Devon Music - June 2015

JUNE 2015

YOUR ONE STOP GUIDE TO THE BEST MUSIC IN EXETER, PLYMOUTH & THE DEVON AREA!

N O V E D

C I S U M mad dog mcrea BOYZONE

exclusive interview

answer dumbass questions

hunter & the bear head for the loft

TIVERTON COMMUNITY ARTS THEATRE

w w w. d e v o n - m u s i c . c o m

/d e vo n m u s i c m a g @devonmusicmag

WELCOME

Thanks for picking up the June 2015 issue of Devon Music Magazine, the second of our annual bumper festival specials.

This month we get the lowdown on Chagstock festival and catch up with recently announced headliners The Levellers, we talk beards with Boyzone, we chart the meteoric rise of Hunter & The Bear and we ask some very silly questions to Mad Dog Mcrea.

All this plus previews, listings and announcements from all of the best venues and events in the Devon area. Don’t miss out three page festival round up and your chance to win a family tickets to Chagstock!

w w w. d e v o n - m u s i c . c o m For news submissions and editorial enquiries email info@devon-music.com If you are interested in advertising with us email sales@phmusicmedia.co.uk or call us free on 0808 147 1106

/devonmusicmag @DevonMusicMag

FEATURE

Chagstock has firmly cemented its place as one of the West country’s best-loved festivals. Set in 70 acres of farmland on the edge of Dartmoor, its stunning location, diverse line-up of artists and non-corporate, family friendly atmosphere nestles right in with everything we would expect from an intimate festival and it repeatedly sells out year on year. And this year looks set to be no different, with a stellar line up of classic and up and coming artists recently announced.

Headlining the main stage on Friday are mighty alt-rockers, New Model Army. Their incredible stage presence, combined with a massive back catalogue of classic songs from across their 35-year history, makes them the ideal band to round off the first evening at Chagstock. Also on the Friday main stage line up are Neville Staple Band, whose frontman has been at the vanguard of Ska since joining the Specials back in 1978.

On Saturday, revellers can enjoy the ever popular sounds of folkpunk rockers the Levellers, who are rarely seen at any other Devon festival apart from their own Beautiful Days. More from them in a minute. They’re joined by Seth Lakeman, house band New Crisis, raucous six-piece electro swing band Electric Swing Circus and female-fronted reggae band Dojo.

Headlining the Marquee on Friday are the wildly popular Plymouth based Folk-Gypsy-Pop band Mad Dog Mcrea. They

How does it feel to have passed the 25 year milestone?

Oooh, I don’t know, I mean we didn’t even have a 5 year plan, let alone a 25 year plan, so it’s good, it’s great! It means we don’t have to get a proper job – happy days!

And you’ve maintained the same line up since pretty much the beginning, what do you think it is that keeps you all together?

Basically because the noise that we make is bigger than the sum of the parts. It’s as simple as that.

DEVON MUSIC | JUNE 2015

are joined by Police Dog Hogan who are making a real name for themselves in the folk-bluegrass scene. Completing the line-up are the brilliant Folk-Rockers Rusty Shackle, whose 2013 album ‘The Bones’ reached number 13 in the iTunes singer/songwriter charts.

As introduced in 2012 in recognition of the tough economic climate for families, all children under 12 can attend the festival for free (ticket is required). Chagstock’s capacity is once again capped at just 5,000 tickets to ensure that its intimate, family-friendly atmosphere is maintained so be sure to get in there quick and snap up your tickets – or check overleaf for our family competition for your chance to be there FOR FREE! ‘The Chagstock Team are really excited about the festival this year and plans are coming together. The line up is now complete and I feel confident there is something for everyone in there. As well as fantastic headline acts we also have a really strong supporting line up with great acts from the off. I’m sure there is also going to be some fun with this year’s theme, Gangsters & Molls….I wouldn’t be surprised if we get a few Moles as well!’ – Si Ford, Festival Organiser Formed in Brighton in 1988, The Levellers recently released their documentary ‘A Curious Life’, which charts the band’s phenomenal career; achieving huge international mainstream success, releasing a No. 1 album and more than 14 Top 40 singles, and performing to record crowds at Glastonbury. Still going strong after 27 years this performance will be jam packed with hits from throughout the Levellers’ incredible back catalogue, including classics as One Way, Carry Me and, of course, What A Beautiful Day and we were lucky enough to grab a few minutes with bassist and iconic red-dreadhead Jeremy Cunningham to learn a little more about how they’ve survived more than 25 years in the business…

You’ve just released a film about the band and it’s told from your perspective. What made you decide to approach it like that?

It was basically that we had Dunstan [Bruce, former Chumbawumba frontman], the director with us on the road a couple of years before that and he’d done a load of video blogs, doing a little film every day and he kinda liked the way that I was in front of the camera but the main thing was that at that particular point, Mark our singer was about to have a baby. Our other singer Simon, his partner was sadly dying of cancer and so they couldn’t really do it so I was kind of there by default really because I had the time haha.

What was the process like for putting the film together? Was it quite emotional looking back?

Well putting it together was all Dunstan but yeah, to look at it, year it was. Especially seeing the early days because a lot of that footage, I didn’t even know had been taken so it was quite amazing. No one really seemed interested in the early days other than the people that were there, which was a very small group of people at the time so I suppose we were lucky that we had a lot of friends from art college who were making films about us for their projects and yeah, Dunstan managed to get hold of it which was great.

Speaking of art, you do all the artwork for the Levellers don’t you? Is that always something you’ve been interested in?

Yeah! Well I went to art college too. I’m trained as a painter haha and I’ve just done it since I was a kid. For better or for worse.

If you hadn’t been in the Levellers, do you think that’s the path you would have taken?

I would have tried! I was trying before I was in the band but it was f*cking heartbreaking. It’s even harder than being in a rock band because you’ve only got your health y’know, you don’t have anyone else around you when you’re there on the tube with your work being bent all around you by people. Yeah, I would have tried but things worked out differently…

On your 2014 Greatest Hits collection you collaborated on some of your biggest hits with bands like Bellowhead , Frank Turner and Billy Bragg. What was it like sharing those tracks with other musicians and did it help to refresh them for you guys?

