Ask Peter Bernoth, aka Pedro Steel of Brisbane native John Steel Singers, if he’s looking forward to the St Jerome Lanweway Festivals (currently underway nationally) and you’re likely to get a loud and resounding answer - yes. Critical of the bigger festivals such as Big Day Out, Pete, one of the talented six, is pretty certain Laneway is going to be ‘rad’.

“It [Laneway] has got a reputation as being a really good festival, it’s not as big and it’s not as full of f…ckheads like Big Day Out,” he says knowingly.

Taking time out from the touring circuit where this upbeat rock outfit last played on the bill of southern festivals Falls and Southbound, Pete has been kicking back with the rest of his band-mates in Brisbane, finding time to record some demos for an upcoming album.

“We’re pretty meticulous about the song and what it sounds like before it gets out of the jam room.

“We don’t do like half-arsed arrangements. The arrangement is a big thing for us and we try and get it so it sounds right for us and hopefully it will sound right for everyone else.”

22 years of age and originally from Warwick in Western Queensland, this laconic rock musician is, however, itching to get back in the saddle of live performance.

‘I’m now missing touring; we’ve spent enough time at home. I can’t wait to get back out on the road again,’ he said

And, for the fans amongst us, Pete believes it’s all about ‘making it happen’. Recent performances with some well known Aussie acts have heralded some new traditions for the band, which Pete feels must be upheld.

“On The Grates tour, we used to get the Vasco Era on stage with us for the last song with full percussion, and Patience and Alana from the Grates joined in on drums, and stuff like that. So since then we get a whole bunch of people we’ve just met to come up on stage for the last song, and use random percussion - it’s pretty fun.”

As conversation unfolds with Pete, it’s evident that he loves the lifestyle he’s currently living, thanks to his commitment to the John Steel Singers. He longs for the day he’ll no longer be needing his casual day job as a labourer and this hope gives him the drive to keep going, but he’s willing to acknowledge time spent in the band hasn’t always been easy.

“Rainbow Kraut”

“It’s been three years with no money pretty much being in the John Steel Singers but whatever, it’s fun,” he says, quickly shrugging off his statement.

“I really cannot wait till we can actually afford to live off the band thing, it will probably be the happiest day of my life.”

Whilst the band is currently enjoying the spoils of local fame (high rotation for their EP In Colour which includes catchy single “Rainbow Kraut” and drawing large crowds to their live gigs, plans for the Triple J Unearthed band aren’t set in stone for the coming year Still, Pedro is hopeful his rock and roll dream of heading overseas will be realised.

“Yeah, it’s not a pipe dream. I think it will definitely happen, but we just don’t know details yet. Hopefully we’ll make it to the UK to play a few shows.

For now though the focus for Pete and his band mates lie in having fun. Enthusiasm and anticipation for what lies ahead for the next month at least escape through his tone.

“I do love playing in Brisbane. We haven’t played here for sometime and it will be good to play here again. But then I love playing in Sydney, I’ve got a whole bunch of friends, guys from the Nightwalkers and Dead Letter Circus and dudes like that who we go out and party with when we’re down there.

Catch The John Steel Singers when they perform as part of the St Jerome Laneway Festival line-up nationally. For event information in your state visit: www.lanewayfestival.com.au