Workshop interview #2: Cake Club’s Sugar-fuelled Cake Decorating Party

It's just two weeks until Indietracks!! Today we’re chatting to Verity about the sugar-rush-tastic cake decorating workshop taking place on the Saturday afternoon at this year’s Indietracks.

Hiya, tell us a bit about yourself and the idea behind the workshop

I’m Verity, from Bristol and I believe that cake is one of the best things in life. I noticed a distinct lack of it at Indietracks last year so someone came up with the bright idea that I should rectify the situation.

What can people expect from the workshop?

The name says it all. We’ll be bringing a variety of scrumptious home-made cupcakes, icing paraphernalia and sweets. We want everyone to come in, decorate a cake, make a mess, eat it, and feel terribly pleased with themselves and their mad decorating skills. We may even provide a few extra goodies for those less-enthusiastic cake decorators.

What are you most looking forward to this year at Indietracks?

I’m looking forward to making new friends, riding the train, and the bands, of course. Rather excited about Maths and Physics Club and the Hidden Cameras. Oh, and the cake. Everyone should be excited about the cakes.

Have you been to Indietracks before? Any interesting stories to divulge?

Only last year, but it was magnificent. Everything about it. My cake colleague has never been, and doesn’t even really know what indiepop is (!). What a treat he’s in for.

Do you have any festival or camping tips?

Always eat at least two cakes at a festival. It helps absorb the cider.

That's sound advice, thanks! Here’s a link to Verity’s Cake blog: http://cakemakes.tumblr.com/

Indietracks interview #22: Crystal Stilts

Today, Paul Richards from Scared To Dance talks to JB Townsend and Andy Adler from Crystal Stilts.

Crystal Stilts burst out of Brooklyn's post-punk indie scene in 2008 with a string of releases that culminated in their fantastic debut album ‘Alight Of Night’. The album won universal accolades and established the band as first-class purveyors of haunting, atmospheric post-punk pop. Following extensive tours of the US and Europe, the band now return with their stunning second album ‘In Love With Oblivion’, hot on the heels of the incredible single ‘Shake The Shackles’.


What records did you grow up listening to? In your music I can hear a lot of post-punk and no wave bands – The Fall and Suicide spring to mind.

JB: The Fall is surely a big influence on all of us. I’m still finding more and more Fall songs that I like. When I first met Brad in 2000 he gave me the first two Suicide CDs. I like the more melodic songs. Abcko-era Stones, The Outsiders, I could list all day.

Andy: We surely listen to post-punk, etc, though perhaps not as much as in years prior, but some of it comes from probably listening to the same records they were hearing as well. Psych and folk and experimental and pop and all that mixed up.

Did you set yourselves any targets when recording In Love With Oblivion? To those who may have not got the record yet, how does it differ from your debut Alight of Night?

JB: I think I set a sonic bar for it whilst mixing. I knew how I didn’t want it to sound. It differs a bit in that there’s a bit less drone chords on this one. Songs are a little more concentrated.

Andy: In some ways it must reflect, or reveal, that it was more of a “full band” record. What those revelations are, are to be discovered.

“Love is a Wave” didn’t appear on In Love With Oblivion. Will it ever see the light of day on another release? A compilation perhaps?

JB: “Love is a Wave” is actually sort of the last song that was from the Alight of Night-era but we kept it as a stand alone single. I think we’ll probably have an oddity record somewhere down the line.

Andy: There is something nice about a song like that as a stand alone entity. The to-the point-ness of the ‘45.

Your song “Silver Sun” recently appeared on the Fortuna Pop! compilation Weekend Dreams which was given away with the Scared To Dance Spring fanzine. Tell us more about that track.

JB: Hmmm. I sometimes take critical stances with songs so after they’re done I’ll strip and critique so I sort of try to look at it from an observer's perspective – sort of a psychoanalysis of where the song came from and what it sounds most like. I’m most pleased when a song sounds different from the root influence. I think that song sounds denser then I thought it would. Almost like a Joe Meek meets Love meets The Pastels.

How was your recent tour of the UK? Where are you heading to afterwards on tour?

