This Way North:
From the open road to the Dookie Quarry stage: This Way North’s adventurous journey to Grounded.
When Leisha Jungalwalla and Cat Leahy first birthed This Way North, it was simply about playing music they loved.
Ten years (and a baby) later, the duo have grown into one of Australia’s most dynamic live acts, known for their energy and undeniable chemistry.
Ahead of their set at Grounded, we caught up with Leisha to talk new music and life on the road.
Rooted in connection
This Way North have played on lakes in Canada where the crowd floated by on inflatable tubes. They’ve sung in the middle of The Rockies surrounded by snow- capped peaks and lit up festival stages across Australia and New Zealand.
But the Dookie Quarry holds an entirely new kind of magic for this journeyed duo.
‘There’s something unmatched about playing in a quarry,’ guitarist Leisha Jungalwalla says. ‘The sound, the colours, the connection to nature. We just feel so lucky.’
It’s a fitting match for their music: powerful tunes that move between uplifting indie- rock anthems and tender pop ballads.
On stage, This Way North shift between big, driving grooves and stripped-back intimacy.
And for a venue as ethereal as the quarry, they’re promising to bring something truly special.
‘We like our music to feel like a celebration,’ Leisha shares. ‘And that’s the exact energy we’ll be bringing to Grounded.’
Life on the road
That sense of connection has been at the heart of This Way North from the very beginning.
Leisha and Cat first crossed paths at a Canadian festival as two Australians whose shared love of music created an instant bond.
After casually jamming together, the pair stepped on stage for the first time in 2014.
‘We just wanted to play music and enjoy it, and that’s what exactly what we’ve done,’ Leisha says.
Not long after that, they traded steady jobs for a van and went on to tour Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
Their time touring carved out the unique sound they now occupy: raw indie-rock ballads carved by adventures on the road. And, of course, the love that grew between them.
‘We did that classic thing, started playing music together in a band, and then fell in love,’ Leisha laughs. ‘It was an amazing time; we’ve lived an incredible life together.’
A band and a baby
Ten years on from that first gig, life looks a little different.
Alongside releasing new music and touring, Leisha and Cat have recently welcomed their daughter, Frankie.
‘We joke that we’re raising a band and a baby at the same time,’ Leisha says. ‘It’s been wild, but we feel so lucky.’
Parenthood has added a new layer to their journey, but through it all, music remains at the centre.
Their most recent album Punching Underwater captures a more introspective side of the duo, shaped by the stillness of the pandemic years and shining a light on their relationship, which has been a source of strength for the duo.
‘People ask how we do it, but we’ve always loved creating together,’ Leisha says.
‘We’ve always made it work.’
As for Grounded, they see it as a homecoming and a chance to share their story – as bandmates, as partners and as new parents.
‘Every gig over the past few years has felt like a gift,’ Leisha says. ‘To be on a lineup like this, in such a stunning place, feels really special.’