Yeah, it was great. A lot of those songs, we’re quite funny that we don’t always play our biggest hits, we’re not that kind of band, so it was interesting. We just basically got people we’d met at festivals, apart from Frank who we’ve known for f*cking years, and said well, if you’re up for it, have a go at this song and you can arrange it however you like. We’ll be the backing band, we’ll all come into our studio in Brighton and just record it live and that’s what happened.

So we got to look at the songs we’d written from a completely different angle and get to play them all again and it was so easy.

I can’t tell you how easy it was recording all that stuff live with people who are that good and that focussed on what they’re doing. It was great.

Your live shows is really where your music comes to life, how do you keep the shows exciting for yourselves after so many years of playing your hits?

It’s really easy haha. We’re excitable people and as soon as we see anyone getting into it, we’re done for. That’s it. That’s us. It’s that reciprocal thing between band and audience, that energy, it’s all about that.

Festivals, in particular, are a great place to catch a Levellers

show. How did the idea to start your own Beautiful Days come about?

It’s pretty much Mark’s idea. At that point, in the late 90’s we were doing loads of corporate festivals all over the world and we were getting really disillusioned with the whole thing and he kinda said ‘why don’t we try doing one ourselves? A small festival like the ones we used to go to when we were younger’ and I actually thought he was mental! But he had so much conviction that I thought, let’s do it and it wasn’t till it actually all happened, and it was a risky business y’know, we had to put everything on the line to do the first Beautiful Days, but f*ck me, he was right. It reminds me of the smaller old school festivals, where people are really friendly and everyone takes care of the site. You don’t get that these days at the big commercial festivals. Well those festivals are almost pointless now, they’re all on telly so why even bother going? I don’t want to sound like a boring old fart but back in the day we used to go to those festivals because it was to get something different and strange and something you’d go away from feeling a bit educated, even if you didn’t wanna be and see some bands and meet some weird people and see some strange things…

And this year you’re making a rare appearance at another Devon festival, Chagstock, are you looking forward to that?

Yeah. Our fiddle player lives down in Devon now, and our agents, so we’ve got a big connection down in that area so we’re very happy with that.

Do you think that there will ever be a time when you say that’s enough and call it a day?

Yeah, yeah of course there will. We can’t do this forever, our knees will give out haha! But at the minute it’s great. I can’t see that point happening, although obviously it will do at some point, either when people lose interest or we lose interest or none of us can do it with any dignity but at the minute, it’s all good.

And finally, how long have you had your dreads for and do you have any tips for maintaining them?

Well I’ve had them probably since I was 18 or 19, maybe a bit younger than that even, around that kind of time. Looking after them is just common sense! Mine just kind of behave themselves, keep ‘em clean and it’s all good. I do have to chop mine off though, I have to say, cos playing the guitar if they grow too long you can’t play cos they snag in the strings! You don’t wanna go for the big note and nothing come out – and that happens, I assure you. It’s a hard learned lesson!

‘It’s definitely one of the most beautiful festivals I’ve ever played at. It’s set right in the heart of Dartmoor, so the fact that the stage is set in the midst of the sweeping wilderness is genuinely unlike anything you’ll see at any other festivals. It’s really evocative.’ - Seth Lakeman

‘We love the summer! There’s nothing better than belting out some tunes in the glorious sunshine whist having a few beers. Chagstock certainly fits that bill! Great lineup and we can’t wait to be a part of it!’ – Rusty Shackle

‘I am delighted to be a part of this years Chagstock. It’s exciting to be a part of such an up & coming festival, and it’s a huge bonus to be able to see acts like Seth Lakeman in the flesh.’ – Ciaran Lavery

‘We are honoured and excited about being part of such a fabulous lineup this year. Can’t wait to storm the stage!’ - Mad Dog Mcrea

‘I love Devon and I love the festival season, so Chagstock’s gonna be one big Original Rudeboy party. I hear it started out as a small private party so we plan to keep it personal, fun and rude! See you there!’ – Neville Staple

So folks, we can’t wait to pop our tent up, roll our sleeping mats out and grab a pint of real cider at this year’s Chagstock. But don’t just take our word for it. Check out how excited some of the bands are to be gracing the Chagstock stage this year…

Chagstock |7-18 July 2015 | Whiddon Down | Devon www.chagstock.info

CHAGSTOCK FESTIVAL

COMPETITION

Catch some huge names like New Model Army, Levellers and Seth Lakeman all in the beautiful setting of the Dartmoor countryside, you could be there with your nearest and dearest with a weekend family ticket courtesy of the lovely folks at Chagstock, just answer this simple question...

Q: Which war links the origin of the names of both Chagstock headliners?

Email your answer to:

competitions@devon-music.com or send us a direct message via Twitter or facebook.

Competition closes 15/07/15

/devonmusicmag @D e v o n M u s i c M a g

devon MUSIC | june 2015

chagstock

The Ballad O f e wa n M ac c O l l

T h e s h e r pa s Sat 13 Jun | 8pm - 11pm £3 | 16+

Wed 3 Jun | 8pm | £7 (£5)

T h e da M n e d

c h r i s wO O d

thu 4 Jun | doors 8pm £19

Sun 28 Jun | 8pm | £12 (£10)

rinseOuT

sOund Of The sirens

Sat 6 Jun | 9pm - 2am £16 | 18+

e d s O lO + B e n n y pag e & M c sy e Fri 12 Jun | 9pm - 2am £13.50 | 18+

Fri 10 Jul | doors 8pm | £5

B r OT h e r sT r u T Wed 15 Jul | doors 8pm £12 (£10)

n e w s O u n d s s h Owc a s e s Fri 24 Jul & Sat 15 aug | doors 8pm | Free exeter phoenix is a proud supporter of the best new music talent. new Sounds Showcases bring you a free event of the most exciting new artists and bands from the South West. in a band and want a slot? contact patrick@exeterphoenix.org.uk

See the website for many more gigs at exeter phoenix 01392 667080 | exeterphoenix.org.uk | Bradninch place, gandy Street, exeter, ex3 4lS

FEATURE

Known for hits including ‘Love Me For A Reason’, ‘Words’, ‘No Matter What’ and ‘When The Going Gets Tough’, Boyzone are currently celebrating two decades in the music industry. Within these 20 years, the band have tallied up an impressive 5 Brit Awards, eighteen top 10 hits on the UK Singles Chart, six No. 1 UK hit singles and five No. 1 albums, with more than 25 million records sold worldwide. They released their sixth studio album ‘From Dublin to Detroit’ last year, featuring their favourite songs from the Motown era, including renditions of “You Can’t Hurry Love”, “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted” plus many more and now they’re only bloomin’ coming to Newton Abbott!