JB: It went well. I think we’re headed directly to Disneyland after.

Andy: Brief but enjoyable. Always nice to catch up with friends who reside overseas.

The video for “Shake the Shackles” was premiered on Pitchfork a little while ago. What were the ideas behind it? As a band, did you have much input in to it?

JB: We did have quite a bit of direction on that one. We wanted black and white, city shots, helicopters etc.
Andy: A certain someone complained that there weren’t shots of us walking on the beach in it. A little digging can easily find those images. Not even digging really.

You’ve had a few line-up changes over the years with Brad and JB the only constant sole members. How did the changes come about?

Andy: Changes and additions came about organically and continue to cultivate in this Petri dish that is Crystal Stilts. Also, wanting people to play instruments live which has led to some form of permanence and evolved the writing, recording processes.

What attracted you to play Indietracks? Will you be able to catch many of the other bands?

Andy: We have always heard wonderful things from past attendees, bands who have played, and all other travellers. Positive vouching and vibrations have led us there. Hopefully we will be able to see as much as possible, wander the grounds, and generally get the full experience.

What plans do you have for the remainder of 2011?

Andy: We have an EP that will be out in the fall and hopefully will be able to jam, write, and practice the alchemy that is our modus operandi.

Crystal Stilts play the Indoor Stage at Indietracks on Sunday night at 8:15pm.
www.crystalstilts.com

Indietracks interview #21: Math and Physics Club

Seattle's Math and Physics Club are Charles Bert, Ethan Jones, and James Werle. Since 2005, they've recorded two LPs, three EPs, and a handful of singles for California-based Matinee Recordings. Their 2010 album, "I Shouldn't Look As Good As I Do" is another sparkling collection of short, breezy pop songs inspired by indie bands of the 80s and 90s and classic singles of the 60s and 70s. The band will play on the indoor stage on the Saturday evening of Indietracks. Charles from the band joined us for a chat...


Hi Charles, tell us about an unusual place the band's played a gig in the past


We played a show with Calvin Johnson and Tender Forever at an all-ages club in Seattle called SS Marie Antoinette. It was dead winter and there was no heat. You could see your breath inside the building. I remember having trouble finding the place because there were no lights, no signs, no windows – it looked like a condemned building. I kept driving by thinking, “OK, it should be right here…” But it was actually really fun, and getting to play a show with Calvin was worth a few frozen fingers.

Do any band members have any particular skills, hobbies or claims to fame you wish to share?

James dabbles in carpentry. He’s quite good, always building or remodeling something. Kevin writes kids fiction for Scholastic (and starred in this odd Swedish insurance commercial). And Ethan starred opposite Mirah in a student film called “Love is Stupid,” and claims to have taught Carrie Brownstein her first guitar chords in high school (I’ve yet to verify this with Ms. Brownstein, however.) I’m also pretty sure he knows all the words to Wham Rap! I can’t compete with that.

What's going to be on your compilation tapes as you travel down to Indietracks?

Whenever we’re in the car together we always end up listening to classic rock on the radio, so this time I’m coming prepared with a proper mix. It’s a delicate balance – it can’t be all “Don’t Stop Believin’” and no “Open Arms.” James loves Springsteen, so I’ll have to factor that in, but I’m a sucker for Bon Jovi.

Do you have any surprises planned for the Indietracks festival?

It will be a reunion of sorts with Kevin back on drums and Saundrah traveling from Denmark to join us on violin for the Nottingham and Indietracks gigs. We haven’t played with our original lineup since 2007, so I’m really excited to have us all together again.

What attracted you to play the Indietracks festival?

We’ve played a few popfests in the States which are always fun, but Indietracks seems like a completely different level of awesomeness. I think it’s really cool how the festival has stayed small, resisted sponsorship, and isn’t curated by some random tastemaker. It’s like the ultimate backyard indiepop show put on by your friends.

Workshop interview #1: The Bad Art Workshop

As well as steam trains and lots of ace indiepop bands, this year's Indietracks festival will once again feature a wide range of art and craft workshops for all the family! There will be sock theatre, cake decorating, rubberband rockets, yoga, button brooch making and lots, lots more.

