Cog announce Australian tour with Yomi Ship and Kodiak Empire
It may be reaching the end of the year, but the wheels are firmly in motion for the return of beloved Aussie prog rockers Cog to the stage in 2024. Primed to tour across the east coast next March, Cog will also be joined by special guests Yomi Ship and Kodiak Empire.
Heading to Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Newcastle, Canberra and Sydney next year, Cog's The Vinyl Tour 2024 will officially launch on Thursday 28 February 2024 with an extra special appearance at Rare Records in Melbourne/Naarm to celebrate the long-awaited release of their seminal albums The New Normal (2005) and Sharing Space (2008) on vinyl for the first time ever, alongside an extremely rare first pressing of their 2008 compilation album Just Visiting.
Emerging in the late 90s, Cog's enduring legacy on the heavy music landscape has traversed decades, global touring and a jubilant reunion back in 2016. Via their early EPs, 2000's Pseudo and part one and part two of 2002's Just Visiting, the behemoth reputation of the Sydney-hailing trio would firmly cement in 2005 in the form of their debut full-length The New Normal. From here, Cog took the world by storm, relentlessly touring Australia, embarking on overseas runs, igniting stages at Big Day Out, Falls Festival and Homebake, alongside adding a stellar second album release to their repertoire in the form of the certified Gold 2008 opus Sharing Space.
Never ones to rest on their laurels, Cog emerged from a five year hiatus in 2016, with an entirely sold out comeback tour across Australia that same year - and some new music soon followed in 2018 via the band's first new material in a decade: The Middle. From here, Cog have continued to expand their creative spirit, releasing two additional singles, Altered States and Drawn Together, while also remaining extremely active on the touring circuit, most recently headlining Thrashville 2023.
With 2023 drawing to a close, Cog are now turning their gazes to a brand new year; and 2024 is one which will also include an east coast Australian tour to celebrate the long-awaited release of both The New Normal and Sharing Space on vinyl for the first time.
"Earlier this year we reached a milestone of sorts," shares Cog's Flynn Gower. "In 2008 we delivered our album Sharing Space to our label. Unfortunately, our relationship deteriorated during this period and for the next 15 years we’ve been locked into a contract and waiting for resolution.
We can finally say that we now own the rights to all our music. In celebration of this and after many years of inquiries from our fans we can announce that both The New Normal and Sharing Space are available on vinyl and an East Coast tour is booked."
Available exclusively through Rare Records, these albums will be pressed on 3 x 180g vinyl, housed in deluxe triple gatefold sleeves, with a range of variants on offer, while the Just Visiting first pressing is a rare promo-only copy that features the word "RARE" written in gold paint, a 420g gatefold jacket and two transparent red and green (one of each) 190g virgin vinyl records.
Also joining Cog for their east coast run next March will be none other than Perth's Yomi Ship and Brisbane's Kodiak Empire.
An instrumental psychedelic-meets-progessive rock trio from Perth, Yomi Ship deliver soundscapes filled with unorthodox structures and rhythms alongside anchoring basslines and dreamy melodies. Having previously toured alongside the likes of Karnivool, CHON, Animals as Leaders, I Built The Sky and Plini, Yomi Ship will enamour you with a beautiful amalgamation of The Mars Volta, Pink Floyd and their own captivating charm.
Brisbane-based five piece Kodiak Empire balance peace and chaos in unforgettable fashion. Releasing their debut full lenth album The Great Acceleration in 2023, Kodiak Empire fused their adoration for The Mars Volta, Silverchair and Circa Survive into an incomparable display; one that is equal parts elegant, melodic and modern, and also one that has snagged them supports with Mono, We Lost the Sea and many more.
Tickets for The Vinyl Tour 2024 are on-sale this Friday 1 December at 9:00am AEDT, while Brisbane's event pre-sale is live now via Ticketmaster. Do not miss this incredible run of shows from one of Australia's finest. In Cog we trust.
COG, Kodiak Empire, Yomi Ship - Friday, 1 March 2024 - Northcote Theatre (Naarm, Melbourne, VIC) - TICKETS
COG, Kodiak Empire, Yomi Ship - Saturday, 2 March 2024 – Hindley Street Music Hall (Tarndanya, Adelaide, SA) - TICKETS
COG, Kodiak Empire, Yomi Ship - Friday, 8 March 2024 – Princess Theatre (Meanjin, Brisbane, QLD) - TICKETS
COG, Kodiak Empire, Yomi Ship - Saturday, 9 March 2024 – King Street Bandroom (Mulubinba, Newcastle, NSW) - TICKETS
COG, Kodiak Empire, Yomi Ship - Friday, 15 March 2024 – The Basement (Ngunnawal, Canberra, ACT) - TICKETS
COG, Kodiak Empire, Yomi Ship - Saturday, 16 March 2024 – Manning Bar (Gadigal, Sydney, NSW) - TICKETS
