There’s something in our waters because the Northern Beaches can’t stop producing world-class musical talent. From INXS to Flume, our area has been the breeding ground for an extraordinary array of artists and bands who’ve conquered both local charts and the world stage.
INXS
Right: INXS perform on stage at Wembley Stadium on July 13th, 1991 in London, England. (Photo by Pete Still/Redferns)
Leading the charge is of course one of the world’s best bands, INXS, whose story begins in the most suburban of settings; a garage in Hews Parade, Belrose, where The Farriss Brothers first jammed in 1978. What started as schoolmates messing around with instruments became one of Australia’s most successful international exports. Michael Hutchence, born in North Sydney in 1960, moved to Hong Kong at age four, and returned to Sydney at 12 with a Hong Kong accent that made him an instant target for school bullies. His family settled in Belrose, where he met Andrew Farriss at Davidson High School. Farriss, born in Perth in 1959, became not just Hutchence’s protector from bullies but his creative partner for life.
Andrew’s brothers Tim and Jon Farriss, along with Kirk Pengilly and Garry Beers, all gravitated between Davidson High and Forest High schools on the Beaches. Their shared musical obsession led to basement rehearsals and eventually their first official gig, Tim Farriss’s 20th birthday party in Whale Beach in August 1977, playing to about 400 people. From those humble Northern Beaches beginnings, INXS went on to sell over 50 million records worldwide, with their 1987 album Kick launching them into global superstardom. The band stayed together for over 20 years, and Tim Farriss and Kirk Pengilly still call the Northern Beaches home.
Midnight Oil
A band that needs little by way of introduction, but unless you were at their gigs in the 1980s, you might’ve missed that Midnight Oil all began on the Beaches. Rob Hirst (drums, vocals) and Jim Moginie (guitars, keys & vocals) started making music together at school in 1972. They gradually evolved into Midnight Oil, with singer Peter Garrett joining in 1975 and Martin Rotsey (guitar), joining a year later.
Before they went global, Midnight Oil’s early “spiritual” home was the Royal Antler Hotel in Narrabeen (we know it today as Narrabeen Sands). It was there that ‘the Oils’ fans swelled from a handful to a thousand, in a space intended for half that number. Between 1976 and the early 80’s, the band played there almost 1000 times. According to the Oils website, “at all of these shows, the distance and the difference between audience and band was indistinguishable.”
“From their earliest days, Midnight Oil was writing songs about who and what they saw around them.”
Of course they went on to have huge touring and chart success with their politically charged songs that have become Australian classics. The Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) listed both Power and the Passion and Beds Are Burning in the Top 30 best Australian songs of all time, a chart in which Midnight Oil are the only artists to feature twice.
Flume
Fast-forward to the 2000s, and the Northern Beaches produced another global sensation with a completely different sound. Harley Edward Streten, better known as Flume, was born in 1991, and started his musical journey at Seaforth Public School. In an interview for Triple J’s Unearthed (a music competition he entered), Flume shared he first began making music at age 11 using a free CD software that came with a box of Nutri-Grain cereal.
After progressing through Mosman High and then St Augustine’s College in Brookvale, he gained recognition after winning an original artists competition with the Australian record label Future Classic in 2011. His self-titled debut album, released in 2012, topped the ARIA Albums Chart and achieved double-platinum status in Australia. Flume is the second ever artist to top Triple J’s annual Hottest 100 twice. He’s collaborated with a wide range of artists, including Lorde, Vera Blue, London Grammar, and Chet Faker, among others. Flume’s considered the pioneer of the future bass genre and also won a Grammy for his 2016 album Skin. Not bad, considering it all started from a free CD!
You can check out Flume’s music on Spotify.
Angus & Julia Stone
Perhaps no artists embody the Northern Beaches’ laid-back vibes better than siblings Angus and Julia Stone. Attending Newport Primary School and later Barrenjoey High School in Avalon, the siblings grew up in idyllic Newport with parents John and Kim Stone, who are both folk musicians themselves. Angus and Julia developed their ethereal folk sound through separate travels before reuniting musically in 2006.
Their 2010 album Down the Way swept the ARIA Awards, winning Album of the Year and Single of the Year for Big Jet Plane. Together, they have released five studio albums and a soundtrack album: A Book Like This, Down the Way, Angus & Julia Stone, Snow, Life Is Strange and Cape Forestier.
You can check out Angus & Julia Stone’s music on Spotify.
Lime Cordiale
Over on Scotland Island in Pittwater, brothers Oli and Louis Leimbach were developing their own musical identity. Growing up literally surrounded by water, with a classically trained musician mother and film producer father, the island provided a unique, nature-rich upbringing that the brothers have often described as free-spirited and creatively inspiring. Their break came when Icehouse frontman, Iva Davies saw them perform at a band competition and offered them a mentoring partnership. Years later, Lime Cordiale repaid the favour by supported Icehouse on their 2011 tour.
Their sound blends catchy pop melodies with ska, funk, and indie influences. After building a loyal fanbase, they released their debut album Permanent Vacation in 2017, followed by the ARIA Award-winning 14 Steps to a Better You in 2020, and their third studio album, Enough of the Sweet Talk in July last year. After its release, Enough of the Sweet Talk peaked at number 1 on the ARIA album charts.
Follow Lime Cordiale on Spotify.
Ocean Alley
This six-piece band was formed in 2011 by a group of high school friends who began playing together in various formations before settling on the current lineup: Baden Donegal (vocals/guitar), Angus Goodwin (guitar), Lachlan Galbraith (keyboard), Mitch Galbraith (guitar), Nic Blom (bass), and Tom O’Brien (drums) . They started out jamming in a backyard shed, known as “The Grotto,” where they experimented with different sounds and developed their unique fusion of reggae, psychedelic rock, and indie pop.
Ocean Alley gained national recognition with their 2018 album Chiaroscuro, which featured the hit single Confidence that topped triple j’s Hottest 100 of 2018. Their music has been described as “cruisey psych, rock and reggae fusion.” In short? Ocean Alley embodies the Northern Beaches perfectly. Their fifth album Love Balloon is out this September.
Follow Ocean Alley on Spotify.
Winston Surfshirt
Winston Surfshirt started when solo musician Winston formed the six-piece band in 2015, bringing together close friends and local artists to create a unique blend of soul, funk, and hip-hop. They began by performing at local venues in Manly, quickly gathering a dedicated fan base with their energetic performances and unique sound.
Their debut album, Sponge Cake, was released in 2017, followed by Apple Crumble in 2019 and Panna Cotta in 2022. The band’s continued success reflects their ability to blend various musical influences. And did we mention they have a famous fan? Sir Elton John recently he sent the band a copy of his biography with the inscription, “Dear Winston, you make the coolest music and I am such a fan. Love Elton.”
Follow Winston Surfshirt on Spotify.