Today, we're joined by Rebecca Little and AJ Garrett from the Peg Powler Gallery to find out a bit more about the Bad Art workshop.

Hi, what's the workshop about?

The Bad Art workshop aims to create a relaxed attitude towards drawing, without having to worry whether you can draw or not. This is not your typical art workshop. We are not interested in whether you can draw a straight line or create a photographic drawing of your trainer. We will be broadening people’s perceptions by looking at outsider and controversial art and using materials such as thick black permanent markers we aim to challenge participants already embedded approach to drawing. We will be using a wide range of unique drawing activities; from drawing a portrait of someone who’s not in the room to creating a reproduction of The Mona Lisa in less than a minute. Participants will be awarded with a ‘certificate of bad excellence’ and will be able to take their drawings home.

What are you most looking forward to this year at Indietracks?

Seeing Jeff Lewis again (who we recently exhibited in Spring at our local art centre in Stockton on Tees)

Do you have any festival or camping tips?

We are intrigued by our camp-site that boasts both a jacuzzi and a gym.

Thanks! The Bad Art workshop will take place at 2pm on the Sunday afternoon at Indietracks. To find out more, please visit www.pegpowler.com or http://www.facebook.com/pegpowlergallery

Question Time 2: which has been your favourite Indietracks so far?

Welcome back to Indietracks Question Time! And thanks for all your comments in response to part 1, where we asked how you'd describe the festival to someone who doesn't 'get' indiepop.

This time we're asking the panel: which has been the best Indietracks so far, and why? See what they reckon, think about your own answer, and then post it as a comment below...

Hard, because they've all been ace for different reasons. I'm going for 2008 due to the gorgeous weather (and mini tornados), and because it's where I first heard The Smittens.
Dan Hartley, Sheffield (The Sweet Nothings; Pop-o-matic DJs)

2009 was pretty special as it was my first and I couldn't believe such a wonderful thing actually existed. Last year was great too, mind. I'll always remember moshing (!) to Talulah Gosh's 'My Best Friend' when Tender Trap played it as an encore on the Saturday night.

Tim Hall, Belfast (Words and Smiles blog)

Every year I am grateful and surprised that Indietracks is still there, so I'll say 2010 because I spent the entire weekend in a state of complete amazement. Also, The Orchids played all my favourite songs with the biggest smiles on their faces. My love knew no bounds then.

Marianthi Makra (Atomic Beat Records; Spiral Scratch gigs and DJs; Team Indietracks member)

I think the commune of 2008 was just about perfect. The weather was incredible, the mini-tornadoes, The Deirdres on the main stage, Ballboy as the sun went down, hungover Winston Echo on the train, Milky Wimpshake! I think I'll always remember Darren Hanlon saying how perfect the day was and pointing out to the crowd the firemen lolling about eating ice-creams. The line-up for this year looks unbeatable, though, and it's always great to meet friends old and new in Butterley.

Ray K, Birmingham (City Sacker zine)

I wasn't there for the first year but every year since then seems to have been better than the last. The one I’ve enjoyed most was probably 2009. A few niggles had been ironed out from the previous year (like better food stalls), it seemed like even more people were there and having a great time and I had started putting on clubs nights at gigs so I felt like a part of it for the first time, rather than an outsider who had come along for a look out of curiosity.

Colin Meney, Glasgow (Half My Heart Beats DJs)

2010 holds a special place in my heart. The Give It Ups got to play, we got to see our Danish friends we'd met the year before, and Betty and the Werewolves played. Magical.

Carys Kennedy, London (The Give It Ups; Fall Out Make Up DJs)

My personal favourite was 2008 because it was my first and because the little acoustic singalongs that happened on the platform every night were so incredibly joyous.