Having taken time out since 1997 so they could all focus on their individual career paths, the Boyzone boys, all grown up (Menzone doesn’t have the same ring to it though, does it?) got back together in 2007 for another round but in 2009 the group suffered a tragic blow when Stephen Gately died unexpectedly from an undiagnosed heart defect at only 33 years old. In 2010 the lads emerged with a new album, Brother, a tribute to Stephen and went back out on the road, following this up with 2013’s BZ20 album and subsequent tour. There is no understanding the dizzying heights of success that these Irishmen have achieved over the past twenty years but we were fortunate enough to spend some time with motorloving, tattoo enthusiast Shane Lynch recently and we attempted to get a bit of an insight, but mostly ended up talking about beards…

devon music | JUNE 2015

We’ve actually met before, you played the Joiners in Southampton with your rock band, must be over 10 years ago now, do you still love rock music?

Ah brilliant, yeah I think when it comes to music in general I kind of do different vanity projects, let’s call them haha, making music that I enjoy. So not necessarily rock specific but just good records y’know?!

It’s no secret that you love cars. You’re actually successful racing driver now aren’t you?

Yeah, I’ve enjoyed the lifestyle for a long, long time. I started around 2000 or 1999 just through opportunities from obviously being in Boyzone where people invited me to come and drive their cars and from there, it went really well. And today I currently drive for a team called Japspeed based in Manchester and I have my big sponsors Lexus Tyres and Monster Energy and I’ve been very lucky to be successful in motorsports, which is something I actually adore. I’ve been blessed for sure.

What’s your dream car?

You know my dream car was a 911 Porsche when I was a kid and I kind of got that when I was 19 and from that point on cars are something I love, but I don’t particularly have a dream car…because I’ve kind of had them all, y’know? I’ve been lucky enough to own and have them all.

Being part of Boyzone must have opened so many opportunities for you. How does it feel to be that successful when you were so young?

It’s a funny world. It’s a funny world of not knowing or understanding what you’re supposed to be doing, other than that you’re in this band and you’re called Boyzone and you’re going over here and doing this TV show and it’s a very enjoyable world. I think sometimes it got a bit confusing for me because there’s no particular reason why you end up being successful in music. There are so many great bands out there, or great singers out there

who will never see the world of fame but they’re far better than anyone ever is. You either get a lucky break or you don’t and I’ve just been really lucky in life.

Do you still get just as much of a kick out of performing the songs live? Have they developed over the years?

Yeah I get more of a kick I think now because, back in the 90’s all the great songs we did the ‘Love Me for a Reason’, the ‘No Matter What’s and all that stuff, we were so used to singing them all the time so there was nothing particularly special about it but the first time going back to the live gigs, there’s great memories of all those gigs. Y’know not only for the people who buy the records and came to those shows but for us too. It takes me back to the place where I was in the 90’s, travelling the road thanks to those records. And I wouldn’t give any particular one song as my favourite either, I just think that different songs take me back to different times and different places and different emotions. And I guess that’s what music is meant to do.

You’ve been fortunate enough to play some of the world’s most legendary venues throughout your career, is there anywhere you’d still really like to tick off the list?

I think when it comes to venues, we’ve played the greats. I think Wembley was one of them old school venues, to say you’ve played Wembley was pretty awesome and we did.

I think when it comes to the new acts and bands, people dream of playing the O2 and we’ve played that more than enough times. And also the Royal Albert Hall, what a great venue and we’ve had the pleasure of playing that a fair few times. Yeah, I’m pretty satisfied with playing the awesome venues that we have!

Your latest album is a collection of Motown covers, what prompted you to go back to covering classic songs?

All the time when it comes to music, you and the record company have to strategise and you’ve gotta feel what you wanna do and they said this is something they’d really like for us boys to do. And yeah, I thought about it and I really like a lot of Motown stuff and when we started to go through the records just realized how many amazing, classic songs there are out there and it was a great idea for us to do. We loved making the album.

Do you think there will be more themed albums from Boyzone in the future?

When it comes to themes, it’s hard to get it right sometimes and we all have to be in the position of understanding what kind of music it is that we’re gonna make. I don’t think it’s something we would turn away from. It’s just opportunities and coming together with the record company and the band agreeing that something is a great idea.

What’s it like being on the road with Boyzone, now you’re all older and you’ve got kids, etc?

It’s nice, actually. It’s really, really nice. When it comes to backstage, when the kids are around it’s nice to see all those kids looking after mine. Y’know Keith Duffy’s kids one is 19 or 20, a big grown man and they go all the way down to my little 2 year old so there’s a fair old stretch of 20 years

of all the kids. It’s an interesting room and everyone’s well looked after, let’s put it that way…

It must be quite a big family atmosphere backstage…

It is! It’s great and it’s nice to know that all are kids are hanging out and doing their own thing.

Do you think there’ll ever be a time when enough is enough for Boyzone?

Enough is enough when people ain’t turning up and you’re standing on stage playing to yourself and that’s about it y’know? I think for a band like us, it’s not like we were ever the flat out singing, dancing, performing band.

If you go to see New Kids on the Block or Take That, they’re always more energetic than we ever were. We’re more of a ballad type band and lucky enough I think now, 20 odd years later being a ballad style band allows you to continue being just that and we don’t have to come off stage all sore and stuff from leaping around! I mean every now and then it’s nice to throw in a routine that we used to do, but it’s always just a couple of signature hand movements – and the crowd love to see them and do them but we don’t have to jump around too much!

