LOCAL Gawler band Burnout was set for a big 2020, until the COVID-19 pandemic pumped the brakes on the group’s plans.

The ex-Trinity College and St Patrick’s Technical College students released their debut album ‘Elevator music for high and low people’ on March 15, and had the two biggest gigs of their burgeoning punk careers lined up.

Instead, social distancing restrictions have forced the three-piece to spend some time apart, just when they were planning to be performing at their peak.

Comprised of 17-year-old drummer Kyle Sambell, 19-year-old Nick Rallis playing bass and guitarist and 18-year-old vocalist Billy Burns, the trio have been practicing and writing music together since they were in primary school.

Billy, speaking to The Bunyip, said the pandemic has been tough on the members, who are recharging and working on their own projects.

“At the start of the pandemic we were pretty devastated because we were just about to play two of our biggest shows we’ve ever played,” he said.

“We were waiting on the news as to whether the gigs were actually going ahead the day before, so we were absolutely spewing they got cancelled.

“Fortunately for me, I’ve been able to work flat out, all day and all night through a lot of this and the boys have their own work and projects.”

Perhaps the band’s biggest achievement to date was being named as a finalist in youth radio station triple j’s Unearthed High competition in August of 2018.

Ever since they have been playing gigs throughout Adelaide and have been a staple of the Gawler Fringe event over the past two years.

To continue some musical output during the pandemic, the band participated in an online music festival in April.

Billy said it was a way for the band to build its exposure while gigs were banned, particularly of the back of the new album.

He added once gigs are back up-and-running, he and his band mates would have no trouble getting back to their best for an expected rush of live shows.

“Sometimes it (having a break) is even better, because if we’re playing them (shows) all the time, sometimes things can get repetitive,” Billy said.

“But when we come back together there might be a few little stuff ups.  But we’ll get into the songs and we’ll remember this really is something.

“What I miss the most is being at gigs and at the pub. There’s nothing better than having gigs to look forward to on the weekend.”