Coastal-folk two-piece The Dreggs’ make music to road-trip to: windows down, head back, salt in your hair. Growing up on the Sunshine Coast, the ocean has been a major inspiration for the boys. “It is the ocean we turn to for our mental health when things are tough… It’s a fundamental part of our music.” Their lyrics reflect this passion; amid songs about romance and adventure are ones like ‘Simple Question’, which touches on suicide awareness.
Fusing traditional folk with contemporary surfy sounds, The Dreggs make every live show fit their audience. “If we are playing an intimate set, we restructure our songs to suit accordingly. Otherwise, our shows are typically high energy, with lots of dancing and clapping.”
Proudly self-managed, Paddy and Zane strive to maintain “strong, autonomous and mutually beneficial [industry] relationships” as part of #TheBIGSOUND50. “We cherish meeting venue managers, and tour/festival promoters… As we are gaining fans, we are eager to meet professionals who will provide us with bigger spaces to progress.” As touring restrictions ease, the duo have their sights set on overseas prospects, too. After gaining a solid national following in Australia, they hope they’ll be able to “broaden that market to the international industry and strive for festival slots and venues overseas”. Down the track, they’d love to create their own label.
Although 2020 has stopped many artists’ plans in their tracks, the Dreggs know music will always exist in people’s lives. “As long as we keep creating and engaging with fans on an intimate level, the ball will keep rolling.”
“This period of hardship has given a breath of fresh air to live performance and has only made people more appreciative and hungry [for it].”
