i94bar1200x80

in the manifesto

  •  sc garry gray

    WORDS: ROBERT BROKENMOUTH
    PICTURES: THE BARMAN

    Some myths should be forgotten. As an AFL-denier, Melbourne's St Kilda/Collingwood rivalry has always smacked of juvenile footy gibberish. Besides, Sacred Cowboys were no strangers to Collingwood back in the day, and what was then remains then (and that's Zen) and what was then is certainly is not now (and that might be Zen, too). 

    Then and now, from my own window Sacred Cowboys still embody so many of the varied aspects of Melbourne culture - their performance of “Nothing Grows In Texas” on an industry-led TV show I loathed (yet watched religiously), “Countdown”, showed them successfully crossing Melbourne's apparent “dividing rift” - as did The Models.

    Some myths should be rediscovered, dusted off, celebrated and redressed, and we should dance with them around a maypole. 

  • The resonstituted and resolutely edgy Sacred Cowboys from Melbourne have released a disigital single as a precurosor to their forthcoming album, "In the Manifesto" which will be out on vinyl and CD in late January on Beast Records in France and Torn & Frayed in Australia with gigs to follow.  Buy the digital single as a download here.


    Now comprising co-founders Garry Gray and Mark Ferrie with Timothy Deane, Anthony Paine and Damian Fitzgerald, they will launch the album at the Tote in Melbourne on February 14. Supports are Roller One and DJ Mike Mulholland. Dress code is Valentines Day" “funky but chic”. 

    Garry Gray says of the singte: "Our heroes are cosmic circus escapees shunted through time and space from the dead desert sands of 1980s Texas and dispatched into the gritty city scape of an alien world – or are they just returning home to a dystopian future?"

    ‘In the Manifesto’ was mastered by Mikey Young, who worked on the last six Mark Lanegan records and plays in Eddie Current Suppression Ring. All new songs are written by Garry and the band. "In the Manifesto" is said to be "a complex, atmospheric soundtrack with Gray’s uber cool delivery over sometimes sparse, sometimes weaving guitars and rich harmonies. Think a Sonic Youth ethos and grinding the gears in the engine room of the Cosmos Factory". 



  • sacred cowboys promoRevered Melbourne band Sacred Cowboys are back from a successful European tour with a handful of Victorian shows in November on the back of their “In The Manifesto” album..  
     
    Sacred Cowboys delivered a powerhouse performance at the Binic Folks Blues Festival  in Binic-Étables-sur-Mer, France, in July, commanding the Plage de la Banche stage with raw intensity. Festival organizers and attendees hailed the Australian band's set as a magnificent, high-energy "claque d'amour" (translation: a loving slap to the senses).

    Sacred Cowboys shot to national notoriety in 1982 as a fun and nihilistic jolt to the senses on national pop show Countdown. 

    The band was formed by lead singer-songwriter Garry Gray and bass-player Mark Ferrie who drew on their experiences in the OG punk and post-punk scene—Gray with proto-punk outfit Negatives and Ferrie with early line-ups of The Models. 

     Gray and Ferrie recruited Tim Deane, Anthony Paine and Damien FitzGerald last year and created “In the Manifesto”, released on Beast Records in France and Torn & Frayed in Australia in early 2026.  

    Sacred Cowboys
    NOV
    20 – Church, Geelong, VIC
    22 – Northcote Social Club (afternoon), VIC
    27 – Young Street Tavern, Frankston, VIC

  • in the manifestoIn The Manifesto - Sacred Cowboys (Torn &Frayed/Beast Records)

    It’s cause for a celebration whenever Sacred Cowboys release a new album. Principal member Garry Gray holds his freak flag high in a fight against mediocrity in music, and he’s now reunited with a fellow founding member in Mark Ferrie.

    I have long argued that the Celibate Rifles captured the frantic and wild, surf-meets-Detroit Sydney Sound with their own laconic touch. Sacred Cowboys are a shining light of what the best of the Melbourne Sound. They play rootsy bar room blues, swampy while embracing post punk's excursions and maintaining a sense of punk's urgency.

Click for tix
SOLD OUT!

