Eskimo Joe: From Indie Icons to Australian Rock Legends
Eskimo Joe has masterfully balanced commercial success with their deep-rooted Alternative Music origins, securing their place as one of Australia’s most celebrated bands. With six studio albums and over 750,000 sales in Australia alone, they have cemented their legacy in the industry. Three of their albums debuted at #1 on the ARIA charts, while the iconic ‘Black Fingernails, Red Wine’ remained in the ARIA Top 50 for an astounding 62 weeks. Their hit “Foreign Land” from the album Inshalla earned two APRA Awards—Most Played Rock Song on Australian radio and Best Rock Song of 2010.
Eskimo Joe’s accolades are nothing short of remarkable, boasting 35 ARIA nominations—a feat surpassed only by Silverchair, Powderfinger, Kylie Minogue, and John Farnham. Their collection of awards includes 8 ARIAs, 3 International Songwriting Awards, and 11 WAMi Awards. Eleven of their tracks have appeared in Triple J’s Hottest 100 countdown, with Black Fingernails, Red Wine securing 2nd place.
Beyond their chart-topping success, Eskimo Joe’s electrifying live performances have made waves across prestigious events such as Sound Relief, Live Earth, Make Poverty History, the ARIA Awards, Big Day Out, Splendour In The Grass, Falls Festival, AFL, and Sundance Film Festival in Utah, sharing the stage with legends like Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Their music has resonated globally, earning acclaim across the United States, Canada, Europe, and Korea, alongside major festivals and sold-out tours. The band even held the honor of being Fremantle Football Club’s number-one ticket holders for two consecutive years.
Eskimo Joe continues to evolve, captivating their loyal fan base with fresh musical ventures and dynamic performances. In celebration of their 21st anniversary, they embarked on an orchestral national tour, collaborating with The Sydney, Tasmanian, West Australian, and Camerata Orchestras. Recent highlights include headlining pre-game entertainment at Optus Stadium for the NRL State of Origin and an intimate performance at Freo.Social, where they played Black Fingernails, Red Wine in its entirety. The band also joined Jimmy Barnes on a national tour and reunited with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra in Kings Park for a monumental show. Fans can relive their journey through vinyl re-releases of iconic albums like Girl, Ghosts Of The Past, Inshalla, Black Fingernails Red Wine, and A Song Is A City.
From Fremantle’s indie rock scene to global recognition, Eskimo Joe’s legacy continues to grow, proving that their influence on Australian music is far from over.