Chris Gillies, Glasgow (The Hermit Crabs)

I’ve only been to the last two Indietracks so out of those two, I would say 2009 slightly tips it for me. This could be because I was so excited that I was finally able to attend Indietracks and witness this beautiful coming together of friends and pop fans from all over the UK, Europe and beyond. But this was also the year that Elefant hosted the outdoor stage. The festival was chock full of lively Spaniards and we were treated to a selection of Spanish bands outside, many of whom I’d not heard of or seen before. It was thrilling to see some of my favourite modern indiepop bands – like Cats on Fire and Northern Portrait – play to such large audiences. And it was joyous to see fantastic bands I’d never seen before, like Butcher Boy and Kevin McGrother. Oh, I can’t forget the fabulous DJs that year too, particularly my brilliant Berlin comrades from P!O!P Kombinat in Berlin and the handsome sign-wielding couple of Songs For Children. Absolute fun.

Jennifer, London (Colour Me Pop DJs and gigs)

Please don't make me choose between my children. 2007 showed that something great was stirring, 2008 was a glorious vindication of those hopes, 2009 was a line-up that I thought couldn't be matched, then 2010 pretty much matched it.

Simon Tyers, Leicester (Sweeping The Nation blog and gigs, occasional reviewer/writer)

Oh man, this is hard. But for me, it was the first ever one-day one that was back in... was it April 2006? I think that was the best one for me, because it was the first time I'd ever experienced anything like that, there were only a handful of people there but the sheer glee and excitement were really apparent and the atmosphere on the platform felt electric. You could actually feel it! I did a lot of dancing and I also got to pull the chain on the train that makes the big choo choo noise, which was pretty darn amazing.

Sandy Gill, London (Stolen Wine Social DJs)

It's really difficult to choose, but I really enjoyed the year that we partnered with Elefant. It was just such a fantastic atmosphere, and ever since then it's really has felt like Indietracks is a truly international festival. We love hearing about and meeting people who have travelled crazy distances just to be there!

Nat, London (A Little Orchestra; Team Indietracks member)

Deffo the one with Los Camp and Wedding Present. The weather was HOT! Too hot if anything, but a great weekend. Some great bands playing and everyone really seemed to enjoy themselves. And a dog weed on Gemma's foot (for those who don’t know Gemma, she deserves it).

Robert Fairs, Derby (Seas of Mirth; Alice Ferguson; Dayglo Tokyo; Apples For Discos gigs)

Which one was the really sunny one? 2008? I think that was the same year I got emotional about The Starlets in the church. I knew far more people last year, which made it even better though.
Daniel, Sheffield (pop fan)

For me 2009. The year the organisation seemed to come together without losing its spirit and the unexpected joy of dancing to La Casa Azul's cover of 'Love is in the Air' with my best friend was definitely a highlight for me.
Jane, London (pop fan)

Due to circumstances I've only been able to go a couple of times, but I enjoyed the hell out of Indietracks 2008 and 2010. Don't make me choose! I've made too many friends and seen too many great bands at both to decide.
Will Fitzpatrick, Liverpool (The 255s)

I think my favourite Indietracks so far was 2009. I had a ridiculous time. I was up dancing at the campsite 'til 7am on the Monday morning. I'd drunk far too much sparkling wine, I made disappointed faces at a girl as she couldn't foxtrot, failed to recognise some of my favourite songs, but danced and sang terribly until the sun came up. Putting it like that sounds horrific! If you did meet a guy wearing a 90s German football shirt with the name Bierhoff on that night, I am dreadfully sorry, but I was having mad crazy fun.

Josh Owen Morris, Cardiff (Grand Canonical Ensemble; Eruption Button DJs)

2008, which was our first, I think it was because it was like no other festival I'd ever been to! Going onto trains to see bands, seeing the (now sadly departed) llamas and watching bands in the sun playing in a hollowed-out truck! Smashing!Toby Marshall, Birmingham (but from Wolverhampton)

Indietracks 2008, because it was my first one, I'd just moved to Nottingham and met so many lovely people who I am still good friends with to this very day, the weather was beautiful and I saw loads of good bands who I'd never heard of and didn't think I'd like but did. 
Hayley, Nottingham (A Fog of Ideas gigs)

