Angus Stone takes Dope Lemon on tour after setting up commune in Byron Bay

COWS add harmonies and couches are on the outside at Angus Stone’s recording studios as the rocker finds the perfect way to make beautiful music.

Angus Stone in his cabana on his property in the hinterland of Byron Bay. Picture: Jane Dempster / The Australian

ANGUS Stone wants you to put your couches out.

The Australian rocker created his Dope Lemon side project with mates while jamming on sofas littered throughout the paddocks of his Byron Bay cattle farm.

Many of those musicians, including childhood friend Rohin Brown of The Walking Who and former The Vines’ bassist Brad Heald, have relocated to his hinterland commune so they can create new music whenever the mood calls.

He has built his own recording hub called Belafonte Studios, named after the vessel in Bill Murray’s movie The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou.

You would be hard-pressed to find a more postmillennial hippie outfit in Australia, both in sound and lifestyle.

Angus Stone prepared for his shot for Dope Lemon’s Honey Bones album. Picture: Supplied

Angus Stone also shares his property with cows and an old bus. Picture: Supplied

His idyllic property features dogs running around, an old 60s Bedford bus to relax in, cows interrupting recording takes with their moos and a slide built into a hillside with blow-up donuts to make the descent faster and fun.

“I think that’s a good way of looking at life — there’s no expectations, it all just falls into place,” he said.

“People in the band are dedicated enough to come up and live here together to make this project work. I am really enjoying the camaraderie.”

Byron Bay is not only back on the map courtesy of its unofficial mayor Chris Hemsworth and his family moving in but a burgeoning community of musicians.

Bernard Fanning recently moved his family there and set up a studio with his longtime producer Nick DiDia.

Other artists who live in the area include Grinspoon’s Pat Davern who also recently opened a men’s boutique The Finder’s Club, Pete Murray, The Living End’s Scott Owen, Ash Grunwald and Splendour In the Grass promoters Jessica Ducrou and Paul Piticco.

Angus and Julia Stone may regroup next year to work on a new album. Picture: Kristi Miller

Stone plans to regroup with his sister Julia sometime next year to explore their next project but a second album from Dope Lemon will probably be finished first.

He and his merry music men will decamp from their farm headquarters to perform debut album Honey Bones next month for a national tour which kicks off at the Astor Theatre, Perth on October 21 before heading to The Gov, Adelaide on October 22; The Triffid, Brisbane on October 28; Metro Theatre, Sydney on November 11, and 170 Russell, Melbourne on November 18. Tickets on sale from 10am on September 12 with a Telstra Thanks pre-sale kicking off from 10am on September 7.

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Originally published as Angus Stone takes Dope Lemon on tour after setting up commune in Byron Bay