Dune Rats have long embodied the do-it-yourself ethos of punk rock, a tradition deeply rooted in Brisbane’s music scene. From the early days of bands like The Purple Hearts and The Saints, Brisbane has been a breeding ground for rebellious, high-energy music, and Dune Rats are no exception. Since their formation, the trio—Danny Beus (vocals, guitar), BC Michaels (drums), and Brett Jansch (bass)—has made a name for themselves with their infectious, carefree attitude and their knack for creating raucous, feel-good punk anthems. The journey began when Danny, a beach-loving skater from Coffs Harbour, moved to Brisbane. It was there he met BC Michaels at a local band competition. While neither of their bands won, the friendship and musical partnership between the two would go on to become one of Australia’s most beloved punk acts. "At first, there weren’t any bands writing for kids like us," Danny recalls, "so we just started putting on our own shows." This grassroots effort to build a scene helped cultivate a supportive network of like-minded bands, including DZ Deathrays and Violent Soho. Over time, the Dune Rats community grew, and with it, their ambitions. They released their debut self-titled album in 2014, and from there, their momentum only increased. Their second album, The Kids Will Know It’s Bullshit, debuted at No. 1 on the ARIA charts in 2017 and cemented their status as one of Australia’s premier punk bands. Singles like “Bullshit” and “Scott Green” became anthems, and the band found themselves playing headline shows and festivals around the world, including Splendour in the Grass and Laneway The band’s 2022 release Real Rare Whale was another success, earning them an ARIA nomination for Best Hard Rock Album. Tracks like “Up” fueled their relentless international touring schedule across 2023, which saw the band play to packed rooms throughout the US, Canada, Italy, Germany, Czech Republic, Belgium, France, South Africa, Ireland, over 20 shows in the UK where they made two visits. Back in Australia Dunies played a swag of headline and festival plays around the country including a huge Splendour In The Grass set where they played their hugely successful Triple J Like A Version cover of The Angels – Am I Even Gonna See Your Face Again. Following these whirlwind years, Dune Rats returned to Australia with a renewed sense of purpose and creativity. Their latest album, If It Sucks, Turn It Up, released in August 2024, reflects their evolution both as musicians and as friends. Inspired by their touring experiences, the album mixes the band’s signature carefree spirit with a deeper, more polished sound. Singles like “Cheapskate” capture the essence of Dune Rats: fun, energetic, and grounded in the joy of friendship and punk rock. In late Aug 2024, Dune Rats embarked on a massive national tour alongside U.S. punk legends FIDLAR, New Zealand's, DARTZ and Aussie ragers, The Pingers, selling out venues across Australia. “We’ve been around for 13 years now,” Danny reflects. “The secret? We just love what we do, and we love each other. Every day we push ourselves to get better, and that’s what keeps us going.” With their latest album and a decade of success under their belts, Dune Rats show no signs of slowing down. If it sucks? Well, just turn it up!