I think I'm going to say that our first Indietracks was the best one, because it was such a brand new experience to be at a festival with so many lovely people, most of whom we didn't know at the time but became very close friends with over the following year. Oh, and the fact that the Midland Railway is an amazing venue. And the llamas were still there that year. We first went in 2008, and discovered so many amazing bands for the first time, like Allo Darlin' (who we invited to come and play in Manchester pretty much straight away after seeing Elizabeth playing on the train), A Classic Education, The Just Joans (or as we like to know them, THE Indietracks singalong band), Liechtenstein, and The Smittens. Then of course there was the small matter of seeing friends playing too, and Los Campesinos! absolutely stole the show. It was such a great weekend, and we've been going ever since.
Dan and Hannah, Manchester (Pull Yourself Together gigs/DJs)

The first one, because it wasn't like any other festival I'd been to before. Most of the audience seemed to be in the bands that played. It was a tiny festival, with my favourite sort of music, and it was about 15 miles from where I live. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven!
Paula McCann, Nottingham (artist and superlative baker of cakes for popshows)

So who's right? If you've been to Indietracks before, which one do you think was the best? Join the debate – post a comment below and let us know!

Indietracks interview #20: Band A Part

Just before we start today's interview, a tiny announcement: we've made a small adjustment to the Friday and Sunday schedules so that Jeffrey Lewis and Jonny can play for a bit longer. The revised schedule is here: www.indietracks.co.uk/schedule

Okay, on with the interview... Band A Part are a Spanish indiepop duo featuring Javi and Coral playing wonderful pop songs using guitars, melodicas and xylophones. They're influenced by the Nouvelle Vague´s Godard and Gainsbourg, J.D. Salinger, Sarah Records, Stereolab, the Beach Boys and The Love Generation,

In 2008, they were one of the winners of a contest for new Spanish bands organised by Festival Contempopranea, performing at the festival that year. They were also finalists in International Festival of Benicassim and Lemon pop Festival in Murcia. Their EPs have been released on labels within and outside Spain, including Annika records, Bonvivant records and Molecula records (Mexico).

In October 2010, the band released their first single 'No sé por qué' on the influential Elefant Records. They've now released a second single called 'Una Persona Normal Con Gafas De Metal' on the same label. The band will play on the church stage on the Sunday evening at Indietracks 2011.

Hi, tell us a little bit about yourselves

Coral and Javi form Band à Part. We live in Madrid and the band was created in 2007 the same day we met. The reason we formed a band is that we have common musical tastes and passion for music, specially, 60s Sunshine pop, Shibuya-Key and twee pop.

We made three demos and won some contests, Elefant Records got in touch with us because they were interested in releasing a single vinyl with our songs.  The 7 inch single was finally released and it sold out in a short period of time. It was really amazing!

A second vinyl single is now available. It is titled “Una Persona Normal Con Gafas De Metal”. We are also really excited about releasing a 10 inch vinyl EP with Elefant very soon.

Do any band members have any particular skills, hobbies or claims to fame you wish to share?

We both are working as graphic designers for different Media Field companies. We usually illustrate the covers of our discs and design our own merchandising, websites, christmas gifts… All our video-clips are directed by us. We really enjoy doing lots of activities linked to creativity, although this means not to have enough time to sleep or other things.

What's going to be on your compilation tapes as you travel down to Indietracks?

Some of the new songs released last year and some oldies too. For sure, bands like Afternoon Naps, The Go! Team, The Garlands, Magic Kids, Tennis, Smith Westerns, Chris Montez, The Aisler Set, Maths & Phisic Club, Hazel Nuts Chocolate…

What attracted you to play the Indietracks festival?

We are totally happy about performing at Indietracks Festival. We heard wonderful comments about this festival talking, for example, with our friends from Zipper. We couldn’t come when Elefant Records Anniversary took place in 2009 and it made us feel sad. We celebrate the opportunity of performing at Indietracks, where some of our favourite bands have been performing. This is like a dream come true.

Thanks! Here's the band's latest animiated video from their new single:
 

Indietracks interview #19: A Fine Day For Sailing

To mix things up a bit, A Fine Day For Sailing and Pocketbooks have agreed to interview each other for our blog! So this is the first part of this two-part series, with Matt, Jake, Jen and Thom facing questions carefully crafted by Ian from Pocketbooks.

