Festival no struggle for kings

A Kimberley-based band have been given the opportunity to showcase the best music of the region at the State of the Art Festival in Perth.

The Struggling Kings, who hail from One Arm Point, have been announced as part of an exciting and eclectic line-up of musical talent celebrating everything great about Western Australia on Monday, June 3.

The Struggling Kings join musicians including John Butler, Jebediah, Katy Steele, and Drapht. Kimberley group the Family Shoveller Band are also on the bill.

Band member Dan Riches said it was real honour to be part of the line-up, particularly when it included some of the biggest names in West Australian music.

“We can’t wait to get in there and have a yarn with them afterwards and pick their brains,” he said.

“To be on a list like this one brings us to another level and we can go back and feel proud to have played with guys like that.

“We’ve actually been likened to a mixture of The Pigram Brothers and Kings of Leon, and that’s pretty cool with us.”

Riches described the music scene of One Arm Point as a lot of reggae and country.

“Our parents were country gospel singers from way back and growing up in our culture, there was a lot of singing, so there was music in everyone’s blood,” he said.

“I think it’s absolutely awesome that we and the Family Shoveller Band are sort of representing the Kimberley.

“The Kimberley music scene has always been really good with plenty of amazing artists up in the communities, but they just play at home.

“For us, this is more giving it a go and we hope that everyone feels inspired to do the same.”

Riches said he couldn’t wait to experience the great atmosphere at the State of the Art Festival.

The fstival is an all-ages event which will be held at Perth’s Burswood Park for the first time.

Along with the stacked line-up of local musical talent, the festival will have an all-inclusive kids’ zone, sporting clinics, the annual WA Day mascot race and a fireworks show.

The sounds of the festival will also be live streamed on YouTube, RTRFM and REDFM.