18.02.2025 • BY Jake Stolte
Ahead of the Tracks party at the Villa Noosa Hotel this Friday, we caught up with Bootleg Rascal to find out more about them.
The Tracks Party Tour is set to return this Friday, kicking things off at the Villa Noosa Hotel. The show will be headlined by Gold Coast based band Bootleg Rascal who are known for their eclectic mix of hip hop, reggae, indie-rock, dub and electronica which combine to make one cohesive unique sound. They will be supported by Radium Dolls, who bring a dynamic blend of rock ‘n’ roll, Mid Drift, who provide sun-soaked indie surf-rock with wavy guitar licks and laid-back vibes and Catching Salmon, who fuel the night with skull-thrashing riffs and unapologetic punk energy. The night will be hosted by Ain’t That Swells’ Jed Smith, the larrikin voice of surfing culture, who is set to bring heaps of shenanigans. Purchase tickets here.
The first 100 people through the door will score a Tracks T-shirt (worth $60) and there will be heaps of giveaways from our partners including a Burzerk e-bike worth almost $4,000. Anyone who buys a ticket to any stop on the tour will be automatically entered into a draw for a chance to win.
Ahead of our show at the Villa Noosa Hotel, we caught up with the crew from Bootleg Rascal which is made up of Carlos on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Jimmy on lead guitar and Fraser on Drums.
Tell us a little bit about the origins of the band?
Jimmy actually started the band just over 12 years ago now. Not long into the band’s existence, Carlos joined and took over the lead singer duties. Fraser started hitting the skins for us around five years ago during all the mess of Covid. We played our first show together in our current lineup in Byron Bay on Valentine’s Day. Pretty fitting, we think.
I think we all came to music for different reasons, but for me personally (Jimmy), I remember really getting into the electric guitar when I was around 14-years-old. My folks got me my first electric guitar for Christmas, and I played it every day. Not long after I discovered Sublime and at the time I just wanted to play in a band like them. So that’s exactly what we did. My best mate and I spent every weekend skating the halfpipe in my backyard, listening to Sublime and trying to sound just like them. Was a hoot.
How would you describe your sound?
We’re a real mashup of all our favourite genres. Collectively, we love so many different styles, but in a nutshell, we love to start with a fat hip-hop-inspired beat, lay a sleazy bass line down over the top of that, mix in some fuzzy psychedelic guitars and finally sprinkle some lush vocal melodies on top. If you can picture that, then you’re in the ballpark of Bootleg at our best.
Do you guys have any links to surfing?
Being based on the Gold Coast, we are definitely surrounded by surfing and have heaps of mates who go out daily. We’ve all dabbled with it over the years, but not so much these days. To be honest, we are total kooks. We’re better off sticking to what we do best… partying and playing the odd song or two.
What can people expect from a Bootleg Rascal live show?
We love playing shows and just want everyone who comes along to have as much fun as we do. We try to have as many feel-good party tunes in the set as we can, and we usually find the vibe pretty infectious.
Career highlights so far?
- Not being cancelled (yet)
- Still being able to do what we love despite everything the last few years has thrown at the music industry – Covid, cost of living crisis, venues & festivals dropping like flies, etc.
- Completing our third full length album. Yet to be released, stay tuned.
Your favourite Bootleg Rascal song?
Our latest single – From The Very Start – because it’s our favourite to play live right now.
If you were to make a band out of professional surfers or any other famous people, who would be in it and what instrument would they play?
Definitely Animal from the Muppets on drums. Kenny Powers (Danny McBride) on bass, just because I love his style and I reckon he would make a great bass player. Donavon Frankenreiter on guitar. I’ve seen him play a couple of times, and he rips. Lastly, Eddie Murphy is on Vox because he does killer impersonations of MJ and James Brown, amongst others.
If you could play a festival with two other headliners of your choice, they can be dead or alive, who would you pick?
Sublime, with original singer Bradley Cowell and The Gorillaz.
To purchase tickets for our Noosa show this Friday 21 March, click here
