Skipping Girl Vinegar

Up-and-coming indie darlings, Skipping Girl Vinegar, are one of Australia’s most talked about bands. Childhood friends and celebrated songwriters, they have released two critically acclaimed albums, 'Sift the Noise' (2008) and 'Keep Calm, Carry the Monkey' (2011) that made many ‘Album of the year' lists. Both albums have received extensive radio play on Triple J, ABC and community radio across the country. Where hi-fi swagger meets low-fi sway, Skipping Girl Vinegar have carved out their own heart-warming, hobo-pop sound that is testament to the band’s old-world authenticity and song craft. 

Launched in 2008, their debut album ‘Sift the Noise’ brought the band widespread critical acclaim from senior music writers across the nation. Their debut single, ‘One Chance’, was the Australian iTunes ‘Single of the Week’, added to high-rotation on Triple J and championed by major alternative and ABC radio nationwide. The accompanying animated clip for ‘One Chance’ also received critical praise, with Rage featuring it as their first ever ‘Indie Clip of the Week’ and JTV featuring it as their ‘New Clip of the Week’ before it then charted in their Top 20. They were also highlighted in Triple J’s Oz Music month as a ‘Next Crop’ artist.

Following the success of ‘One Chance’ and with the release of their debut album pending, Skipping Girl Vinegar were offered some serious major label & indie offers to release the album in Australia. They made the decision to maintain their independent route at home and release via their own label Secret Fox & license the album in Australia to indie label Popboomerang and MGM. Released in Australia during September 2008, SGV’s debut album ‘Sift the Noise’ is testament to the band’s obsession with melody, pop-hooks and the search to stretch their song craft. A dark, warm, organic record that reflects the environments and journey of the band, ‘Sift the Noise’ was received ecstatically by public and media alike. Reviews across Australia were rapturous. Rip It Up Magazine in Adelaide and Rave Magazine in Brisbane both made the title track their respective ‘Single of the Week’, and press in Sydney, Melbourne and all other capitals were no less receptive. Drum Media called it “a classic pop sense that doesn’t get bogged in its own vision of itself”, but Rip It Up Magazine were straight to the point: “In an age of downloads and ringtones, Skipping Girl Vinegar stand out from the pack”. JMAG and the Music Australia Guide (MAG) both gave the album 4.5 stars. The title track was added to high rotation on JJJ and ABC local radio nationwide in February 2009. The accompanying animated clip for ‘Sift the Noise’ also received critical acclaim, with Rage featuring it as SGV's second ‘Indie Clip of the Week’.

And so it has continued. SGV has played many of Australia's premier festivals including a packed tent at Splendour In The Grass, The Falls Festival, Woodford Folk Festival, Sunset Sounds, Pyramid Rock, Port Fairy Folk Festival, Newtown Festival, Northbridge Festival, Apollo Bay Music Festival and Queenscliff Music Festival. SGV have also supported the likes of The Lemonheads (USA), Something for Kate, Shout Out Louds (Sweden), Little Birdy, Missy Higgins, Angus & Julia Stone, Kate Miller-Heidke, Weddings Parties Anything (reunion tour) and many more.
Fast forward to 2011, and the band has proudly released their highly anticipated follow up album ‘Keep Calm, Carry the Monkey’ [7 May 2011].

‘Keep Calm, Carry the Monkey’ was written across two continents and recorded on the Victorian coast. It was mixed in Nashville by legendary indie engineer Brad Jones and produced by SGV’s Mark Lang , indie-wiz Nick Huggins [Kid Sam, Whitley], Caleb James [Yves Klein Blue] and Greg Arnold [Stonefield]. The album is rich with sonic landscapes, melodies and lyrical turns, and was received across the country to critical acclaim and made many ‘Album of the Year’ lists. ‘Keep Calm, Carry the Monkey’ showcases the band’s songwriting prowess with a darker sonic experience to the band’s debut. Their second album is a layered and deeply intricate piece of work with its moods linked by soundscape textures, giving the album and its stories a strong visual, filmic quality. SGV unravel the human connection of love and loss, delivering a contemporary classic album that will be held close by many for years to come. 

“Album of the year? It’s going to be hard to top. Deep & dark and it will haunt you.” - JB MAG 
“An intricate work of art... deadly serious compositions, the lyrics dark, winding corridors of meaning.”-? Herald Sun 
“An indie force of nature”, ‘Album of the Year Finalist’- The Age
“Album of the Year. SGV deliver an edgy pop masterpiece- 4.5 Stars”- Jeff Jenkins, Inpress
“Blending Springsteen-esque hope with Luke Steele otherworldliness tracks roar with Black Rebel Motorcycle Club infused energy with Lang's lyrical strengths on show -
4 Stars”- Rolling Stone (August, 2011)
”Skipping Girl Vinegar are right on the money with their second album. Subtle and adventurous... This is clever and original which is what good songwriting should be” - Sunday Mail ??
”Dreamy Soundscapes… Haunting Melodies… full of heartache and hope”- Rave
“A wonderful exhibition of the group's ability to paint masterpieces with each stroke”- ?The Dwarf?
“You find highlight after highlight, deep under the layers of the melody- 4.5 Stars”- Time Off Magazine

‘Keep Calm, Carry The Monkey’ proudly closes with a hauntingly special guest performance from legendary singer/songwriter Ron Sexsmith (Canada]. If you take the time to explore the cover art on this new album, you will see that SGV are not your average collective. Pushing the boundaries of how music is delivered in the physical form, the band are deeply invested in a holistic approach to making work. Demonstrated by their award winning art-based animation film clips and physical CD art, the roots of the band are deep and intrinsically entwined. Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, Skipping Girl Vinegar are childhood friends Chris Helm, Mark Lang, Sare Lang, Amanthi Lynch & Kelly Lane.