You guys were just teenagers when things really went big for you. Do you ever look back at anything you wore / said / did and cringe?

Yeah loads of things! But that’s just as people, I think when we go back to our family photos and you look and think ‘wow, you see how I had my hair that time? Wow, that’s interesting…’ and I think that’s nice because it shows growth, it shows movement. And yeah, there are some things out there where I think ah man, what a bad situation or why did I say that but when it comes to the clothes and stuff I don’t really mind because most of my stuff has always been a bit off the radar. Most of my looks in Boyzone days, I always liked to look different and still do, to be fair.

I was going to ask you about that because you were recently sporting quite an impressive beard [yes, I admit it – HUGE beard fan – Zan]…

Yeah I had a big old beard for a good year or so and I currently don’t have that. It has now left my face. More for a movie I was doing recently, I had to take it off so I was a little bit sad to see it go but nonetheless it’s gone and I’m fresh faced and blond now, so I change my look all the time.

Well I’m sad to hear the beard is gone but at least you can grow a big, impressive beard…

Oh really? Well I can! I really, really can! I always wanted to do it and I said to my wife about a year ago, right that’s it, I’m growing a beard and luckily for me, it happened to fall in and be uber-trendy at the time. So it all worked out perfectly to plan.

Words: Zan Lawther

Catch BoyZone live @ Newton Abbott Racecourse | JUNE 28

BOYZONE

NEWS Exeter Respect festival first took place in 1997 and there has been a celebration virtually every year since then. From 2003 to 2008 Exeter Respect’s biggest event was at Exeter Phoenix Arts Centre, but from 2009 to the present day the focus has been a giant two day free festival in Belmont Park, with a footfall of around 20,000 people every year.

Respect Festival has always has an appreciation of the Alternative side of music and the diversity it brings One of the first bands to play the event back in the late 90’s was a small unknown acts called Muse.

Last year the festival committee approached the Mike James Rock Show to find a number of acts to play on the

main stage. “Mike & his team have hosted events in the past for Respect Festival so It seemed like the logical thing to do asking them to find us underground local acts as they are so pivotal in the local scene” said Adrian Bull of the Programming committee and “after the success of 2014 it was only fair to carry this on in 2015”.

This year was no different than last with hundreds of votes cast for Devon based Alternative, Rock & Metal acts all wanting to be included in 3 heats held at Exeter Cavern Club.

Throughout April a dozen acts battled it out and you can now see heat winners Five Finger Discount, Concrete Donkey & The Dreamer Within all play the main stage over the weekend of 6th & 7th June.

“Devon has such an abundance of amazingly diverse unsigned and underground talent that are sometimes overlooked by big events, We are very lucky to be given the opportunity to work alongside the Respect Festival team again to help throw the spotlight on Devon’s underground acts and to give them the attention they deserve” - Mike James.

www.exeter-respect.org

DEVON MUSIC | JUNE 2015

EXETER RESPECT FESTIVAL

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FESTIVAL ROUND UP

So it’s that time of year again, time to brush off the trusty tent, dig out the wellies and head to the fields or if camping isn’t your bag, maybe grab some real ale and take in an all-dayer at the local. Whatever your bag, we seek out the best of the fests in our 2015 FESTIVAL ROUND UP!

bath & west showground july 10 - 12 Land at NASS and you’ll find yourself smack bang in a world where ravers and athletes go hard... No matter if you’re moshing at main stage, raving in The Warehouse or watching the World Class Skaters, Inliners and BMXers killing it in the pro park, there’s not a minute of the day that isn’t going off at NASS. So who’s playing? Enter Shikari, Rebel Sound, Public Enemy, Less than Jake, Roni Size Reprazent, We Are The Ocean, Sigma, Hannah Wants, Lower than Atlantis, Roots Manuva, Lethal Bizzle, Baby Godzilla, Beasts, Gentleman’s Dub Club and many world class skaters and BMXers that will battle it out across the weekend!

Tickets cost £103 - £117 dependant on when you book. Payment plans and VIP packages available too.

nassfestival.com

devon MUSIC | june 2015

castle hill, north devon july 23 - 27 A true summer holiday experience packed full of music, adventures and the best of outdoor living.

Somersault is back for 2015 after its sell-out debut saw a previously unimagined festival concept come to life.

Somersault promises five days of stripped-back happiness and blissful outdoor life with seaside escapades, field trips, trekking, mountain biking, horse riding, surfing, craft and culture, wellbeing and yoga and other excursions augmenting the international music programming.

Artists include Laura Marling, The Staves, Bombay Bicycle Club, Imelda May, Rae Morris, Passenger, Crystal Fighters, Lucy Rose, Amber Run, Pixel Fix, Jimmy Cliff, Bear’s Den and loads more

lulworth castle, dorset july 30 - august 2 Bestival’s Dorset sibling, Camp Bestival is a full on fancy dress filled, family focussed festival with great live music, comedy, crafts and kids’ entertainment organised by husband and wife team Josie & Rob Da Bank. This year they’re focussing on GOING WILD with bushcraft, Bill Oddie’s birdwatch, Michaela Strachan and even the Cat in the Hat making an appearance.

This year’s acts include Underworld, Clean Bandit, Kaiser Chiefs, Professor Green, Wretch 32, Kate Tempest, Bob Geldof, Soul II Soul, Ella Henderson, Level 42, Alison Moyet, Ella Eyre, Cymande, 808 State, Buzzcocks, DJ Yoda, Slaves, The Cuban Brothers, The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, Only The Young, George The Poet, Eliza Carthy. There’s comedy from Marcus Brigstocke, Matt Richardson, Rob Deering and lots, lots more to come!

Weekend tickets now £125 – day tickets are available and some activities cost extra

How much? An adult weekend ticket is £195 with camping from Thursday.