Let's introduce the band first though... A Fine Day for Sailing are an indiepop band from London. They originated in Exeter where popsters Phil Wilson (ex-June Brides) and Simon Bish (Thrilled Skinny) persuaded Matthew Stead that his songs were good enough to sing out loud to people. He then formed a band with Jen Hall, Matthew singing and banging drums whilst trying to play guitar; Jen playing ukelele, singing and hitting a glockenspiel. Jen had to move away but various members joined up and the band became a Beach Boys loving, summer pop producing, indiepop band, releasing two albums within six months; 'My Baby Loves Pop' and 'Sand Box.'

Now Matthew and Jen are back making music together in London and the band has expanded to seven people, including a mini-string section and a proper drummer. Their new single 'Ballad of the Bedsit' is out on 25 July on red vinyl with hand-coloured sleeves on Dufflecoat Records. They've also made a wonderful video for the song.

This will be your first time playing Indietracks, what were your first words when you found out you'd be asked to play?

Matt - I was so incredibly chuffed! I have a really terrible confession to make: this will be my first Indietracks ever!! I've wanted to go ever since the first one, but every year something seemed to come up that stood in my way. To actually play it will be a dream.
Jake - Yeah! (I wish it was a Ralph Wiggum-esque, "I'm choo-choo-chuffed".)
Jen - 'shut up!'
Thom - "I wonder how many times I will be mistaken for Joel Gibb this time?" Incidentally, The Gresham Flyers played the first ever Indietracks summer festival in 2007 - it was definitely a highlight of our career, and we got to see Das Wanderlust who are/were incredible.

Who's in the band, there's a fair few of you, a couple of ex Gresham Flyers - it's confusing. Please clear the whole thing up.

Matt - Sometimes there are so many of us I forget! It's like a mother forgetting the names of her kids. Not that I mother them. Oh god, I'm so going to get into trouble for this answer! So here we go (I'm going to do it in order of people joining the band) Matt plays guitar and sings, Jen does the same thing as Matt, but better, Jake bangs the drums, Thom plays bass guitar and sings, Sharon plays keyboard and sings, Lauren plays Cello and sings, and Caroline plays violin and sings. There's a whole lot of singing going on! I hope I haven't forgotten anyone!
Jen - i'm Jen! :D

You're pretty new on the London indiepop scene, is it everything you dreamed it would be before you moved here?

Matt -It's better than I ever imagined. I always thought of London as this huge sprawling place where I'd feel lost, but I feel like I know so many people on the scene already. I've met some incredible people and I am already lucky enough to say I have great friends here already. The best thing is that there is always so much on. It seems like every weekend I'm out dancing (because I am!): How Does It Feel, Librarian's Wanted, Stolen Wine Social, So Tough So Cute to name but a few. Maybe one day I'll grow tired of it all, but I don't see that day coming anytime soon.

In your opinion, what is the finest day for sailing? Ideal temperature, wind speed etc.

Matt - What are you doing next saturday?
Jake - Thursday. 21 C. 10 knots (I know nothing about sailing).
Jen - a slightly warm day, calm seas, a sick bag cause i don't like boats (!), on a boat with a waterslide and a fridge full of cider and calypsos
Thom - Not a lot of people know, but we do have our own luxury yacht moored in the Docklands. It's always a fine day for sailing when we get our manservants to chauffeur us about.

If one indiepop idol could walk on stage, through dry ice, to play guitar on the final song of your set at the festival - who would that person be?

Matt: It would probably have to be Robert Forster.
Jake: Leo Collett
Jen - Traceyanne Campbell, Rose Melberg, David Gedge, so many!
Thom - Gene Simmons isn't indiepop.

We first saw you play at The Read and Shout library benefit concert in March, it was an amazing event. Looking back now, what are your proudest memories of the day?

