Thieves of Liberty

The North-East’s Thieves of Liberty quite literally stole the show during their performance at HRH’s Highway to Hell in Sheffield. Following a change in personnel, the band are back with a regrouped lineup and a new sound to boot.

During the last year, the band has seen a lot of change. Performing at Highway to Hell and the response that the band received made the band feel like they are on the right path. “I think what was so nice about Sheffield was that – not that I think all of us ever needed it. But it’s getting recognition from the people who are listening to you. Getting that – it sounds a bit cringe to say it, but validation. It’s almost like validating what you’re doing,” said Thieves of Liberty frontman James Boak.

With various musicians being drafted into the lineup over the last twelve months, the band lineup now feels complete. “Now it just feels like we’re an actual family,” said drummer Hattie Steel. “Now we’ve got not just great players, but they are people who we get on with socially. There’s so much chemistry between us,” explains guitarist and founding member Kieran Wilson.

The band’s recent rotating lineup caused a few challenges for Thieves of Liberty’s core members. “We aren’t having to meet new people all the time and then go through the whole process of getting on with them or learning the songs with them and doing it over and over,” said James. “I think it just feels so much more comfortable now. There’s a path that you know you are going to go down now that everything is sorted.”

Guitarist Kieran Wilson is the only remaining member of the first incarnation of Thieves of Liberty. However, the material performed by the band’s original lineup, has been parked for the foreseeable future. Hattie explains that the original material “just didn’t suit James’ voice”. Kieran adds: “The new style suits me better as well. I’ve always been into classic rock and the hard rock style. So going in that direction suited my guitar playing as well.” The new band members all shared a similar taste in music. “That was the new member’s influences as well. We were all more into that kind of thing, rather than what we were doing before,” explains Hattie.

The title track of the band’s recent EP was Back Again. A pertinent title for a band that has risen like a phoenix from the flames. “That was the first song we wrote at our first session when we decided the old stuff wasn’t going to work. We had a gig in London, and we were like, we’re going to have to write lots of material, and we’ve got half an hour set. That was the first one that Kieran went - I’ve got this riff and jammed it,” said Hattie.

Changing musical direction was something that played on the band’s minds. “There was a worry about completely changing the style of music but keeping the same band name. A few people were doubting us when we did that. But the reaction has been amazing,” said Kieran.

The release of the band’s latest EP, Back Again, was enough to quash the opinions of their naysayers. “I feel like now the EP is out, it’s kind of put a lot of things to bed for us,” said James. Kieran adds: “Until we released that first song, I feel like there were still doubts over whether it was still Thieves of Liberty. But now that EP is out there, I think it’s settled, and everyone recognizes that this is Thieves of Liberty.”

In recent times the band have performed high-profile support slots alongside artists such as Reef, Massive, and The Futureheads to name but a few. “Playing with Reef was a big one for me because I like Reef anyway. Everything was very professional, and the stakes almost get risen when you start doing that. The way everybody works behind the scenes is different. Even with the Sheffield show getting off and on stage was like very like go, go, go and I’m not really used to that,” said James. Performing alongside established acts such as Reef has not only allowed Thieves of Liberty to grow their fanbase but also to learn and develop. “It’s good to know that we are getting in front of the right people as well because a lot of their audience would potentially be fans of us. So, it’s good to be playing in front of the right kind of people. And we’ve made loads of fans organically through that,” said Hattie. “I think when you play with these bands - you learn a lot. You watch them on stage, and you see certain things they do. You sort of take a lot of things on board, like the way somebody might react with the crowd. I think you learn a lot from seeing people with a lot more experience than you might have,” adds James.

With their debut EP under their belt, Thieves of Liberty are currently looking towards their next chapter. “We’ve got a new single called Calypso,” said Kieron. “It’s quite high energy,” adds Hattie. The song has already become a live favourite amongst the band and their fans alike. “I’d say it’s got a bit more of a fun feeling to it than some of the other tracks that people might have heard so far. I particularly like singing that one just because it’s so much fun,” said James.

As the regrouped Thieves of Liberty head into the final stages of 2022, they are looking forward to what is to come. “I think we’re just wanting to get as much music out as possible and just gig it everywhere we can so everyone can hear it because we’re excited for people to hear it, and it’s so much fun playing it,” concludes James.

Calypso - the new single from Thieves of Liberty, will be available everywhere on November 18th. You can also see the band play live at HRH 15 in Great Yarmouth on Saturday 5th November, where the band will play on the main stage alongside headliners Ugly Kid Joe.