Check the website for teens and kids prices

somersaultfestival.com

campbestival.net

festival round up

watergate bay, cornwall august 5 - 9 Since 1981 Boardmasters has been an integral part of the British surf scene. From humble beginnings as a small surf competition, it’s now one of the biggest events on the professional British surfing calendar – and there’s a music festival to boot!

Stick on your flip-flops, grab your tent and leave your troubles behind, and we’ll see you by the beach! Hopefully the weather will be kinder to us this year (2014’s festival nearly blew away!!)

Acts include Faithless, Rudimental, Bastille, Arrested Development, Catfish & the Bottlemen, Clean Bandit, The Darkness, De La Soul, Duke Dumont, Everything Everything, Seasick Steve, Groove Armada, Lower than Atlantis, MNEK, Rae Morris, Reef, Sunset Sons and many more across the weekend.

Fernhill Farm, NR. Bristol august 20 - 22 The award winning A r cTa n G e n t i s t h e wo r l d ’s u l t i m a t e m u s i c fe s t i v a l fo r c o n n o i s s e u r s o f M a t h - ro c k , Po s t - r o c k , N o i s e - r o c k , Alt-rock and ever ything i n b e t we e n . L i m i t e d t o j u s t 5 0 0 0 t i c k e t s ATG i s a n i n t i m a t e m u s i c fe s t i v a l booked by music lovers fo r m u s i c l o ve r s. O v e r 7 0 b a n d s a c ro s s 4 s t a g e s, a silent disco and some o f t h e b e s t fo o d a n d d r i n k m o n e y c a n b u y.

A r cTa n G e n t , t h e b e s t we e k e n d o f yo u r s u m m e r guaranteed!

T h i s ye a r ’s l i n e u p fe a t u r e s The Dillinger Escape Plan, Cu l t o f Lu n a , D e a f h a v e n , 6 5 d a y s o f s t a t i c, Fa l l o f Tr o y, D e e r h o o f, M a y b e s h e w i l l a n d m a ny m o r e.

Weekend with camping from £129 - £169 depending on when you book. VIP packages now available.

We e k e n d t i c k e t s s t a r t a t £75, VIP and day ticket o p t i o n s a v a i l a b l e, s e e we b s i t e fo r d e t a i l s.

boardmasters.co.uk

a r c t a n g e n t . co. u k

escot park, devon august 21 - 23 Beautiful Days was born in 2003 and boasts a whopping six stages plus a children’s area in the centre of the festival for toddlers through to teens, with site art, comedy, theatre, family camping, licensed real ale bars from Otter Brewery & a great choice of food and craft stalls. Beautiful Days has no sponsorship, branding and does not advertise yet it sells out every year as it’s ever popular with families.

So who’s playing? Dropkick Murphys, Happy Mondays, Levellers (natch), Gogol Bordello, Idlewild, Freeborn John, Jack Savoretti, Wilko Johnson, Rich Hall’s Hoedown, Katzenjammer, Eddi Reader, The Circus of Horrors, Hudson Taylor, The Skints, Seth Lakeman, Moulettes, Duke Special and loads more Adult weekend with camping £135, 10 – 15’s £65, 5 – 10’s £35 and under 5’s for only £5

beautifuldays.org

Did you know the first Glastonbury festival, originally called Glastonbury Fayre, was held in 1970? It cost one whole pound (with free milk included) and was held the day after Jimi Hendrix died. Around 1500 people attended, and it was headlined by T-Rex - stepping in for the Kinks who failed to show up!

devon MUSIC | june 2015

O N D E V

MUSIC

festival round up

FESTIVAL ROUND UP

Every year an estimated 15million loo rolls are used overall by festival goers and festival staff. That’s about 5,000 miles or the distance between London and Rome! Lovely!

Electric Beach Festival in Newquay returns 12/13 June. Pull on your dancing flip flops and get down in the sand with The Cat Empire, first to be announced.

The 12th International Sea Shanty Festival is a FREE festival of maritime music featuring Fishermen’s Friends, among others which takes place from 12 - 14 June on the quays and in the bars of the South Cornish port town of Falmouth.

The Eden Sessions begin again on 12 June and run on various dates until 17 July. Multiple evenings of popular music in the beautiful surroundings of the Eden Project entry into the Eden Project itself is included in the ticket price. Catch Paolo Nutini, Paloma Faith, Motorhead and Ben Howard among others.

Friday 19 / Saturday 20 June sees Pigbag, Danse Society, Dave Sharp and more take over the Old Station House Inn at Kentisbury at Calverstock Festival, in support of the Calvert Trust.

The 17th annual Teignmouth Folk Festival invades various venues across town 19 - 21 June with a weekend ticket + camping only setting you back £49 if you order before 21 May. Goldcoast/Oceanfest lights up Croyde with all things surf and music 19 – 21 June. This midsummer weekend is all about good times, great music, keeping fit and looking after the environment.

Barn on the Farm brings all things lovely to Gloucester 3 – 5 July with the big names in folk already announced to perform in this intimate farm setting. James Bay, The Staves, Foy Vance, Amber Run and more already confirmed.

Saturday 4th July head to Exeter to get rocked. Let’s Rock Exeter features a powerhouse of 80’s music from the likes of Billy Ocean, Bananarama, ABC and Jive Bunny.

Glas-Denbury takes place on 10/11 July at Fairfield Farm, just outside of Newton Abbot. With 5 stages of music there’s bound to ELECTRIC BEACH be something for everyone! Also that weekend, Bristol once again welcomes all things BBQ when Grillstock takes over the harbourside.

Expect 25 acts playing across two music stages, a smouldering hot US style low ‘n’ slow BBQ and craft beer bars.

10 – 18 July beautiful Budleigh Salterton hosts its own week of music, performances and workshops.

From July 10 - 12 Tiverton Balloon Festival combines food, music, comedy and of course……hot air balloons for only £21. Can’t argue with that!

Wonder Fields is a new family music festival happening 17 - 19 July at a top secret location in South Devon, 15 minutes outside of Exeter on the border of north Dartmoor.

TIVERTON BALLON FESTIVAL

Brace yourself Plymouth as MTV Crashes through the town 22/23 July.