Matt - I remember standing at the doors when Jens was playing. The place was packed and everyone looked so happy. I felt like crying (wuss, I know.)
Jake - I loved playing with A Little Orchestra perched a top a drum riser, playing DW drums. I felt like I was in ELO (this is a good thing).
Jen - people singing along to the ba-ba-ba's when we played honeydew and being proud of matthew stead, seeing all the hard work come together in a wicked day
Thom - Managing to get Sly & Reggie offstage without any violence.

What's up next release wise? A single on a new label Dufflecoat Records? Tell us about that.

Thom - A song about The Smiths in a DIY hand-coloured sleeve on limited edition red vinyl - we've pretty much nailed our colours to the indiepop mast there. If people like it, we'll make a couple more singles this year (we're recording the next one in a couple of weeks), make a Christmas record, then get an album out in 2012.

And finally most important of all, are you camping or hotel-ing it?

Matt - I wanted a VW Camper van, but no-one else was so keen!
Jake - Going Alan Partridge I believe.
Thom - We've reserved a nearby country estate to ourselves so we don't have to mix with the riffraff.

Warm-up shows!

It's just three weeks until the festival begins! If you haven't bought your ticket yet, they're still available to buy online from the Indietracks tickets page or by calling the railway (01773 747674).

And remember also to download a copy of the Indietracks 2011 compilation - 40 fantastic tracks, proceeds to charity, name your own price!

And if that's still not enough to sate your Indietracks appetite, there's a bundle of warm-up shows taking place across the country before the festival starts. Birmingham! Glasgow! Leeds! Nottingham! London! Leicester! Manchester! All of these cities will be hosting Indietracks events in the run up to the festival.

We've provided a list below, and we're keeping this information updated on the Warm-up Shows page of the Indietracks website, so if you'd like your gig to appear on that page just e-mail indietracksonline@gmail.com with the details! Okay, here goes...


Saturday 23 July - London
Spiral Scratch and Indietracks presents:
Amor De Dias + Tiny Fireflies + The Sunny Street
Notting Hill Arts Club, London

Saturday 23 July - Birmingham
The Party Planning Committee present
The Sweet Nothings + Anguish Sandwich + David Leach
The Victoria, Birmingham

Monday 25 July - Glasgow
Half My Heart Beats presents
Math and Physics Club + Very Truly Yours + Bubblegum Lemonade + The Hermit Crabs
The Captain's Rest, Glasgow

Tuesday 26 July - London
Which Way Is Up! presents
A Fine Day For Sailing +  The Proctors + Peru (acoustic set)
The Grosvenor, London

Tuesday 26 July - Manchester
Pull Yourself Together presents
Math and Physics Club + Very Truly Yours + Moustache Of Insanity + The Sweet Nothings
The Castle, Manchester

Wednesday 27 July - London
Spiral Scratch presents
Math and Physics Club + Very Truly Yours + Pocketbooks + The Sweet Nothings
The Windmill, Brixton, London

Thursday 28 July - Nottingham
A Layer Of Chips presents
Math and Physics Club + Very Truly Yours + The Sweet Nothings + Pocketbooks
The Chameleon, Nottingham

Thursday 28 July - Leicester
Sweeping The Nation presents
Help Stamp Out Loneliness + Ace Bushy Striptease + The Sunbathers
Firebug, Leicester

Thursday 28 July - Leeds
This Many Boyfriends + The Bon Jovials + 1tbc
Cardigan Arms, Kirkstall Rd, Leeds

Phew!

Indietracks interview #18: Edwyn Collins

Today we're incredibly excited to be chatting to Edwyn Collins, who will headline the Saturday night of this year's Indietracks festival!

Ivor Novello award-winning Edywn Collins formed the Nu-Sonics in 1976 and later went on to form Orange Juice, who had a Number 8 hit with Rip It Up. Collins released A Girl Like You in 1994, which was a hit in both the UK and the US. Losing Sleep, the first album Edwyn recorded following his double brain haemorrhage in 2005, was released in September last year. Whilst making the record, he collaborated with Johnny Marr, Roddy Frame and members of The Cribs, Franz Ferdinand, The Magic Numbers and The Drums.

