New single 'Pickpocket' out now
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Perth singer-songwriter Dave Watkins returns with his third single release, Pickpocket - a punchy 2:10 indie folk-punk track built on a crooked ukulele hook. The song carries his signature blend of folk storytelling featuring moody surf-tremolo guitars, laced with gypsy-tinged rhythms and dark cabaret undertones.
“Pickpocket is a rambunctious portrayal of my experience falling victim to mugging and pickpocketing on my first ever European holiday back in 2015. This ordeal left me in a state of paranoia, navigating the rest of the trip with a cheap replacement phone, a single travel card, and my passport - all while dreading identity theft and bank hacking”, says Watkins.
A full-length music video for Pickpocket features members of Fremantle's own 'The Silly Town Circus'. This will be Watkins’ first music video and one which is a full DIY effort. The production features scenes filmed on his phone camera around South Fremantle - complemented by footage captured spontaneously inside the grand Spiegeltent at De Lievelinge (Neverland’s) by a videographer hired for the Zonne Bende Festival after-movie. Watkins admits he was “slightly drunk” during the shoot, which could have only added to the spice. With its theatrical flair, regal colours and eccentric characters, the video pushes Watkins further into a sonic and visual world coloured by circus swagger.
Watkins has also journaled the full story behind the song. A sample: “This guy asked to borrow my phone to make a call, which turned into a wild chase through a hole in a fence into the backyard of some apartments. I caught his leg as he tried to jump the next fence. In the scuffle, trying to snatch my phone back, he landed a punch square on my nose. With watering eyes and ‘MC’ running out of sight, I cut my losses. In the taxi back to my accommodation, the driver insisted I smoke one of his Marlboro Reds. I took a drag, it tickled the sides, and the head-spin etched a photographic memory of that car ride and my moment of defeat.”The full written story will be available soon.
Best known as the longtime frontman of Perth progressive rock act Yalla Yalla (sharing stages with Twelve Foot Ninja, Voyager, Yomi Ship, and Mage), Watkins has spent the past two years carving out a new identity with his self-directed project Dave Watkins & The Fair Weathers. The band soft-launched in 2023 with performances at Pox Eclipse and Blossom Festival, quickly establishing themselves as a high-energy live act - dishing up octave-heavy guitars, radiant vocal harmonies, and the fire of Bruce Rose’s blues harmonica, tambourine, and hip-shaking stage presence.
In recent years Watkins has focused on networking and performing solo sets beyond Western Australia - including appearances at Zonne Bende Festival (Netherlands), TAM Festival (London), and a guest spot with Philip Puxley & The Truth at Friends Club Festival (Canada). His Australian performances have been rare but memorable, including a sold-out headline show celebrating his debut release The Last Shower and a set at The Wild Campout Festival, where he performed in full The Crow attire.With strong industry ties through SXSW Austin, SXSW London, and WAMCON, Watkins is positioning The Fair Weathers for a major re-launch in January 2026 - one that promises grit, groove, and no shortage of surprises.
He will also be playing an in-house concert dinner at Flamingo house on November 15th, catered by the wonderful Freya Cheffers with a Moroccan themed feast. Entry by donation on the night.
Pickpocket will be released on all major platforms on November 5th 2025. In the meantime, follow the journey on your preferred social media platform, and check out the previous two releases via the links below.
