The Ocean Party
| Company type | Indie rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2009 in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia |
| Defunct | February 2019 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
Key people | Lachlan Denton, Curtis Wakeling, Liam Halliwell, Jordan Thompson, Mark Rogers, Zac Denton (deceased) |
| Products | Eight studio albums, EPs, singles |
The Ocean Party was an Australian indie rock ensemble originating from Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, before relocating to Melbourne. Established in 2009, the final roster featured Lachlan Denton on drums, Curtis Wakeling and Liam Halliwell handling guitar duties (with Halliwell also playing saxophone), Jordan Thompson on keyboards, and Mark Rogers on bass. Vocals were shared among all members both in recordings and live shows. Renowned for their extensive discography, they produced eight studio albums within seven years while maintaining an intense touring itinerary that spanned regional areas and major metropolitan centers.
After ten years of activity, The Ocean Party declared their breakup in February 2019, concluding with a farewell tour. This decision followed the death of Zac Denton—guitarist, drummer, and vocalist—in October 2018 from a brain cyst. The group expressed that proceeding without him "wouldn’t feel right."
Formation and Shakin' Like a Leaf EP (2009–2010)
The Ocean Party’s roots trace back to Wagga Wagga, where founding members Lachlan Denton, Curtis Wakeling, Liam Halliwell, and Ben Protasiewicz first connected during their high school years. Supported by a thriving local music community and government initiatives, they participated in multiple youth bands before moving to Melbourne in 2009. The original lineup consisted of Denton (vocals, guitar), Wakeling (guitar), Halliwell (bass), and Protasiewicz (drums). The band’s name was inspired by a themed celebration held for Wakeling’s 21st birthday.
Early tracks such as "Winter," "Shaking Like a Leaf," and "St Kilda Beach" were released via Triple J Unearthed. "Winter" premiered on national radio in November 2009 on Triple J’s Home and Hosed program. These songs, alongside "Clouds" and "I Don't Know If I Should Go," formed their self-titled debut EP, which was launched at The Tote Hotel in Collingwood in November 2009. Shortly thereafter, Protasiewicz departed and Simon Lam took over on drums; pianist Jordan Thompson joined the band early in 2010. The group gained further recognition when "Shaking Like a Leaf" was broadcast on Triple J’s Richard Kingsmill show in February 2010. Building on this momentum, they released "Young Love" via SoundCloud in November 2010 to promote an upcoming demos EP, though details about this release remain sparse.
The Sun Rolled Off the Hills (2011–12)
By early 2011, the five-member lineup concentrated on producing their first full-length album. Australian musician Dave Graney endorsed them after witnessing their support performance for Ron Peno, describing their sound as distinctly post-punk with ringing guitars and vocals reminiscent of early Orange Juice. Recording took place at their home base in Northcote, with the album completed by September 2011. The lead single "The Dogs" was independently released on Bandcamp on 1 October 2011, accompanied by the B-side "Luscious Lips." Music critic Zahra Khamissa commended "The Dogs" as a breezy guitar-driven tune ideal for laid-back atmospheres. The follow-up single "Deadbeat" became available both digitally and physically on 15 November 2011, followed by a reissue of "Young Love" on 20 December 2011.
The Sun Rolled Off the Hills was officially issued on vinyl LP, CD, and digital platforms on 31 January 2012 through Sound of Melbourne Records. The ten tracks—lasting approximately 27 minutes—were collectively composed by the band members. Unlike subsequent releases, this album primarily features guitars, piano, and drums with minimal studio production effects. Critics highlighted its succinct and straightforward approach. Songs such as "Shakin' Like a Leaf" drew parallels to The Shins, while the closing track "Every House" evoked comparisons to The Go-Betweens.
