Life is good in the Cog camp at the moment. Bondi’s favourite rockers have recently returned from the UK, following a tour with Shihad. Their sophomore recording Sharing Space has been on high rotation, and the band has just announced a series of homecoming shows, as well as a few festival slots, most notably headlining the inaugural Badlands Festival in Sydney mid-September.

” Sharing Space has been performing really well – most people I’ve spoken to seem to enjoy it. It’s a slow, hard process getting it out there, but it’s happening!” bassist Luke Gower beams proudly. “The last tour we did was our biggest yet, and we loved every moment of it.” Despite the difficult situation surrounding the conception of the sophomore offering, the trio hasn’t looked back. “In all honesty, I left that all behind in Weed. I’m more than aware that it’s going to be an issue that’s always going to be prominent when discussing the album, but I reckon it’s time to focus on the messages in our music, and what we have ahead for the future.”

“The UK was amazing. We kicked off the first show at Shepherds Bush Empire to a sold-out crowd, and it was great to play at an unbelievable venue. Granted most of the fans were Kiwis in support of Shihad, but we were really well received too, which is always a good thing,” Luke chuckles. “The next gig was at Guilford, in a little town about an hour out from London at GuilFest.”

The excitement and pride is evident in Luke’s voice as he gushes about the experience the three-piece had on tour in the UK. “It might have been just two shows, but we felt like we got our message and our work out there, which is great, as Sharing Space is about to be released over there too. We’re really happy with the reception we got, and are looking forward to heading back over there at some stage soon.”

‘Soon’ is definitely not over the next two months. September sees the band touring rural New South Wales on their Sharing Space ‘Continued’ tour, which also includes a single show stop-over in Melbourne. Bridging the tour will be a headline slot at the Badlands Festival, where they will share the stage with the likes of Kisschasy, Trial Kennedy, Dead Letter Circus and tour buddies Sleep Parade. “Is that the line up? Because if so, that’s unreal… the cream of the crop,” states Luke.

His pick for the festival? “Come see us, of course! Old fans are a welcome sight, but for patrons who have never met us or experienced us before, come and have a look at what we’re about!” Luke laughs. “In all seriousness, it’s a ripper line up, and there are a lot of great bands performing.”

October sees the band slowing down a little, for a very special reason. “We’re not quite at the stage where we’re looking at working on the next album yet. I mean, we all have our moments of creativity, but in actual fact, Flynn’s expecting another baby in October. So we’re going to work around that and take a little time off.

“We won’t be away for too long!” Luke reassures me. “It’s always a good feeling being on the road, and the fans appreciate it too.” It’s more than appreciation from a Cog fan though – it borders on near religious devotion. “That just blows us away. I mean, in the UK, we met some Aussies who had flown up to catch the first Cog show in the UK. How do you respond to that? Do you just give them a t-shirt and a sticker? Doesn’t quite cut it,” Luke muses. “Some fans have been there since day one. Maybe we can give them a card or something to signify their membership in Cog-space?”

In truth, all those long-time fans really want is for the music to keep on coming. That’s more than enough reward.

Cog will be getting their festival on in September, with three big headline slots.

Saturday 20 September – Coaster Festival, Gosford Showground

Sunday 21 September – Badlands Festival, Manning House, Sydney University

Saturday 11 October – Sounds of Spring Festival, RNA Showgrounds, Brisbane

The band has also extended its Sharing Space tour, taking in regional areas throughout September.

Saturday 30 August – Lake Jindabyne Station Resort

Wednesday 3 September – Castle Hill RSL

Thursday 4 September – The Cube, Campbelltown

Friday 5 September – Revesby Workers

Saturday 6 September – Bar on the Hill, University of Newcastle

Sunday 7 September – Evans Theatre, Penrith Panthers (licensed all-ages)

Wednesday 10 September – University of New England, Armidale

Thursday 11 September – Ballina RSL

Friday 12 September – Manly Warringah Leagues Club

Saturday 13 September – Waves, Towradgi

Thursday 18 September – Port Macquarie, Panthers

Friday 19 September – Club Forster, Forster