No acts confirmed yet but it’s only £10 so take a chance and have some fun!

After taking a break last year Hatherleigh’s annual music and arts festival is 23 –26 July. This four day festival of Music, Art and Entertainment is themed this year around Gardens and will once again be centred around the Town Square Marquee.

devon MUSIC | june 2015

festival round up

If you were Captain of a Ship, what would you name it?

Serendipity.

What was your best subject at school?

Domestic Science.

If you could live in any place, where would it be?

A lighthouse in the lost city of Atlantis If you had to cover a nursery rhyme, which one would it be?

The Wheels in the “Happy” Bus go round and round...

Where’s the strangest place you’ve ever played a show?

Many… A house made of ice in Northern Sweden, A London Barrister’s luxurious tree house in Devon, A very cramped students attic in Plymouth with only enough room for one audience member. The list is endless…

TIVERTON COMMUNITY ARTS THEATRE The

Johnny Cash Roadshow SAT 8pmth

What colour brick would you rather be and why?

A Gold Brick because according to the ‘Hitchhiker’s Guide To the Galaxy’ the best drink in existence is the Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster. It says that the effect of a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster is like having your brains smashed out by a slice of lemon wrapped round a large gold brick.

What’s your favourite tipple?

A triple Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster If you were a pirate, what would your name be?

Captain ‘Daft Dog Craig” because once a very inebriated and confused festival goer thought that was the name of our band after watching us on the same stage as 3 Daft Monkeys at Beautiful Days Festival !

What’s your favourite thing about festival season?

Smiley people covered in mud or dust without a care in the world.

If you could repeatedly say one word and never say another, what word would it be?

Wow. If you could be any creature from Greek mythology, what would you be?

The Teumessian Fox (a gigantic fox destined never to be hunted down)

JUNE 13

What’s the worst thing about being in a band?

Losing plectrums

Full Bar and Hot Snack Food Tickets from our Box Office within the busy bee, Tiverton or online at www.tivertontheatre.com Bolham Road, Tiverton, EX16 6SQ

catch mad dog mcrea live @ glastonbury festival | jun 28 tiverton balloon festival | july 11 chagstock | july 17

£17.00

How many dogs does it take to change a light bulb?

If it were an angry Rottweiler then you just wouldn’t ask !

FEATURE

At less than three years old, Hunter and the Bear are still fledgling in comparison to some of their acoustic, Americana infused rock contemporaries but their star is rising almost as fast as they can write their songs. Striking a chord with none other than guitar god Eric Clapton they were lifted out of their local London scene and into an arena sized tour in 2014 and they haven’t looked back.

Their compelling melody- driven rock won over Slowhand’s audiences and they were greeted with enthusiasm, respect and a clamouring for more that saw them sell hundreds of copies of their EP at the shows. And they worked hard to get there. And they’re still working hard. Currently writing new music and preparing for a busy festival-filled summer, followed by an autumnal adventure in the US we’re excited that they’ve found time to visit The Loft in Exeter next month for a stripped down, intimate show at this unique venue.

The first of its kind on the Exeter live music scene, the sessions are a really great opportunity to enjoy real music in a superb environment, sipping fine cocktails, beers & fizz, surrounded by like-minded music loving folk and a rare opportunity to see something really special.

We caught up with lead singer Will Irvine recently to find out exactly how they ended up on this wild ride and exactly why we should be climbing on board with them…

I heard Bob Harris play you guys on his Radio 2 show yesterday – that must have felt pretty awesome…

Yeah, he played a few songs off our last EP on his show.

He sort of turned up out of the blue, I think he saw us at a festival and he liked us, so he got us in to do something for his YouTube channel called Under the Apple Tree. We recently went up to his house and it was really cool and we gave him the EP then and he must have liked it.

You went to Bob Harris’ HOUSE!?! That’s so cool!

He’s got a cool house, lots of music memorabilia!

DEVON MUSIC | JUNE 2015

I have to ask about touring with Eric Clapton – how did you manage to land those shows and what was the whole experience like?

Landing the shows was all down to our manager. She didn’t even tell us we were in the running or anything, she just called us on the day and said ‘are you sitting down? We’re going on tour with Eric Clapton’ and we were like SHIIIIIIT! Basically, I think a call was sent out within the industry to find something that would fit the bill. He wanted an up and coming British band and our manager put us forward for it and we got an email saying ‘Eric and the team have listened to your music and would love you to support’ and we were like oh my God so that was really special.

And the shows themselves were so ridiculous. At the time, we hadn’t really played any big shows. We’d gone straight from small festival stages and the London circuit to these arenas and there’s nothing that can prepare you for that. It was a real baptism of fire but it was a great thing for us cos it really gave us the kick up the bum that we needed to get going and get as good as we could. Everything was put on fast forward and it’s the best thing that’s happened to us.

Obviously the exposure was great and the shows were a great experience but actually behind the scenes, individually as musicians and together as a band, it really spurred us on to go forward and be much better than we were at the time.

Are you mates with Slowhand now? It must be pretty inspiring to tour with someone that well regarded…

Hahahah, definitely not mates. We met him, but I don’t have his phone number or anything! He was a big influence on us, all of us really. Maybe not so much Gareth cos he’s a drummer but particularly Jimmy being the lead guitarist, he’d grown up listening to Eric Clapton doing big solos and

to walk out on the stage before him is just so ridiculous. It was so funny seeing our little van sandwiched between his artic lorries, which was embarrassing and funny!

You haven’t been together that long, tell us a bit about how you came together and what it felt like to get onto stages of that size within such a short space of time…

So, me and Jimmy are old friends from home in Scotland and we basically went to uni together and started jamming together and playing a few songs and ended up playing the pub circuit in Newcastle. And at the time it was totally just for fun and we weren’t good at all. I started playing guitar at university, Jimmy started teaching me there so we were really, really, really fresh to the whole playing music thing. So when we finished we thought, why don’t we take a couple of weeks and see if we can come up with something original and we had that magic period of time when you graduate from university where no one expects you to go immediately into a job, so you’ve got this little window to try something out and we went up to the highlands for a couple of weeks and wrote some songs. And they weren’t great, we don’t use any of them anymore but it was enough to let us think we should give this a go.

