This is a surf-rock band that hails from the small town of Bungwahl in Myall Lakes. Two of the five members live in self-built shacks and they use a generator to amplify band rehearsals.

"It's so different to anything I'm used to, but they're sweet guys who love making music and surfing all day," Vanilla Gorilla manager and producer Jack Nigro said.

Nigro is recognised as one of Australia's brightest young indie producers, having served as an assistant engineer on albums for DMA's, Skegss, Ian Moss, Julia Jacklin, Middle Kids and Kirin J Callinan at Central Coast's The Grove Studios.

Nigro has also produced Newcastle bands Vacations and Kookshill. However, Vanilla Gorilla were the first, and only band, Nigro felt compelled to manage.

"I have had a few bands ask me about it, but I probably don't have the capacity to do it properly for a number of bands," he said. "But I really wanted to throw myself behind these guys because I got on with them really well and really love their music."

Vanilla Gorilla is Jack Stanley (vocals/guitar), Olli Harding (vocals/guitar), Isaac Thompson (bass), Clay Dooker (drums), Bradley Macdonald (guitar), Thomas Stanley (vocals) and Max Breese (keys). They released their first DIY-produced album Colour Flow in 2016, which spawned the chilled indie single Tropicana, which enjoyed triple j support.

That was followed with the more reggae-influenced EP Lucid (2018). A second EP Wild Vibrations followed in 2019 and then last year's Dreamer, which was produced by Nigro.

Last week Vanilla Gorilla released their new single Feel The Fire, which will be the first single off their forthcoming album.

Nigro said the track was influenced by the pandemic and urges everyone to drop their ego and work together for the greater good.

"It has it's roots in the surfie reggae-ska that they're known for in the past, but the chorus is very heavy when it kicks in and it's leading towards where this album is going," Nigro said.

"The album is heavier and more experimental and pushes towards the outskirts, rather than their traditional chiller vibes."

To launch Feel The Fire, Vanilla Gorilla will headline one of the biggest all-ages shows seen in Newcastle in recent years at City Hall on Friday night.

The line-up also includes Newcastle's Dyer Maker - another band produced by Nigro - plus Sydney's Mild West and local soul-jazz collective The Hamilton Alpine Club.

"We decided to throw all our eggs in one basket and go for a huge line-up, even if it costs us a bit and it's not as profitable as another show might be, to give the city a chance to have an awesome night of all-ages music," Nigro said.