Scott & Charlene’s Wedding have just capped off an absolutely massive tour known as Up The Guts – a slog that kicked off in Hobart and cut its way through the heart of Australia en route to Darwin.

One of our fave Melbourne bands, they were joined on this adventure by some other great acts: Melbourne’s underground garage legends ScotDrakula, folk-punk upstart Ali E, melodic maestro Ben Wright Smith, and Jack, Jo & Friends (a new collaboration between members of The Pretty Littles and Big Scary) – a great lineup anywhere, let alone in the middle of the bush.

To give us an idea of just what it was like trekking through the outback with guitar in hand, S&CW sent us updates on their travels whenever they could find a patch of internet out there in the wilderness. Having had a little time to recover, the band have sent through the final instalment of their Up The Guts tour diary as they strode triumphantly into Darwin for the final gig (the first two entries are here and here).

They aren’t slowing down now that they’ve wrapped up this massive quest, and are playing The Curtin in their hometown of Melbourne on August 26 and Sydney’s Volumes Festival on August 27, before heading to BIGSOUND in Brisbane on September 6-9. They’ve also just dropped the above single from their forthcoming album, due out on September 9.

Up The Guts Part Three – The End

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The journey continues. After 11 shows and 13 days of continuous travel, we cross the bother into NT. For many of us it was our first time, and we don’t mean to play favourites, but the huge smiles and friendly faces that immediately greeted us across the border made us rapidly fall in love with the Territory. No wonder so many kids from the city journey out here to find their true calling!

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These three city kids truly did find their calling in Kulgera, first pub of many that we visited in the sun-baked centre. Pictured from left to right – Jack Parsons of the Pretty Littles, Craig Dermody of S&CW and of course our faithful bassist and audio hound, Jack Farley.

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Enjoying a refreshing ale and beautiful desert sunset from the back to the bus. Did the guy on the left just let off a bad smell before hiding behind that cold beer?

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We all left our hearts in Grove Hill, NT, home of the biggest gold nugget ever found in Australia, and also some of the best rock shows going around.

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Turns out you can swim in the NT! This beautiful crocodile-free hot spring revived us after a MASSIVE overnight drive from Tennant Creek to Katherine, just in time to make the next show. If it wasn’t for this spring we may have all killed each other.

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Madness onstage at our last show of the trip in Darwin. Joe from S&CW/Bedroom Suck took over vocal duties for ScotDrakula, and practically every other member of the audience jumped on stage to do something.

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…including, of course, Jack Farley aka ‘The Big Funk’, pictured here with Snowy Nasdaq.

Best friends forever. We love you, Up The Guts.

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