It’s been 10 years since coastal pub rock icons Salmon Guts played a live show. Accumulating a huge following for an independent band in the early 2000’s, the bands reformation has been heavily anticipated, however according to front man Dean Krueger, the reunion comes bitter-sweet. At the end of the month, Salmon Guts will be playing a handful of shows to raise money for the devastating loss of the Otways’ bushfires and landslides that occurred over the last 12 months.
“I left home at a really young age. I made a living from working in the Otways in the bush back when I was a little grommet. I have spent a lot of time in the community and have done a lot of shows down there, and have played on the beach and that sort of helped spark a bit of a culture. It’s my hometown,” Krueger says.
With thoughts of reformation already buzzing, the final decision was fuelled by the devastating events in the Otways.
“At the time on Christmas day last year, I was booking in 1,500 people to a caravan park that I managed and my keyboard player called me up and said ‘Deano, have a look at the TV.’ When I turned on the TV, I saw what was going on. I went ‘one; we are going to get the band back together and two; we are going to do a fundraiser gig to try help the environment down there’. It happened instantly.”
However, it is more than just a one off show. ‘One For the Otways’; is a two-day non for profit event with multiple bands including The Heartache State and Nick Barker, Jeff Lang and local rockers Velvet Bow. There will also be shuttle buses and a recording of a live CD, with 100 per cent of the proceeds to be donated to the cause. Krueger has been one of the main organisers of the event and is ecstatic with the amount of community and sponsor support for the event, and restoring coastal vegetation.
“The focus from the event is that I wanted to concentrate on the re-vegetation season. As winter grew and I was watching the weather charts, that re-vegetation challenge has gone from a big task to a massive task. It’s going to take monumental resources to be able to pull this off.
“I’m not saying that ‘One for the Otways’ is in charge of that by any means, but we are going to do whatever we can to promote and try to help educate people that the road to recovery is a bloody long one. But, it’s better to kick start it and do whatever we can to help.”
Written by Alex Callan
When & Where: Aireys Pub, Aireys Inlet – October 29 & Lorne Hotel, Lorne – October 30