So we moved down and crashed on friend’s sofas in London and started ploughing promoters with emails, any way we could think of to get a show. Eventually someone gave us a little show and we kept getting invited back and word began to spread that we were worth having on a bill and we did that circuit for almost a year and learnt so much about playing live. We realised pretty quickly that we needed to build a band as we were getting completely blasted off the stage by people who had a drummer, for example haha so we found Gareth playing at Ronnie Scott’s and we really liked his style and got chatting. He was very quickly stolen from his other band! Then Chris came through an audition and was just so good that we were like, you’re so in! And we’d been together as a four for about a month when our manager told us we got the Eric Clapton dates and we were still getting used to playing with a drummer and a bassist and we didn’t really know each other that well yet and we only had about four months until the shows started so it was a hectic period of rehearsals all the time, practice, writing, anything we could possibly do to make it better. We basically did two years’ worth of work in four months and then we stepped up on the stage and looking back I feel like we did ourselves proud.

It was a daunting prospect when we got told but we were definitely ready when it came around.

You’re playing Reading & Leeds festivals this summer. Are you looking forward to that?

It’s awesome. Festivals are so much fun. They’re the perfect place for a band like us to play because you’ve got an audience of people there that are waiting to hear good music and it’s so fun trying to win them over. Obviously the majority of them have no idea who we are when we walk out on stage so our job is to try and get them in that forty minutes or whatever we have, our job is to really engage with them and we love doing that. We’re all about live. A lot of bands these days are recording artists and the live thing is a second part of it but we’re very much a live band so

Reading & Leeds will be loads of fun, we’ve got a really good slot on a really good stage so very excited to check it out.

Are you writing at the moment? Have you got any plans to release a full album anytime soon?

Album plans are kind of on hold at the moment because we’re about to release a new EP. The single comes out on 26 May, it’s called ‘Burn it Up’ and the full EP comes out in July and that’s five tracks of songs that we really feel represent us well now. We’ve been through a lot of growth with bringing on the other two guys and the sound is altered because of that, so to be able to have something that we now fully feel is our sound is really nice for us, so we’re keen for people to be able to hear that. But as for an album, we want an album more than anything but we need the time to be right. We don’t want to do an album without the right momentum so we’re waiting for the right time. We’re doing so much writing that we could record about five albums right now but we’ve got so many things that are distracting us at the moment. We’re heading out to America for the first time in September, to do a festival in Nashville and then we’re touring supporting a band for four weeks and then ending up in New York for CMJ so that’ll be really fun.

There’s definitely an undertone of an American/country sound to some of your tunes. Who are your biggest influences?

I suppose that in the UK we might be classed as a bit country but I think that in the States, where country is such a big thing and that’s where its roots lie, I don’t think they would really consider us country at all but it’s nice that they’ve welcomed us into that world with the CMJ and the Nashville Americana festival. It’ll be a really interesting trip but a lot of our influences have come from that world, but a lot of them don’t. The weird thing is, individually we were all brought up on different styles of music; I really love old rock like Direstraits, Zeppelin, that kind of thing but Jimmy was brought up on soul and Stevie Wonder vibe funky stuff; Gareth is a massive jazz head and Chris is into his heavy rock, almost metal, so it’s a really interesting mix. It’s fun to play around with different styles when we go into rehearsals but we’re so keen to get out there. Because, without forgetting about the UK because we’ll always be here, but everyone is always saying that our sound has that American vibe to it so it’ll be interesting to see how they receive it.

Why should we come check out your live show?

In any live show that we do, we bring everything we’ve got and we always leave everything on the stage, which is probably why we look so horrendous and sweaty when we come off stage. We’ve got a lot of new material, the EP tracks and we’re really keen to see what people think of our new stuff. We’ll be experimenting with a few of the tracks and we like to do things like forget about the PA and turn everything off and do an acoustic number in the crowd or do something a bit rockier in an intimate setting so we’re always mixing in different things, so it should be a great show.

Words: Zan Lawther

Catch HUNTER & THE BEAR @ The Loft | JULY 14

HUNTER & THE BEAR

previews Vocal harmony sirens

Wildwood Kin are an alternative/acoustic trio from right here in Devon comprising of two sisters, Beth & Emillie Key and their cousin Meghann Loney. Their music is a mix of their own beautiful and thought provoking original songs with a few stunning arrangements of some better known covers. Their voices meld perfectly in effortless, sublime close harmony.

FOR FANS OF: MUMFORD & SONS / THE STAVES / FLEET FOXES

PRESS TO MECO

JUN 21 | EXILE, PLYMOUTH

Catchy rockers with a message

FOR FANS OF: HEY VANITY / EMPIRE / FORT HOPE

Formed in the summer of 2007 in Ridgewood, New Jersey this emo band take their cues from the midwestern bands that lead the way in the 90’s. Their upbeat emotive tunes are laden with twangy guitars and chanted, layered vocals and breakdowns that pull you back down out of the rafters and into the ocean of noise.

FOR FANS OF: AMERICAN FOOTBALL / THE PROMISED LAND

JUL 15 | PHOENIX, EXETER Rising from a new grave

JUN 16 | THE LOFT, EXETER

Chunky riffs and multi-faceted vocals that utilise clever harmonies to emphasise the challenging lyrical content. Press to Meco have always possessed an ear for a huge riff and equally gargantuan three-part harmonies, yet anyone familiar with this trio knows not to second guess the next step, a fact reinforced by the themes on the ‘Affinity’ EP: death of the elderly; procrastination & cannibalism.

Emotive indie punk from the States

BROTHER STRUT

WILDWOOD KIN

PRAWN

JUL 09 | JUNCTION, PLYMOUTH Strutting soul brothers

As individuals they have performed on records that have accumulated over half-a-billion sales, as a collective they form Brother Strut; the critically acclaimed funk and soul band. Peerless showmen as well as musicians, Brother Strut pride themselves on their ability to deliver unparalleled live shows. Composed of some of the finest and funkiest musicians around an excellent night is guaranteed.

