Festival Q&A:
Westerman

What are you planning for your Dot to Dot set?
To play some new songs, a couple unreleased ones. It’s a surprise other than that – I never really know. I have a few different line-ups when I play now and this one will be a little more stripped back, which will be interesting. I have a new drummer so let’s hope he steps up to the plate.

Who else are you excited to see at Dot to Dot this year?
Oscar Jerome is really good, I liked the last Horrors record also. Puma Blue is on the same label as me (Blue Flowers) and has an amazing voice. I would recommend listening to him – his live set is super-tight.

What’s your best festival memory?
I got quite good at Diablo at the sheep sheering festival in Presteigne, aged eight. That was a good two hours. I enjoyed watching the Cure at Bestival a few years ago. As most people had broken limbs trying to get into the Ed Sheeran tent you could walk up close, which was unexpected.

What are your festival essentials?
I like a proper cross-section of faces, all shapes and sizes. When I was on the other side of the fence it was a toothbrush. Now I guess it’s remembering power cables. I am forever losing them. I wouldn’t call it an essential necessarily but it does help if it isn’t cold. The rain is fine but I can’t do the cold as it locks up your hands.

How does playing a festival differ from playing your own gig?
I think being part of a bigger body of music is nice. There’s something a bit less solipsistic about it. It’s fun to hear other people you might not have come across do their thing. You maybe have less control as you have less time to set up, which is exciting as you have adapt in real time.

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