North Shore high school band Yukon Era are the youngest band to play at Laneway's music festival in New Zealand.
North Shore high school band Yukon Era are the youngest band to play at Laneway's music festival in New Zealand.
Laneway's big name headliners may have osbcured some of the smaller names on the bill - and they don't get any fresher than Yukon Era.
The North Shore quartet are the first high school band to be named on a Laneway line-up - one so young, two of the band's four members will need their parents with them just so they can perform at the R18 festival.
"We have to have parental supervision," says guitarist Lachie Thurlow, 17, who admits the band is used to performing in R18 venues that they otherwise wouldn't be allowed in.
"It's anoying sometimes. Our parents are like, 'Yep, we're going home now,' and you can't say no because you can't be in there without them."
Laneway's line-up for the January 30 event at Albert Park Precinct was confirmed today, and includes names like Aussie psych-rockers Tame Impala, hipster-crooner Nick Murphy (Chet Faker) and hip-hop whiz-kid Clams Casino.
In their two years together, Yukon Era have notched up opening slots for some big name international acts - including Mac Demarco, Viet Cong, METZ and Mini Mansions.
But they admit they aren't always allowed to stick around to see the main act play.
"We'll be opening for a band and we'll play and then we won't get to see the band because either our parents want to go, or the bar says sorry you can't stay," says singer Christian Dimick, 17.
Thurlow: "In some cases you only go in when you're about to play, set up play, then go ... it's a $10,000 fine, we don't want to get them into trouble."
Despite the restrictions, Yukon Era - comprised of Dimick, Thurlow, drummer James Thorrington, 15 and bassist Pierre Beasley, 18 - have attracted attention for their low-fi approach to their garage-rock racket.
Their first EP, Yukon Era, was recorded in the basement of Dimick's grandparents house, but they relocated to a proper studio for their second EP, set for release later this year. The first taste, single Consume & Scratch, is out now.
But the band admits playing Laneway, sharing stages with like-minded acts The Veils, The Chills and Tame Impala, will be a career highlight for the fledgling group.
"I was playing hackey sack at school. It was lunch and Lachie called me (saying), 'Dude, I think we're playing Laneway,'" says Dimick. "I was like, 'What?' I thought he was joking for ages, playing a prank. Turned out he wasn't joking."
Thurlow: "It will definitely be our biggest show. We're not nervous yet (but) when we walk out there it's gonna be like ... woah, we're playing Laneway."
Three of the band's members are still at High School, with bassist Pierre a first-year-uni student and the only Yukon Era member who is 18.
But Dimick has some good news - he turns 18 just weeks before Laneway.
"Me and Pierre are just going to be sipping the beers," he says with a grin spreading across his face.
"It's perfect for me. It's a week after my birthday. Very lucky."
Who: Auckland high school band Yukon Era Where and when: Performing as part of Laneway music festival 2017, Albert Park Precinct, January 30 Full line-up: Aurora, Bob Moses, Car Seat Headrest, Clams Casino, Cut Off Your Hands, DMA'S, Fazerdaze, Flight Facilities, Floating Points, Fortunes, Glass Animals, Julia Jacklin, k2k, Mick Jenkins, Mr Carmack, NAO, Nick Murphy (Chet Faker), Nikolai, Purple Pilgrims, Refused, Tame Impala, The Chills, The Julie Ruin, The Veils, Tourist, Tycho, White Lung, Whitney, Yukon Era More information and tickets:http://auckland.lanewayfestival.com/