FOR FANS OF: COURTNEY PINE / THE JAMES TAYLOR QUARTET

ASHESTOANGELS

Recently nominated for a Kerrang! award, Ashestoangels are one of the hardest working bands on the UK circuit today. Firmly fixed within the new wave of horror cult they’re a favourite amongst younger rockers and their ability to tour constantly whilst knocking out catchy and emotive pop-rock songs makes them one of the most promising outfits around.

FOR FANS OF: FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS / LOSTALONE / DEAD

DEVON MUSIC | JUNE 2015

JUL 17 | EXILE, PLYMOUTH

previews OFF WITH THEIR HEADS

AUG 13| CAVERN, EXETER

Minneapolis punk rockers

Off With Their Heads are back at the Cavern again this August! One of Epitaph Records (Rancid, Bad Religion) finest modern bands they’re bringing their passionate and furious punk rock all the way from Minneapolis. With songs based around the hard living and depraved themes of vocalist Ryan Young this is a band constantly on the move.

FOR FANS OF: THE MENZINGERS / NONE MORE BLACK

Word up! It’s old skool rockers GUN!

GUN

GUN’s contemporary take on authentic rock gave them an edge over their peers during the late-80s. Formed in Glasgow by the Gizzi brothers, they came to re-invent the rock ‘n’ roll genre and 25 years later, they’re still going strong. Recent album ‘Frantic’ is balls out classic rock with a modern twist that holds the confidence of a band that know their sh*t.

FOR FANS OF: THUNDER / WHITESNAKE / VELVET REVOLVER

BEARDYMAN

NOV 11 | PHOENIX, EXETER Infectious indie rockers

OCT 15 | JUNCTION, PLYMOUTH One album per hour

Travelling at the speed of thought in his music production spaceship, the world-class musician/comedian transcends mere mimicry to produce studio quality compositions faster than most could imagine them. The vocal shaman emits and manipulates any conceivable sound with a manic wit that will have you rocking with laughter as a whole album is created live, based on your suggestions.

FOR FANS OF: KRAFTY KUTS / JAGUAR SKILLS / FREESTYLERS

Popping up on the UK indie circuit in 2010, The Vaccines wasted no time in cementing themselves as one of the go to bands for all things rock n roll. Whipping their audiences up into a frenzy, their wailing synth-sounds, heavy distortion and almost ethereal vocal lines will have you tapping your feet and nodding your head in no time.

THE VACCINES

NOV 12 | PAVILIONS, PLYMOUTH Love is all around for these 90’s heroes

FOR FANS OF: VAMPIRE WEEKEND / PEACE / THE STROKES

WET WET WET

Hot off the press, the iconic Wet Wet Wet have only just announced next year’s tour but we’re already chomping at the bit to get involved with this legendary group.

Having sold over 15 million records worldwide, their live shows are always incredible so grab your ticket now and dive in, make a splash and let’s get wet. Wet. Wet.

MAR 08 | PAVILIONS, PLYMOUTH

FOR FANS OF: PAUL YOUNG / M PEOPLE / BROS

previews

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ones to watch

Plymouth, can you hear what’s rumbling beneath the surface of your calm shores? A new voice is calling from the darkness.

We say calling, growling is probably a more appropriate adjective. Five young men with a mission to spread their message are banging a drum and calling you to rise up and stand up for what’s right in life.

Upsurge are here and they’re bringing their heavy and fast hardcore sounds with them. Taking their influences from punk, metal and traditional and modern hardcore, their sound is heavily reminiscent of major US bands from the popular underground scene yes infused with a freshness that only a band in their adolescence can bring to their music.

Who are your biggest musical influences?

Hardcore was introduced to me in my teenage years and before that I was a big fan of Korn, Staind, Limp Bizkit and Deep Purple. Everything changed after I listened to a couple of Sick Of It All albums and some homemade compilations featuring bands such as Poison The Well, Earth Crisis, Terror, 25ta Life and others. Since then, hardcore turns out to be my biggest musical influence, anything that’s hardcore is influential to me really.

Clearly, Upsurge have something to say, so we caught up with them to find out what it is…

Your music is pretty hardcore, what’s the most hardcore thing you’ve ever done?

My newborn daughter is pretty much hardcore.

Who are you and what do you do in the band?

I’m Alex and I’m bashing the drums.

How did you get together?

The truth is that it was Tom’s initiative to start a NYHC old school influenced band and he needed a crew that knew what that means. Not long after advertising his idea online Tom got together with Alex for a jam and this duo turn out as the hard core of Upsurge. After two years of existence and going trough loads of unfortunate band member changes, Markus and Lee joined the crew in 2014, followed by Tyler later in the winter of the same year. Every member brought his own influences to the band and this is how our initial style evolved beyond the US old school sound. What really got us together after all is the hardcore music itself and our common need to send a message out there.

How did you choose your band name?

We wanted to keep the name simple and capture some kind of rebellious spirit and represent standing up against something. A lot of ideas we had were already taken but we thought UPSURGE worked well.

DEVON MUSIC | JUNe 2015

What’s your biggest achievement as a band so far?

Definitely that would be the upcoming EP and having the opportunity to collaborate with Haunted Records on the release of it.

If you could open for any band in the world, who would it be?

We’ll be happy to support and open for any band, just gives us a shout. However if we ever get the chance to open for Sick of it all or Comeback Kid that would be a great honour.

What’s coming up for the rest of the year for Upsurge?

We’ve got the EP worldwide release coming up soon, followed by a local release show on 26th of June here in Plymouth. We are also going to produce some merch and gig around the UK. Stay tuned to our Facebook page for more info and dates.

Why should we come check out your live show?

Cus we got something to say, and thanks to Tyler’s growling voice, the message can be heard by everyone. We are quite energetic and I’m pretty sure we can make you at least nod your head when the break down kicks in.

CATCH UPSURGE live @ The Underground | Plymouth | JUNE 26

www.facebook.com/Upsurgeband

UPSURGE