The story of Ocean Alley’s new era can’t be retold without the context of cold, flowing beer, and Bernard Fanning.
The psychedelic surf-rock band enter that new phase from today (September 19th) with the release of Love Balloon (via Community Music), their fifth studio album and the follow-up to 2022’s Low Altitude Living.
The six-piece, comprising Baden Donegal (vocals), Angus Goodwin (guitar), Lach Galbraith (keys/vocals), Mitch Galbraith (guitar), Tom O’Brien (drums), and Nic Blom (bass), recorded the collection in three stages, over roughly two months, working for the first time with Nick DiDia, an all-time great in the rock space, a producer who has worked with the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Rage Against the Machine, and Powderfinger.
“He’s a legend,” Donegal tells Rolling Stone AU/NZ. “His rock experience probably suited our style, even though we weren’t going in there to make a rock, or heavier record. It was such an organic kind of way that we came across working with Nick.”
Enter beer, and Fanning.
Ocean Alley found an ally in the former Powderfinger frontman, who landed more songs than anyone in triple j’s Hottest 100 of Australian Songs countdown. After some brews at a music festival, where both were on the bill, Fanning suggested the lads visit DiDia in his studio, and, just maybe, get down to business.
“We kind of had to break the ice a bit, but that didn’t take long at all,” Blom explains of their initial meeting with DiDia. “We had a couple of beers, played some golf and just hung out like mates and talked a little bit about music. And off we went.”
Love Music?
Get your daily dose of everything happening in Australian/New Zealand music and globally.
At the start, Ocean Alley had just three songs to show off. “We didn’t really know what we were doing,” recalls Goodwin over a Zoom, with his bandmates scattered around the country and the globe. “He’s laid-back but he lets you run with ideas. There’s a lot of momentum behind his style.”
As the songs, and then the recordings, took shape, Fanning stopped by and even lent some acoustic guitars for the sessions.
If Fanning is a fan of Ocean Alley, he’s not the only one.
The band have, with their own brand of summery, chilled-out music, best played in a field or a hammock, broke through with 2018’s “Confidence”, which went all the way to No. 1 on triple J’s Hottest 100 poll.
Its parent album, Chiaroscuro, just missed out on a top 10 finish on the ARIA Albums Chart, though the ball was now rolling, fast. Follow-ups Lonely Diamond (from 2020) and Low Altitude Living (2022) both peaked at No. 3 on the national chart.
With “Confidence”, the “doors were opened and then that would open another door,” recounts Lach Galbraith. “It was progression like that. There was a sudden onset of popularity, but there was still plenty of groundwork to lay. Especially overseas.”
The process made life in the band a “whole lot more serious,” says his brother, Mitch. “There were a lot of changes we had to make, the show had to be a lot more professional. There was a lot more pressure. We had to tone back the beers before we went on stage and to make sure that every note was correct. Get the key right.”
Judging by their touring itinerary, Ocean Alley are hitting all the right notes. Their 2025 international touring itinerary has included spots at Lollapalooza, Sziget, and Austin City Limits, and shows at Hollywood Palladium and Brooklyn Paramount; their first trip to Latin America with shows in Mexico, Brazil, and Chile; and their largest headline show to date, anywhere, on September 27th at London’s 10,000-capacity Alexandra Palace.
Like a love balloon, Ocean Alley’s story is rising high, at its own pace.
Those first shows in Europe were often played to ex-pats, small crowds, and even presented in cafes. By focusing on festival spots, and wowing thousands of locals, the Australians are upgraded. “It’s a slow progress, but an enjoyable one,” says O’Brien. “It helps to do well at home first and then springboard overseas, but, yeah, it’s definitely the goal to tick all those boxes in a different country.”
Ocean Alley ticked another box with the release of a limited-edition mid-strength beverage, Coopers Ocean Alley Ale, which dropped in March through a partnership with Coopers. Are they keen to do it all again? Of course, but the road is long, and they’re not getting off it anytime soon. Australian shows are mapped out for the first quarter of 2026, and include winery shows. Further international dates will follow.
Despite DiDia’s influence, Love Balloon is not an album that demands to be cranked to 10. It is, without ambiguity, an Ocean Alley record, in its own, mellow lane. “We’re really grateful for his time and experience,” says Donegal. “It’s turned into a really great album, our favourite now, in our opinion.”
By the time their show reaches these shores, expect to hear fresh cuts including “Tangerine” and “Left of the Dealer”. And, of course, “Confidence”. “We can’t get away with not playing that anymore,” Donegal quips. “It’s one of those songs that’s going to be permanently on the setlist.”
Ocean Alley’s Love Balloon is out now.
Ocean Alley 2026 Australian Tour
Presented by Live Nation, Face to Face Touring, Macro Music, UNIFIED Music Group Supported by triple j
For complete tour and ticket information, visit: oceanalley.com.au
Saturday, January 24th
Catani Gardens, Melbourne
Friday, January 30th
Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane
Saturday, January 31st
The Domain, Sydney
Saturday, February 21st
Freo Esplanade, Fremantle
Sunday, February 22nd
3 Oceans Winery, Margaret River
Friday, February 27th
Spark Arena, Auckland
