Big Wheels keep turning as Warwick’s Dale Coombes shines

From playing his first show at the same venue of his high school formal to rocking massive festivals across the country, Warwick’s Dale Coombes and his band Big Wheels look set to make their mark on the country’s rock scene.

For many aspiring rock bands across the country, the local RSL is the place to cut their teeth on stage, and for Big Wheels that venue was Warwick’s Kings Theatre.

The very venue where drummer Dale Coombes had his formal, the band has grown in the years that followed their first gig and they’ve become one of the biggest bands in the independent music scene, regularly touring and taking to the stage at the likes of the Tamworth Country Music Festival and Dreamworld theme park.

Currently based in Sydney, the rock band has members from all over the country – and the world – and a big love of touring in regional Australia.

Lead vocalists and guitarists Lawson Doyle and Cass Ford come from Brisbane, with Ford coming via the UK, bassist Blake Rochester is from Sydney while drummer Dale Coombes hails from the Rose City.

Warwick's Dale Coombes playing with Big Wheels (Photo: Facebook)

Coombes, who grew up in Warwick, said the band played their first ever show at the historic Kings Theatre, describing their first ever show in his home city as an “amazing experience”.

“It was a bit surreal too, all of my family and mates from high school were there and it was just a really good time, I was a bit nervous too, it was the place I had my high school formal,” Coombes said.

Since their first gig, Big Wheels have played big stages across the country, but for Dale that first show at the Kings Theatre was just “super special”.

“It’s super important for bands to come and play in regional areas like Warwick, because music is for everyone, everyone should be able to enjoy live music – unfortunately, when big bands tour the regional places get left out a lot of the time,” he said.

“I feel very lucky to come from a country town, the whole vibe and community of it all is just fantastic, and I miss it when I’m away.

Big Wheels: Cass Ford, Lawson Doyle, alternative bassist Will Baker and Dale Coombes (Photo: Big Wheels)

“I come back to Warwick often because I need a break from the big smoke, and just need to get back to the stillness and fresh air, so we are always keen to start touring again soon and put country towns on that list.

“That’s the dream, another show at the Kings Theatre I reckon, lock it in.”

Lead vocalists and guitarists Doyle and Ford said to be a successful modern musician, you cannot alienate any audience, and that “regional audiences always show up in force”.

“We don’t want to get caught in any kind of scene, we always want to be expanding and discovering new artists and places,” Doyle said.

Lawson Doyle and Cass Ford of Big Wheels (Photo: Supplied)

“Playing in the regions gives an amazing experiencing to get on the road a bit, and it’s good for people in different areas to start hearing our name,” Ford said.

“What we’ve seen so far, regional audiences are really receptive and really supportive of us so we’d love to do more.”

The band said their debut show in Warwick was very “special” and they definitely have plans to come back for another one.

“Those kind of gigs are the funnest for us, it has the least amount of pressure because people are so friendly and so into it, it’s really exciting to be in those places and it’s exciting to feed of the excitement of the public that we’re coming to town,” Doyle said.

You can stream Big Wheels’ brand new song ‘Colourblind’ and visit them on Facebook.