Send us stuff to review

PO Box 334
Oatley NSW
2223 Australia

Get in touch: barman@i94bar.com

The Living Eye


Right eye

I-94 Bar presents
Chris Masuak’s Dog Soldier
“The Shiny Side Tour”
OCT
8 - La La La’s, Wollongong, NSW
+ The Sugar Beats
+ Buzz Wagon
Tickets
9 - Smith’s Alternative, Canberra, ACT
+ ZZG
Tickets
10 - Shotkickers, Thornbury, VIC
+ Grindhouse
+ The Girlies
Tickets 
11 - Trash Cult, Bendigo, VIC
+ Trip Hazard
(matinee)
Tickets
15 - Hamilton Station Hotel, Newcastle, NSW
+ SPLODGE
(free)
16 - Federal Hotel, Bellingen, NSW
+ Love City Radio
(free)
17 - The Cave Inn, Brisbane, QLD
+ Mick Medew & The Ursula 4
+ The Spivs
Tickets
18 - Vinnies Dive, Southport, Gold Coast, QLD
+ Mick Medew & The Ursula 4
+ The Spivs
Tickets
23 - Link & Pin, Woy Woy, NSW
+ The Dunhill Blues
Tickets
24 - Marrickville Bowlo, Marrickville, NSW
+ Fuck The Neighbours
+ The Stallers
Tickets

Negative Approach (US)
Australian Tour
OCT
21 - Lynott’s Lounge, Perth, WA
22 - Ed Castle, Adelaide, SA
23 - The Tote, Melbourne, VIC
24 - Singing Bird Studios, Frankston, VIC
29 - The Baso, Canberra, ACT
30 - La La La’s, Wollongong, NSW
31 - The Chippo, Sydney, NSW
NOV
6 - Vinnies Dive Bar, Southport, QLD
7 - The Brightside, Brisbane, QLD
8 - Black Box Theatre, Nambour, QLD
Tickets

Troy Tempest
Ace Traffic Reporter
presents
"Apocalypse Mayhem 2026"
The Dark Clouds
+ Slack Punks
+ Van Ruin
+ Kung Fu Grip
+ DISGRACELand
MoshPit, St Peters, NSW
- Oct 23
Tickets

Shonen Knife (Japan)
“Re-cuttin’ Australia/NZ 2026”
OCT
14 - The Tote, Melbourne, VIC
+ Moler
15 - Volta, Ballarat, VIC
+ Moler
16 - Sooki Bar, Belgrave, VIC
+ Moler
17 - Croxton Block Party, Melbourne, VIC
18 - Altar, Hobart, TAS
21 - Milk Bar, Perth, WA
+ Turnstyle
22 - The Gov, Adelaide, SA
+ Moler
24 - ZED51
Roma Street Parkland, Brisbane, QLD
w/ Mudhoney
+ Custard + The Mark Of Cain
+ Cash Savage & The Last Drinks
+ Tape/Off
25 - Alice Springs Brewing Co,
Alice Springs, NT
28 - The Baso, Canberra, ACT
+ Turnstyle + Media Puzzle
29 - Crowbar, Sydney, NSW
+ Turnstyle + Media Puzzle
30 - Keystone 1889, Bathurst, NSW
+ Turnstyle + Media Puzzle
31 - Avalon RSL, Avalon Beach, NSW
+ Turnstyle + Media Puzzle
NOV
1 - King Street, Newcastle, NSW
+ Turnstyle + Media Puzzle + Nursery Crimes
24 - Trash Cult, Eaglehawk, VIC
7 – 8 Tidal Sounds Music Festival
w/ Hard-Ons, Bodyjar, The Porkers,
Youth Group, The Grogans + Peach Fur and more
Hoey Moey, Coffs Harbour, NSW

New Christs
NOV
21 - The Brightside, Brisbane, QLD
+ Suicide Country Hour
+  Mick Medew & The Ursula 4

The Bawdies (JP)
“This Is The Party” Australian Tour
6 - Factory Floor, Sydney, NSW
+ PocketWatch + Jupiter 5
7 - River Rocks 2026, Geelong, VIC
8 - Bergy Bandroom, Brunswick, VIC
Tickets

Joeys Coop
NOV 
28 - Blah Bar, Lismore, NSW
29 - Junk Bar, Brisbane, QLD (arvo)

The Cribs (UK)
"Selling A Vibe" Australian Tour
OCT
4 - 170 Russell, Melbourne, VIC
5 - Factory Theatre, Sydney, NSW
6 - The Triffid, Brisbane, QLD
8 - Rosemount Hotel, Perth, WA

