The Scenic Rim will roar to life this April with The Long Sunset. Headliners and this month's cover stars Lime Cordiale will be bringing their signature sunny disposition in spades, alongside an unbelievable support lineup of Winston Surfshirt, Hatchie, Sycco, Tia Gostelow and more.
No, we’re not kidding. It’s really that epic.
And Oli Leimbach from Lime Cordiale agrees.
“It’s such an awesome lineup,” he says. We’re chatting just before soundcheck for a gig the guys are playing that night in Dee Why, and he’s hyped.
“Sycco is awesome,” Oli declares. “We went to a basketball game with her in LA. We saw the Lakers and we were buying beers so big you basically have to trolley them to your seats. Everything’s oversized!
“Hatchie we know a bit, they’ve got such an awesome 90s nostalgia.
“We grew up on the northern beaches with the Winston Surfshirt guys. We were struggling bands together in the same suburbs, playing empty rooms at the same time.”
Empty rooms are no longer an issue for Lime Cordiale, with sold out tours around the globe, streams in the hundreds of millions and ARIA awards on the shelf attesting to the popularity and staying power of these talented Sydney boys.
Formed in 2009 by brothers Oli and Louis Leimbach, Lime Cordiale has seen a handful of lineup changes over the years, with the sibling duo forming the band’s stalwart core. Absolute grinders, the brothers said yes to every gig; every opportunity that came their way for years, and absolutely paid their dues before things started paying off for them in return.
“There were so many years we had day jobs and at one point we were like ‘Are we gonna do this for real?’ We just had to make it a job,” Oli shrugs.
“You don’t earn money for so long, and that’s really tricky. If someone didn’t want to be in the band anymore or take a wedding gig because it paid more, we always understood. We were like ‘okay. We’ll get someone else.’ But we’ve kept the same band now for quite a while which is nice because you can grow and develop.”
After 14 years of working their way up through an industry that can be pretty brutal, I’m curious if Oli has any lessons he’s willing to pass on to artists who are just starting out. He thinks for a sec.
“Hmm. I don’t know if I have any words of wisdom, except for that you’ve just gotta keep plugging on. It’s pretty tiring. I work on the band every day. I’m pretty obsessed with it, pushing it forward.
“It’s probably ruined a few relationships and things,” he continues ruefully. “But you do have to get quite self-obsessed.”
The main Lime Cordiale relationship is of course between the two brothers, and it’s a strong one.
“We live down the road from each other now,” explains Oli.
“We lived together until I was like 30, so we pretty much spent 30 years together and now it’s kind cool to live apart. We still see each other every day though. I can’t imagine playing music with anyone else to be honest. I don’t think I wouldn’t be able to argue with someone else. Being brothers you get really good at arguing,” he laughs.
So do they ever get sick of each other?
“A little bit,” he chuckles.
“He gets sick of me, I don’t get sick of him. I get annoying and bossy. When we finally have some downtime I’m the one that’s like ‘Hey we need to meet up and do this thing for socials or this brand’, and he’s like ‘Fuck! Give me a day off!’”
Lifelong surfers and passionate environmentalists, the guys are definitely hoping to get some days off when they hit the Scenic Rim for The Long Sunset. Although familiar with the coastline, this will be their first gig in the hinterland.
“Such a beautiful place to play,” Oli says. The Gold Coast is funny because you’ve got this one side that’s beach and surf and partying and then you drive a few minutes west and you’re in this amazing green area.”
Both Oli and Louis are conscious of their footprint and take whatever steps they can to manage it. They are both vegetarians, and have teamed up with renewables organisation FEAT to invest in a range of clean energy solutions, as well as partnering with Made in Hemp to produce sustainable band merch.
“We have a bit of a heavy carbon footprint compared to people that aren’t flying so much, so we need to be offsetting it how every we can, and in a moral way,” Oli shares.
“It’s important for us to acknowledge that in Australia we’re living on stolen land. And I think everyone has a responsibility to care for this country that we’re on. I think in everyday scenarios we need to be a good person and be giving back to society and helping humanity. And for us it’s very much environmental.”
Fans of Lime Cordiale will be treated to a spirited show at The Long Sunset, full of the quirky live energy the band is famous for. Despite their success, the boys have remained humble and true to their roots; hugely grateful for every single fan.
“We met this guy who saw us play at a mall years and years ago,” says Oli.
“I didn’t think we’d ever played there, I’d lost the memory, but he remembered it. And he was at our gig yesterday!
“We’re so stoked that people are still coming to see us.”
---
Experience one of the most picturesque music festivals in Australia when The Long Sunset comes to Elysian Fields in Canungra on 29 April. Go for the day or stay a while with camping and glamping available all weekend long. Visit the website for tix and info.