At the end of May, Slam Dunk Festival, one of the most beloved events in the UK festival calendar, will return once more. This year's line up features a combination of nostalgic favourites and rising stars from worlds of punk and alternative music.
In the run up to the festival we are presenting ‘Postcards From Slam Dunk’, a series of quick fire Q+As with some of the bands set to appear at the event.
Next up, we got to speak to Laura Jane Grace, vocalist of punk rock band Against Me! about the festival, UK fans, and the state of America in 2017.
Hey! You haven’t played the festival since 2010. How does it feel to be coming back after such a long time?
We’re looking forward to it very much, yes, and we’re glad to be coming back to the UK so quickly after being there on our own tour this past December.
Against Me! live shows are always full of energy. What can we expect from your performance this time around?
As you said, energy! We’re coming ready and excited to play. It does get harder to decide exactly what we’re playing with festival set time lengths though. We released our 7th full length album this past September. When you’ve only got like 45 minutes to play and 7 albums worth of material to choose from set lists can be a challenge to make and we like to play a mix of everything. Good problems to have all in all.
You released your latest album ‘Shape Shift With Me’ in 2016. Have you enjoyed playing that new material and how has it been received by crowds so far?
‘Shape Shift With Me’ was an album written on tour so the songs are all very much geared towards working live. So far the response has been great.
Due to the nature of your songs and the history of the band, you’ve gained quite a die-hard following. How would you describe your relationship with your fans in the UK?
Hmmmm. How would I describe our relationship with fans in the UK? I guess I would describe it as “only natural”. It’s only natural that given so many bands from the UK have had such a huge impact and influence on all of us musically (and politically) that our music would connect with audiences there. It’s a mutual exchange of respect and admiration.
What’s your best festival memory?
We played a festival on a farm in Germany once, I forget what the festival was called. Our show took place in a barn that was usually used for feeding and milking cows. The stage was set up at the end of the feeding trough. We were all a little bummed out by the set up when we first showed up that day. It was really smelly too. But then the show ended up being incredible. Bodies flying everywhere, people getting up and dancing on the trough like it was a catwalk. I felt stupid for underestimating the set up initially.
..And the worst?
I wouldn’t want to name names because none of the bad festival memories would be the fault of the festivals themselves but there’s been a couple festivals we’ve played were we’ve had technical difficulties that were out of our control, gear malfunctions. There’s nothing worst than that. Festival shows usually mean you don’t get time to soundcheck and most often you’re playing on unfamiliar rental gear. When something goes wrong and it’s out of your control there’s no more helpless and disappointing of a feeling cause there’s nothing you can do about it and any difficulty is just cutting into the time you have to play in a setting where you’re surrounded by peers, sharing the stage with other bands you respect. You really feel like you’re letting everyone down.
How have you found the response to your book, ‘Tranny’?
Pretty tremendous. [There’s been] lots of positive reviews from both media and fans. It all still feels surreal to me, that you can go to a public library and check out a book about me and my life. That’s crazy wild.
How do you feel about the state of things going on in America at the moment? (If you fancy moving to the UK, we’ll gladly have you!)
Two words: “We’re Fucked”.
After festival season, what’s up next for Against Me!?
Lots more touring. We’ll be on the road until the end of the year. Then we’ll see what happens next!
Slam Dunk Festival takes place across the May Bank Holiday weekend at the dates and venues below. Tickets are on sale now from the official Slam Dunk website.
May
27 BIRMINGHAM NEC
28 LEEDS City Centre
29 HATFIELD The Forum