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trauma magnet

  •  
    You can watch the World Premiere of the Ben Hamilton-produced film-clip for “Better Now”, the lead track from the forthcoming album  “Trauma Magnet” from Sydney supergroup Van Ruin here at 0900 (AEST) on Friday.


    Following on from last year’s debut EP, “Jails, Death & Institutions”(Crankinhaus Records), Van Ruin has rapidly upped the ante with their first album, ‘Trauma Magnet” ahead of their first European tour in September 2025. “Trauma Magnet” unveils a cast of characters whose fallible traits play out against a backdrop of high-energy rock and roll and hook-laden songs.

    The members of Van Ruin's history in Australian rock is pretty vast - they've been a part of crucial acts like the New Christs, Lime Spiders, Deniz Tek Group, The Visitors, ME262, Decline of the Reptilesand Chris Massuak’s Dog Soldier,as well as East Coast Low, Hell Crab City, Chickenstones, Loose Pills, The Panadollsand Aberration. 

    Van Ruin are Phil Van Rooyen - Vocals/Guitar, Alan Creed - Guitar/Vocals/Keyboards, Andy Newman - Bass/Keyboards and Stuart Wilson- Drums/Vocals

    “Trauma Magnet” is being released on vinyl, CD and streaming and you can pre-order on Bandcamp or the label site, or pre-save.

  • barman 2025The Barman on a Banyo and Brisbane talent scouting trip with Stu McLaughlin (The Mick Medew & Ursula 4) and Kylie Lovejoy of The Glycereens.

    TEN BEST ALBUMS OF 2025 (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)*

    Badlanding – East Coast Low (Crankinhaus)
    A step up to world class from this evergreen Newcastle crew. The horn section and Rob Younger’s production are secret sauces but don’t forget Michael Cornish’s killer vocal.

    Trauma Magnet – Van Ruin (Crankinhaus)
    People make a big deal about credentials but the past history of members does not always make a good record. This is an exception. No laurels are being rested on here. Al Creed’s guitar and Phil Van Rooyen’s songs rule. 

    10 More – MC50 (earMUSIC)
    This slipped out with little fanfare at the end of 2025. Even better than the live bonus MC50 disc that came with the anaemic faux “MC5” album “Heavy Lifting”. Paraphrasing SonnyVincent: Rock on, (late) Brother Wayne.

  • trauma magnetTrauma Magnet – Van Ruin (Crankinhaus Records)

    It has been an explosive 12 months for Van Ruin, a band formed in Sydney only a year ago that almost immediately began recording their first mini album. Band leader Phil Van Rooyen had a batch of deeply personal songs he had written about his years of counselling substance abuse in the underbelly of the city's Northern Beaches.

    Phil threw himself into a flurry of  writing and recording, working with his decades-long mate and Al Creed, of local legendary bands like Dr Fruitworld and Panadolls,as well as the New Christs.

    Enter Stuart Wilson (Lime Spiders, New Christs, Chris Masuak’s Dog Soldier and The Crisps)on drums. There were a couple of the raggedy, under-rehearsed gigs that were hanging by a thread at times, and as thrilling as they were they did not capture the brutal darkness and brilliance of what would the debut EP,  “Jails, Death and Institutions”.

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The Living Eye


Right eye

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27 – The Main Bar, Ballarat, VIC
28 – Union Hotel, Brunswick, VIC
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1 – Bendigo Hotel, Brunswick, VIC

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FEB
14 - Shotkickers, Thornbury (8pm)
+ Public House + Special Guests
20 - The Tote Front Bar, Collingwood (6pm)
+ Champ Ruby
21 - Kindred Bandroom, Footscray (8pm)
+ Stimpies + special guests

The Sugar Beats 
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Golden Barley, Enmore
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TsuShiMaMiRe (JP)
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FEB
19 - Shotkickers, Melbourne, VIC
20 – Trash Cult, Bendigo, VIC
22– Young St Tavern, Frankston, VIC
27 - Shadows, Canberra, ACT
28 – Moshpit, Sydney, NSW

The Jackets (CH)
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FEB
25 – Shotkickers, Thornbury, VIC
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26 - Vineyard, St Kilda, VIC
(Door sales only)
27 – Mixtape Bar & Brewing, Marrickville,
Sydney, NSW
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+ The Strike-Outs + pocketwatch
28 - The Bendi, Collingwood, VIC
MAR
1 -– Trash Cult, Bendigo, VIC (arvo show)
+ Grinding Eyes, + The Damos
2  – The Last Chance, Melbourne, VIC
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Cosmic Psychos
"I Really Like Beer Tour"
FEB
12  — Royal Oak, Launceston, TAS
13 — Forth Pub, Devonport, TAS
14  — Altar, Hobart, TAS

Bleak Squad
FEB
7 - Blue Mountains Theatre & Community Hub,
Springwood, NSW
8 - East Perth Power Station, WA
12 - .Her Majesty's Theatre, Ballarat, VIC
13 -  Theatre Royal, Castlemaine, VIC
14 – Riverboats Festival, Echuca, VIC
19 - Princess Theatre, Brisbane, QLD
20 – Imperial Hotel, Eumundi, QLD
21 - The Regent Cinema, Murwillumbah, NSW
MAR
4 - Canberra Theatre Playhouse, ACT
5 - The Factory Theatre, Sydney, NSW
8 - Golden Plains Festival, Meredith, VIC
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On The Loose Presents
Guitar Wolf Australian Tour
MAR
14 - Perth, Seasonal Brewing Co.
15 - Fremantle, The Buffalo Club
all WA shows with Aborted Tortoise
18 -  Gold Coast, Vinnie's Dive Bar
w/ supports TBC
19 - Nambour, The Ramp
w/ supports TBC
20 - Brisbane, Season Three
w/ Future Shocks & Evil Dick Industries
21 - Sydney, Factory Fusebox
w/ supports TBC
22 -  Wollongong, La La La's
w/ Itchy & the Nits
25 - Bendigo, Trash Cult
w/ supports TBC
26 - Castlemaine, Bridge Hotel
w/ The Freedom Wave
27 - Melbourne, The Tote
w/ Alien Nosejob & Cujo
28 - Frankston, Singing Bird
w/ Split System & DJ Centipede & The Worms
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“Surreal Science”

Music of the Scientists & 
Kim Salmon
and The Surrealists

APR

10 – The Corner, Melbourne
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