As well as our usual preview features on this year’s Reading/Leeds festivals, we’ve been gathering some musings from bands playing this weekend… the first results of which you can see below…
Gnarwolves
This is your first ever time playing Reading/Leeds. Did you think you’d be playing the Lock Up stage at Reading a few years ago when you started out?
When we first started the band, Reading was a fading memory of being 17 and watching Thursday and Sick Of It All whilst drinking Tesco value cider. We never spoke about doing anything anywhere near as huge as Reading! I would say it’s a dream come true but I don’t think we’ve ever dreamed that big. Mind blower!
Is it tough to know what songs to play in this situation? Will you still drop a Green Day cover on the day they headline the festival?
I’m 100% sure we’ll be leaving Basket Case to the masters! I could imagine it would be tough for a lot of bands choosing songs for a set but all of our add up to about 30 minutes so we can basically play them all.
Which member of Green Day do you think is probably most capable of busting a Nollie?
Tré cool for sure, although he looks a little fragile these days.
Who would play your ideal Lock Up stage line up?
It’s pretty good this year, but I’d like to see lots of UK bands starting the day off. How about this:
Nofx
Brand New
Get up Kids
Dag Nasty
Bad Brains
Lifetime
Capdown
Latterman
Iron Chic
Nails
Bangers
Great Cynics
Nai Harvest
Moose Blood
Otto
What a great day!
Great Cynics
It’s your first ever Reading/Leeds as a band this year. Which of you guys came to the festivals growing up? Did you ever think you’d be playing the Lock Up?
It’s crazy that we’re playing. The three of us all went growing up and The Lock Up tent was where we’d meet our other friends and stay there for the rest of the weekend. We didn’t even think it was possible until we got the email about it, and that was a pretty sweet day for us! The first time I went I was 15 and I’ve got some amazing memories of seeing Against Me! and The Bronx on that stage over the last few years. To play on The Lock Up is somewhat of a dream – it’s a pretty amazing feeling.
This is the biggest stage you guys will have taken on as a band so far – how do you plan on dealing with the nerves?
There’s a part of us that’s shitting ourselves – there’s talk of us going commando to forget about the stress. But we’re just gonna have fun and enjoy it. We’re less nervous and more excited to be playing. These things don’t happen to everyone and we’re just going to have fun, and do what we know how to do I guess.
What bands on your day on the Lock Up are you most stoked to be on a bill with? Are you going to watch anyone else over the day?
We’re gonna go early on the Friday to watch Gnarwolves and The Computers. RX Bandits will be pretty nuts, Deftones, Surfer Blood, Dry The River, Quicksand, and Trio too. On our day we’ll all watch Chuck Ragan, Off With Their Heads and The Bronx. Those are all bands we never thought we’d play with and we feel super lucky to be able to do this, so thanks to Mike Davies and everyone for having us.
Funeral For A Friend
It’s far from your first time at Reading/Leeds. What sort of set are you planning to the bring this year consider that you’re right near the top of your stage?
Not really sure, although we’re pretty sure we want to play a few songs we haven’t played in a while. We’ve been out on the road for 6 months straight so it’s gonna be cool to spice it up a little.
What’s your outstanding Reading/Leeds memory (on or off stage) from across the years?
I guess the one memory of Reading that sticks in my mind the most was getting to headline the second stage. We were in the US touring and flew home to play , not only was that show incredible but we were awarded with gold discs for Casually Dressed right after we played. It was surreal.
There are plenty of clashes higher up the bill at Reading this year? What do you reckon of your clashes this year and what’s the worst clash you guys have ever had to contend with at a festival?
At the end of the day it is what it is. All we want to do is have fun with our friends and the people who give a shit about our band. I think the worst clash we ever had was at Soundwave in Australia a few years ago, our tent was right next to the main stage and we were against Nine Inch Nails. Trent kept asking us to turn our volume down…we never did.
Decade
It’s your first ever Reading/Leeds this year. Were you punters at the festivals growing up, and how does this rank with experiences as a band so far?
I personally have never been before so it’s going to be extra special for me! The other boys have been before though and are really stoked because they know how awesome it is. Gig-wise I think this will be the best experience so far as not only are we playing the festivals but we get to see a load of our favourite bands for free!
What bands are you going to see after you’re done on the Lock Up stage?
We’re heading down on the Friday so we can catch Green Day and Deftones, but after we play on the Saturday I’m definitely going to check out Earlwolf and Eminem. I really want to see Fidlar too as I’ve had their record on repeat for ages!
There’s plenty of clashes over the weekend, why should people come and see you at the Lock Up stage this year?
I believe our upcoming debut album is a breath of fresh air in the pop punk/rock scene and we’re playing a bunch of new songs from it. People can judge that bold statement for themselves I guess, haha! We also have a secret intro which is totally ridiculous.
More of these on the run up to the weekend…
TOM AYLOTT