band's new album.
"This one took two years from the start, COVID didn't help in being able to get to the studio," Four Lion guitarist Keith MacQueen said.
"It's a good opportunity to do something different and specific in the town. We'll play a long set, not just the album. We have back catalog to go through."
"We wanted to do something a bit different and had been talking to Bendigo Beer about it, who wanted to be involved," Four Lions lead singer Shann Lions said. "They got us this space and we have Cornella from Heathcote, Shedshaker from Castelmaine and a local cider available with food from Flight Bar.
"Everything is very Bendigo and local. With people coming from Melbourne, we wanted to showcase a bit of Bendigo. Being right in CBD, hopefully visitors to the gig will want to come back again."
The gig will be the first since April for the band.
"We played in Chewton in April and (the gigs) are beginning to flow more now," MacQueen said. "It's very busy, so it can be hard getting booked in because every band trying to do that. But (the music scene) almost feels normal again.
"There aren't a lot of (stand-alone) music venues for bands. There are ones who do entertainment and maybe have an acoustic act playing in teh corner but in terms of places that focus on music, there's not a hell of a lot there. The Golden Vine and the (Manchester Arms) do original music as do Handle Bar and Hustler."
Wide Awake was partially mixed by Grammy-winning producer Phil Joly who has worked with Daft Punk, Lana Del Rey, The Strokes and Kanye West.
MacQueen and Lions said it was a coup to be able to work with Joly.
"He mixed one of the tracks (Black and White) and was a main guy at Jimi Hendrix's old studio Electric Lady," Lions said. "He also mentored Boh Dower who did rest of the album.
"What Phil did with the mix, we just went 'wow'. He took a bit of creative liberty, which is what want, that's why you pay him. He has that ear."
Four Lions' Wide Awake album launch is at the Old Palmer's Gym in Farmers Lane on Saturday, December 11, from 7pm. Music starts from 9pm. Tickets $20.
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