Biography
RATSALAD. are a three piece punk band from Geraldton, Western Australia. Members includes Jaz McCartney (lead vocals and bass), Ken McCartney (guitar and backing vocals), and Erica Trotter (drums and backing/lead vocals), as well as touring and live guitarist Kadin (multi-instrumentalist who plays most live shows with them from Perth).
Formed in 2019 after initially jamming out together in a kitchen, RATSALAD. blends raw punk energy with the grit and spit of classic Aussie pub rock. Their DIY ethos, viral success, and chaotic live shows helped them transition from regional local gigs to international stages. Their debut single "Dead Rat" (2019) won the WAM Song of the Year in the Heavy/Metal category in 2020, starting a multi-year streak of WAM Song of the Year wins
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Their debut Album Bent Trees & Swanny Deez (2024) surpassed one million streams and sold out its first press. They embarked on their first DIY European tour in 2025, playing venues like London's Fighting Cocks, and returned for major festival runs in 2026 including Freak Valley Fest and SBÄM Fest. Their sophomore album, Pest from the West (released May 2026), is a playful nod to the fact that the band had played more shows in London than in eastern Australian capitals like Sydney or Brisbane. They were named 2025 Regional Act of the Year at the WA Music Awards and received the 2026 Nannup Music Festival Director's Award.
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.