2015 Festival Guide
Artist Q and As
The north has made its mark on the festival map and now plays host to some of the biggest and best, but it’s also home to loads of intimate, independent and quirky festivals. Here, Antonia Charlesworth speaks to some of the acts playing at some of the highly-anticipated and under-appreciated festivals across the region.
Festival Q&As
Austin Williams (vocals), Swim Deep
Playing at Dot to Dot
Who else are you excited to see?
I’m excited for any great late-night dance music – that’s my favourite time. We all went to Jagwar Ma at the Stonebridge Bar at Glastonbury and everyone we knew just turned up and got twisted.
What’s your best festival memory?
Everyone went to see Arctic Monkeys while just three of us went to see Chic and it was the best decision I’ve ever made – it was pure joy, no malice, perfect festival experience.
What are your festival essentials?
Loads of laughing gas – tonnes of it.
How does playing a festival differ from playing your own gig?
We’re playing to people who won’t have heard us so it’s great in that sense. It’s quite bizarre actually – it’s like a huge audition to the world.
What’s you favourite part of playing a festival?
Seeing the crowd, going out into the festival straight after you play. It gives me a real buzz to get out there and see it from that side – the side I was used to.
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The Bohicas
Playing at Liverpool Sound City
Who else are you excited to see?
Bill Ryder Jones. Big fan of his work in The Coral and I really enjoyed his A Bad Wind Blows In My Heart. And I’ve never seen him live so hopefully we’ll get a chance to see him.
What’s your best festival memory?
As a teenager I went to Reading Festival with the rest of the failed sixth formers and saw Kings Of Leon perform Black Thumbnail as the sun was setting. Epic redefined.
What are your festival essentials?
A hip flask.
How does playing a festival differ from playing your own gig?
Most of the festival shows we’ve done have been during the day, so people are a bit more sober and reserved. Any show of our own th
at we have done has been late and full of people who know our stuff and are already in the mood to party. So because we’re pretty unknown, it feels like at festivals our work is cut out to win them over.
What’s you favourite part of playing a festival?
Playing the guitar solo in Swarm.
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Jordan Shearer, vocals, Neon Waltz
Playing at Dot to Dot
Who else are you excited to see at Dot to Dot?
Hopefully we’ll get the chance to see Fat White Family and The Wytches – I’ve been into both for a while. Fat White Family is a band I’ve always wanted to see live but never had the chance. We saw Pretty Vicious play Dim Swn in Cardiff and they were very exciting too. I would also like to catch Honeyblood and Hinds. They’re two bands I’m really excited about right now.
What’s your best festival memory?
Our first show at the Great Escape in Brighton last year. It was our first tour and we’d only done a handful of gigs in front of 100 people or so before that. We went on stage mid-afternoon and were surprised to see a packed-out venue of around 300 to see us. We played the NME stage later that night with some really good bands like The Districts and Childhood and there were loads of people outside who couldn’t get in. That festival acted as a catalyst for us and we haven’t looked back since.
What are your festival essentials?
A schedule of the festival. Cheap lager.
How does playing a festival differ from playing your own gig?
It’s a different mind-set playing a festival. You know that a good proportion of the crowd may never have heard your music before, which is obviously totally different to your own gig. Saying that, it’s an opportunity to win people over and brings an added intensity to our performance, I’d say. We’re really excited to play lots more festivals this summer.
What’s your favourite part of playing a festival?
When you look out to a crowd who seem taken aback with what we’re doing, as you have essentially won over a good number of people who may have never heard any of your music. Coming off stage with a bit of a buzz on and deciding who else to see is also a good feeling.
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Saint Raymond
Playing at Dot to Dot
Who else are you excited to see?
I really want to catch The Libertines at a festival this summer. I’ve adored the band for years and want to make sure I see them somewhere.
What’s your best festival memory?
Seeing Bon Iver play at Latitude while the sun set. It was one of the best things I’ve seen and I just fell in love with the whole idea of festivals from then on.
What are your festival essentials?
Definitely a portable phone charger, wet wipes, sunglasses.
How does playing a festival differ from playing your own gig?
At a festival there will be people watching who may not know your music, so in that way it’s kind of like a support slot. Headline gigs are always pretty special because people are there specifically to see you. At festivals you kind of have to win people over – but I love that.
What’s your favourite part of playing a festival?
I love festival season and have always had festivals in mind when I write my songs. I think my favourite part is that everyone is there for a good time, drunk, having fun and effectively on their holidays. You can’t beat a crowd like that.
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Rae Morris
Playing at Dot to Dot, Y Not and Liverpool International Music Festival
Who else are you excited to see?
I’m really excited to see Saint Raymond play again. The last time we played together was when he supported me in Nottingham back in 2012. Also Josef Salvat, Swim Deep and Laura Doggett – some brilliant new music.
What’s your best festival memory?
Performing with Bombay Bicycle Club on the Other Stage at Glastonbury last year was a moment that I’ll never forget.
What are your festival essentials?
Having a trusty backpack with snacks and favourite things in is a must. I like to have my little flask to fill with hot water and keep all day. Plus my favourite teas. A great waterproof jacket is also important, then you can wear anything you want but still be prepared and sensible!
How does playing a festival differ from playing your own gig?
It’s quite similar to doing a support slot, I feel. There are probably a few people there that have come to see you, but mostly people have just happened to stumble upon you on their way to see something else. There’s a great excitement in the challenge of playing to so many new people. And a rough-and-readiness that you just can’t prepare for.
What’s your favourite part of playing a festival?
I love the fact that you never know what’s going to happen. It could be the most hectic line check and changeover between bands but then turn out to be the best gig ever. Or the polar opposite! You really have to live in the moment, cross your fingers, dive in headfirst and hope for the best.
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Wilkinson
Playing at Parklife
Who else are you excited to see at Parklife?
It’s definitely got to be Wu Tang Clan and Nas.
What’s your best festival memory?
So many to choose from but probably Bestival with all my mates – it all got very loose after my set.
What are your festival essentials?
Berocca, wellies, facial wipes, hand sanitiser, waterproof jacket.
How does playing a festival differ from playing your own gig?
Festivals are outside, which for me makes them much better. I love the views from the stage, looking out over the crowd into the distance and seeing the rest of the festival surrounding them.
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Ben Pearce
Playing at Parklife
Who else are you excited to see?
Definitely Grace Jones because, well, you know. Mark Ronson, Caribou, Talaboman, Joy Orbison… The list could go on – it’s an amazing line-up.
What’s your best festival memory?
I think maybe seeing Blink 182 twice last year at Leeds & Reading. Definitely special.
What are your festival essentials?
Shades, drinks and friends. Oh and a funky shirt… for sure.
How does playing a festival differ from playing your own gig?
It’s a melting pot of culture, I guess. People may come see you at a festival who may not buy a ticket for a show. It’s all about appealing to everybody, not being too stuck in building an intricate set. The best festival sets go straight in quickly. It’s definitely about having fun with what you play
What’s you favourite part of playing a festival?
Getting to see loads of friends that are playing the same one and getting to go and listen to so many types of music.
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