Mudhoney
Australia-NZ 2026
OCT
16  - The Thornbury Theatre, Melbourne VIC 
17  - Torquay Hotel, Torquay VIC
18 - Theatre Royal, Castlemaine VIC 
20 - Volta, Ballarat VIC 
21- Felons Barrel Room, Manly NSW
22 - Factory Theatre, Sydney NSW
23 - King Street, Newcastle NSW 
24 - ZED 51, Brisbane QLD
25 - The Northern, Byron Bay NSW 
28 - Blue Smoke, Christchurch NZ 
29 - Meow, Wellington NZ 
30 - Totara St, Tauranga NZ -
31 - Harbour Hotel, Raglan NZ 
NOV
1 - Double Whammy, Auckland NZ

The Exploding Universe of Ed Kuepper
Ed Kuepper 50 Years Retrospective
RESCHEDULED
OCT
29 - Avoca Theatre, NSW 
30 - Canberra, The Street Theatre, ACT
31 - Wombarra Bowlo, NSW
NOV
4 - Adelaide, The Gov, SA
5 - Melbourne, National Theatre, VIC 
6 – Geelong, Barwon Heads Hotel, VIC
7 - Sydney, Factory Theatre, NSW
(matinee & evening shows)
13 - Fremantle, Freo Social, WA
15 - Brisbane, Princess Theatre, QLD
Tickets

Reverend Horton Heat (US)
Australian Tour
NOV
11 - Crowbar, Brisbane, QLD
+ The Linelockers
+ Jake & The Cadillacs
+ DJ Lori Lee
12 - The Gov, Adelaide, SA
+ The Satellites
13 - Factory Theatre, Sydney, NSW
+ The Johnnys
+ Pat Capocci
14 - Croxton Bandroom, Melbourne, VIC
+ The Johnnys
+ Ezra Lee & Jumpin' Jethro
15 - Theatre Royal, Castlemaine, VIC
+ The Johnnys

Hoodoo Gurus
"Rewind Tour - All Killer, No Filler"
+ Ratcat
+ The Stems
NOV
28 - Hindley Street Music Hall, Adelaide, SA
DEC
1 - Ice Cream Factory, Perth, WA
5 - Tumbalong Park, Sydney, NSW
6 - Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, VIC
11 - Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane, QLD
16 - Odeon Theatre, Hobart, TAS

The Saints 73-78
UK Tour with The Damned
NOV
25 - Brighton, Dome
27 - London, British Airways ARC
28 - Bristol, Beacon
30 - Manchester, Academy
DEC
1 - Newcastle, O2 City Hall
2 - Derby, Vaillant Live Derby
5 - Birmingham, O2 Academy

The Saints 73-78
Australian Tour
JAN
21 - Newcastle, King St
+ Chimers
22 - Sydney, Metro
+ Antenna
23 - Wollongong, Waves
+ The New Christs
29 - Brisbane, Tivoli
+ Tape / Off
30 - Gold Coast, Miami Marketta
+ Mick Medew & The Ursula 4
FEB
2 - Perth, Astor
+ Last Quokka
4 - Barwon Heads, Barwon Heads Hotel
+ dB4
5 - Melbourne, Croxton
+ Public Figures

 Public Image Ltd
Australia and NZ
JAN
20 - Auckland, Powerstation
22 - Brisbane, The Tivoli
23 - Sydney, Enmore Theatre
24 - Melbourne, The Forum
26 – Adelaide, The Gov
28 - Perth, The Astor

"Superpussy 2"
The Supersuckers
+ Nashville Pussy
+ Nine Pound Hammer
FEB 2027
18 - Crowbar, Brisbane, QLD
19 - Mo's Desert Clubhouse, Gold Coast, QLD
20 - Crowbar, Sydney, NSW
24 - Ed Castle, Adelaide, SA
26 - Barwon Club, Geelong, VIC
27 - Croxton Bandroom, Melbourne, VIC
28 - Young Street Tavern, Frankston, VIC

Respect The Rock Australian Tour
The Hellacopters + Gluecifier
MARCH
17 – Brisbane, The Triffid
18 – Sydney, Manning Bar
19 – Melbourne, The Croxton
20 – Adelaide, Ed Castle
Tickets

 

 

 

Fresh Reviews

All content © 2025 I-94 Bar
c/o PO Box 334 Oatley, NSW, Australia, 2223

Web development by TRO