A fair while ago I separately interviewed first Alex Laska then, months later, Fergus Linacre, the two founding members of Kingswood. At the time I hadn’t seen the band live, but I certainly like what I heard of their recorded music (which includes a Christmas album – I recommend it!).
At the Tamworth Country Music Festival in January 2024 I saw them play on the back of a truck in the car park of the Tamworth Hotel. Suffice to say my hair was metaphorically blown back by that gig, and I was hooked on Kingswood live. Since then I’ve seen them play in a variety of venues, and each time it has been one of the best shows ever.
The reasons why they’re a great live band were evident in the documentary Claptrap, which was released last year. Some of these will be the same reasons why they’re great recorded too, and they are to do with the longtime creative relationship between Linacre and Laska. But the treat for fans is that Kingswood live and Kingswood recorded are different entities, each of them exceptional. Which means that being a fan of Kingswood is a full-spectrum experience. And I do not pretend to be impartial about this band – I can’t be, and I declare my fan status early on in this interview with Linacre as he was sitting backstage at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney, in between shows with American band Counting Members, with Kingswood band members coming and going behind him (as you’ll see if you watch the video version of the interview).
We talk about the band’s latest single, ‘Faith’; their upcoming album, Midnight Mavericks, which is due for release on 22 May; how Linacre and Laska write songs, and also about Peggy, their tour bus, which is well known to fans. At the end we chat about a project that is Linacre’s alone.
If you’re new to Kingswood, this interview will give you an insight into why the band is so strong in all aspects, and also what to expect if you see them live or hear them recorded. If you’re a fan, hopefully you learn something new that will make you even more excited for the new album and tour.
Listen to Kingswood on Apple Music
Listen to Kingswood on Spotify
Listen to Kingswood on YouTube
KINGSWOOD – TOUR DATES
Friday May 15 - Rosemount Hotel, Perth, WA
Ticketing: https://rosemounthotel.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/fe6b25ca-0747-4d4d-9479-c4bd09dbe874
Saturday May 16 - The Gov, Adelaide, SA
Ticketing: https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/785edc31-2119-437d-9e8d-b8696d56d224
Friday May 22 - The Corner Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
Ticketing: https://tickets.cornerhotel.com/outlet/event/2475f2e5-d9a8-41be-a496-4c1af3915095
Saturday May 23 - Savannah Sounds Festival, Port Douglas, QLD
Ticketing: https://www.savannahsounds.com.au/tickets/savannah-sounds--port-douglas-2026/
Thursday May 28 - Lefty's Music Hall, Brisbane, QLD
Ticketing: https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/2c5efb83-1058-45d6-843c-235e4ef02dcd
Friday May 29 - The Factory Theatre, Sydney, NSW
Ticketing: https://moshtix.com.au/v2/event/kingswood-midnight-mavericks-album-tour-2026/192299
Saturday May 30 - Full Throttle Ranch, Hunter Valley, NSW
Ticketing: https://www.stickytickets.com.au/H0Y94A
Friday June 19 - Tanks Art Centre, Cairns QLD
Ticketing: https://www.ticketlink.com.au/ticketlinkEvents/popular-music/kingswood
Saturday June 20 - Cooktown Discovery Festival, Cooktown QLD
Ticketing: https://cooktownexpo.com.au/
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