Hi Edwyn, tell us a bit more about what you've been up to since Losing Sleep was released last year - you seem to be very busy!

I've been touring with my band, the UK, Europe, more Europe, then the USA (NYC and SXSW in Austin.) I'm still at it, off to Japan in the autumn. behaving like a young person, phew.

Are there plans for a new album soon?

I've got some new songs, bits of things, but probably not until next spring or summer.

You've recently teamed up with Ryan Jarman from The Cribs to produce the latest Comet Gain album, and you also produced the Frankie and the Heartsrings album - how does the production experience compare to playing and writing your own songs?

It's the other half of me. Working in my studio (I've had it for 16 years) and being a producer (been doing that for 20 years) is a very big part of my life. It's good to be back at it.

What attracted you to playing Indietracks?

You have a good reputation. I was asked before and couldn't make it.

Indietracks is set in the grounds of a steam railway - tell us about any unusual places that you've played gigs in the past.

I always remember this very weird cinema by a very deep lake in Austria. I was there twice. There was no PA and we had to stand in front of the screen in a straight line. I believe some bad things happened in that
locale during the war years.

Do you have any surprises in store for Indietracks?

Erm....not really, sorry! Just me and the band.

Thanks Edwyn - see you in a couple of weeks!

Indietracks interview #17: Chris T-T

Chris T-T is an independent English writer and musician. Since 1999 he has made seven studio albums, most recently Love Is Not Rescue, released in 2010 by Xtra Mile Recordings. His LPs include the 'London trilogy' of albums themed around London; The 253 (2001), London Is Sinking (2003) and Capital (2008).

Already consistently acclaimed for a decade, in recent years Chris T-T has emerged from insurgent roots and he is quietly developing into a major influence over a generation of UK punk/folk artists. His music veers from early albums of psych folk (years before it was de rigeur) to radical left agit prop; from hard-edged alt-rock to piano-led treacle-black heartbreak. Chris will be playing on the church stage on the Saturday evening at this year's Indietracks festival.

Hi Chris, what music are you enjoying at the moment?

I just fell back in love with My First Tooth from Northampton, who I already knew for ages as a great duo but their four-piece lineup is gorgeous live.

I always bang on about Tom Williams & The Boat, but there's no need now, the world's discovered them, they're all over the place. People should also seek out Something Beginning With L from Brixton, signed to Glasgow DIY label Armellodie, they do, um, girl-led guitar fuzz shoegaze meets glitchy electro. And their coming LP is immense.

Tell us about an unusual place you've played a gig in the past

Well I've got Ambridge Organics in Borchester listed on my current tour poster, which will be familiar to a few Radio 4 people... I've played a lot of odd corners and silly gatherings, like in the desert at Joshua Tree - but one unusual thing was a solo gig on the fourth plinth on Trafalgar Square, as part of Anthony Gormley's One And Other project - I was picked at random to get an hour up there. It was a perfect setting and a fun gig but to be honest I spent the entire time terrified of falling down, I hadn't realised how precarious it was.

Do you have any exciting plans for the rest of the year?

Straight after Indietracks (and a few days on the Isle Of Man) I'm going up to Edinburgh Fringe with a one-man show called Chris T-T Sings A.A. Milne. It does what it says on the tin really - most importantly it's suitable for families. I've not done anything like it before, so I'm excited and nervous. Don't care if the audiences are small (I've been warned about Edinburgh), I just want the show itself to kick arse.

In autumn there's new music to release and tour, including a bunch of songs about Jeremy Clarkson that may become a concept EP or even album. After that, I don't know.

What attracted you to play the Indietracks festival?

I particularly wanted to play Indietracks for three reasons: first, the obvious: the trains. I can't wait to nose around the site and the trains. Secondly, simply because it's a festival I haven't done before, in a summer of festivals I've played loads of times. Thirdly, probably most importantly, the proper 'music fan' nature of the lineup - it expressed genuine taste and love for music, rather than ticking boxes. I'm not fooled by even the nicer, smaller festivals, who've reached a point where you can read the lineup as a meritocracy of how good each band's PR guff is.

Thanks Chris - see you at the festival!