Flattrakkers wants you to check out a photo on MySpace in the Gig Posters album

Drive your ride and get along for a great arvo of rockabilly and carz

Nationals Teaser

Ever wonder what makes the kangaroos Down Under hop? The wallabies wallow? Or the duckbill platypuses platipulsate? Well, the ones that live around Newcastle, Australia, are probably reacting to Australia's rockabilly band The Flattrakkers and their latest album, Speedcar Demon. It's 13 tracks about moving fast, shaking babies (a felony in some states) and swap meets. Since forming in '04, the trio has managed to channel its genuine passion for cars into a thumping, no-excuses rockabilly sound. With one hand keeping a hard bass line and the other firmly grasping the authentic dark, heavy roots of rockabilly, Speedcar Demon is ready to fill that aching hole in your music collection. You know that little bit of space next to your Men at Work CD. Can anyone have too many neo-classic Australian Rockabilly CDs? Speedcar Demon, the band's second album, features a sound that has brought the band fame from Sydney to Perth. Loaded with 12 originals plus a cover of Louis King's "Werewolf Baby." It manages to capture the wildness of a live performance while maintaining a studio sound. Mark Hawkins speaks rockabilly well. The vocalist and guitarist has tooled his seamless, deep voice into a powerful instrument that brings the feel and power of the entire band out and into every song. Matt Ward surprises listeners with his well-used double bass and Bruce "Real Skins McCoy" Findlay helps bring it all together with powerful drums that boom, boom, boom for attention, working hard to be heard over the ubiquitous bass. They've got the sound, the spirit and the attitude. Slap this CD into your player, watch your woofers blur and put another shrimp on the barby. Well done boys, well done.

The Flattrakers latest offering “Speedcar Demon” has everything you would expect from this fantastic Band. This cd is full of grunt & power. It fills your head with pure Flattrakers music at its best. Am I a fan? Yes, definitely & for always.

I love these guys, their music is for everyone who’s into good music, no matter what the genre. Once you play this cd you’ll be wanting more & more. This Band is just so consistently good & they just keep on keeping on with fabulous music.

Congratulations to The Flattrakkers on another winner which will be featured regularly on my show.

Wendy Rudin
Presenter
Spirit FM 91.1

It's no secret The Flattrakkers are race fans. The band is aptly named for their love of the old speedway days and after forming in 2004, they naturally combined rockabilly music with cars and racing!

Now this passion for music and Midget racing has merged to create the Official theme song for the Speedcar Super Series 2008-2009: "SPEEDCAR DEMON".

The three band members grew up as huge motorsport fans with Mark's father Ron Hawkins racing sedans at Morisset and Heddon Greta before becoming an integral part of the Newcastle Motordrome as time keeper for 20 odd years. With the closure of Newcastle and music an interruption to Mark's dream of becoming a racer himself, Mark's passion for the sport was instead kept alight with music. Meanwhile Matt's father Garry Ward raced sprintcars for a number of years with Matt being his biggest fan, and all three band members and their families are heavily involved in the hot rod scene.
 

It seems fitting then that The Flattrakkers are now involved with the Speedcar Super Series since speedway is at the top of the list as a writing influence with songs such as "Back For The Thrill", "Flattrack Racin'", "High Octane" and "Gas It Up" all from their debut album release "High Octane".

"We're excited about the release of our 2nd album "Speedcar Demon" both here and overseas" said lead singer Mark. "And we're stoked that the SSS has taken the title track on as the Official Theme Song of the Speedcar Super Series for 2008-2009!"

There are 13 high octane rockabilly tunes on their 2nd album includes songs such as "Speedcar Demon", "Dirt Track Outlaw", "Real Truckin' Cowboy", "Grease Monkey", "Swap Meet" and many more; with the album due for release in October 2008 in time for the opener of the SSS!

"Speedcar Demon" will be available for purchase directly from the band at all of their gigs, online TheSpeedwayShop.com.au, at all rounds of the Speedcar Super Series, or direct from the band via www.myspace.com/flattrakkers!

Visit now for more information on this cracking band, upcoming shows and other merchandise.

The Flattrakkers have gone in hard with a string of good gigs up their way and the release of a classy looking and good sounding CD. Titled "High Octane" there is a strong Hot Rod influence, blending traditional Rockabilly with touches of Country Rock. They have drawn influences from numerous sources and I could swear I heard some Howling MoonDoggies guitar work in there (strange as they are unlikely to have heard this band who split up some years ago) with I'm sure touches of Johnny Greens Blues Cowboys in the Country Rock tracks (more likely as they are locals). I listened real hard and the music was intriguing, as I kept thinking, "Yep, I know who that is", only to have it disappear with the next track.

The Flattrakkers flat rock! Both the band and the CD are aptly named. Just like the flat track racers they took their name from, they're goin' flat out from the drop of the flag. High Octane passes the CKD "leave-it-in-test". In other words, when we've listened to the CD long enough to do a review, we still leave it in the car so we can listen to it even when we don't have to! And we've been known to listen to this one several times over and over before we pull it out. Yeah, it's that good. It would be really difficult to pick a favourite song in here, but Red Hot Rockabilly Hot Rod sure ranks among them. But then so does Back For The Thrill....and High Octane....and Rock All Night.....and...  I hope to be able to see this Australian (Newcastle, NSW) trio in person some day. It's apparent from their CD that they'd be a blast in person. They're one of those bands who open their songs with a riff that has the listener moving with the music and expecting it to rock. Check their MySpace page for a sample of one of their songs. The rest are that good, too. Get the CD.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />....

The Flattrakkers were next on stage and they pulled out all stops with a scorching set of hot rod rockabilly, great tunes and killer licks. Some greazers are saying they were the 'best' band of the weekend, but choosing one band out of nineteen is not in the GreazeFest game plan. What I can say is that they ROCKED and looked the part too with their pinstriped Gretsch and Coop devils head bass! These guys are have got this hot rod rockabilly sound nailed.