The album’s lyrics delve into themes including romantic relationships, leaving one's hometown, and adolescence. Specific references include places like Shepparton and Northcote railway station. Opening numbers "The Dogs" and "The Farm" emphasize expansive rural imagery and sunshine—motifs revisited in the final track "Every House." Meanwhile, "Shakin' Like a Leaf" explores anxiety about losing virginity; "Still Raining" and "Shepparton" address difficulties faced during long-distance relationships. The single "Deadbeat" contrasts a homeless person with an arts student to explore notions of respect and upbringing. Other songs concentrate on youthful romance.
To support the album launch, the band embarked on a four-date tour beginning in Wagga Wagga on 17 February 2012, followed by shows in Sydney, Adelaide, and Melbourne.
The Oddfellows' Hall and the passing of Zac Denton (2018)
In October 2018, Zac Denton passed away unexpectedly due to brain cyst-induced swelling. To pay tribute to him, the group released their concluding album, The Oddfellows' Hall, earlier than initially planned.
Band members
Lachlan Denton Zac Denton Liam Halliwell Nick Kearton Simon Lam Ben Protasiewicz Mark Rogers Jordan Thompson Curtis Wakeling
Studio albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| The Sun Rolled Off the Hills |
|
| Social Clubs |
|
| Split |
|
| Soft Focus |
|
| Light Weight |
|
| Restless |
|
| Beauty Point |
|
| The Oddfellows' Hall |
|
Compilation albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Mess & Noise Critics Poll 2015 |
|
| B-Grade Material |
|
Mini albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| I.B.O. |
|
Extended plays
| Title | EP details |
|---|---|
| The Ocean Party |
|
| Demos |
|
| In a Knot |
|
| Split |
|
| USA Tour EP |
|
| Guilt |
|
| Nothing Grows |
|
Singles
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "The Dogs" | 2011 | The Sun Rolled Off the Hills |
| "Deadbeat" | ||
| "Young Love" | ||
| "On the Floor" | 2012 | Social Clubs |
| "In a Knot" | ||
| "Split" | 2013 | Split |
| "Quarter Life Crisis" | ||
| "Wading In" | 2014 | Soft Focus |
| "Head Down" | ||
| "Deluded" | 2015 | |
| "Floodlights" | ||
| "Guess Work" | Light Weight | |
| "Greedy" | ||
| "Black Blood" | ||
| "Back Bar" | 2016 | Restless |
| "Restless" | ||
| "Quality Control" | 2017 | Beauty Point |
| "More to Run" | ||
| "Tell" | Guilt | |
| "Promotional Single" | 2018 | I.B.O. |
| "Off and On" | The Oddfellows' Hall | |
| "What It's Worth" | ||
| "Nothing Grows" | 2019 | Nothing Grows |
Music videos
| Song | Year | Director |
|---|---|---|
| "Deadbeat" | 2011 | The Ocean Party |
| "Social Clubs" | 2012 | |
| "In a Knot" | Matthew Cribb | |
| "Split" | 2013 | |
| "Quarter Life Crisis" | ||
| "Wading In" | 2014 | Thomas Mendelovits |
| "Head Down" | The Ocean Party | |
| "Deluded" | 2015 | Alex Badham |
| "Floodlights" | Alex Badham | |
| "Norman Street" | The Ocean Party | |
| "Guess Work" | Katrina and Troy | |
| "Greedy" | Rex Kane-Hart | |
| "Black Blood" | Matthew Cribb and The Ocean Party | |
| "Light Weight" | 2016 | The Ocean Party |
| "Back Bar" | Bree Carter and Matthew Cribb | |
| "Restless" | Declan Baker | |
| "Decent Living" | 2017 | The Ocean Party |
| "Quality Control" | ||
| "More to Run" | style=text-align:center; "|Zachary Bradtke | |
| "Memorial Flame Trees" | rowspan=5 text-align=center; "|The Ocean Party | |
| "Cracked and Shattering" | ||
| "Off and On" | 2018 | |
| "What It's Worth" | 2018 | |
| "Rain On Tin" | 2019 |