Meet our Saturday workshop organisers!

(Bunting workshop. Photo: Fabric Nation) 

Okay, before we kick off, and entirely unrelated to workshops, we've had a couple of stage and steward volunteers drop out and are looking for a couple more. So if you'd like free entry and free camping in return for a few shifts, please read the following: Indietracks volunteers 2013.

Okay, now, we’ve met a lot of the bands on the blog already, and today we’re giving Saturday’s art and craft workshop organisers chance to introduce themselves. Over to you guys...


Saturday 2pm: Rock and Roll Sock Puppets!
Organisers: Bex and George
Cost: £3.50

“What could be more Indietracks than making your very own Rock and Roll SOCK PUPPET!? Channel the punk spirit of Helen Love or the joyful duo of The Lovely Eggs, get creative and let your inner indie kid run free with this fun, hands on workshop. A little rock and roll sock puppet to keep, by your side to dance the festival away!"

“ Bex is a drama and arts facilitator in London who works with children and young people doing cool creative education stuff. She loves Indietracks, 70's clothes, Morrissey, green eye shadow, cats, drawing, making collages and dancing. She does not like parsnips. George teaches art and runs workshops with kids and adults with learning disabilities. She likes: wool, making things, jumble sales, eating cheese, going to the park and being geeky about local history. She does not like rice pudding.

“We’re Indietracks regulars and this will be our third time running a workshop here together! And Bex's fourth running arts workshops! We’re looking forward to the incredible line up this year!, Helen Love, Lovely Eggs, Bis, The Wave Pictures, Milky Wimpshake and MORE! And of course making awesome rock and rock sock puppets with you!"


Saturday 3pm: Nosing with Norris
Organisers: Gareth and Jeanie
Cost: Free

“Nosey Norris Cole and his mad muse Mary have taken a day off from the Kabin and hopped in the camper van to visit the Midland Railway Museum. The Weatherfield Gazette made no mention of Indietracks, so they have found themselves lost in a sea of muddy revellers, and are less than happy! With his withering looks and pithy put downs, Norris spends the day making clear exactly what he thinks of the festival goers, much to the amusement of his lovelorn companion.”

“We've hidden 20 Norris faces and putdowns around the Indietracks site. Your mission is to spot as many as you can! Let us know where you saw Norris and what he said, for a chance to win fabulous prizes!”

“We’re artists and filmmakers who have done a number of workshops in the past, both at Indietracks and elsewhere. We love Indietracks, and look forward to discovering a new favourite band each year! Jeanie had a celebrity moment at last year's festival when she discovered that Just Joan's David had a sticker of her record store documentary 'SOUND IT OUT' on his wallet!”


Saturday 4pm: Bags of Fun! 
Organisers: Helen and Mij (with help from Kate, Ellie and Rhona – our daughters!)
Cost: £3

“The workshop is a chance to create your own canvas bag – choose a fab design based on your fave band, logo, flower – whatever floats your boat! We’ll supply the bags, fabric pens and sticky bits – you bring the imagination!  Suitable for indie kids of all ages.”

“We’re keen amateurs – crafty genes just seem to kick in when you’ve got kids, and having made countless bags with them before, and seen the array of fab designs being carried around at the last couple of Indietracks, we thought we’d give people a chance to get creative and bag some designs which are just about them!”

 “We’re both working mums, who met at University, and use Indietracks as a chance to get together with our families and have generally, just have the best of times. This will be our fourth year here and it is something the whole family looks forward to – it’s such a great festival, really well run, with an inspired choice of bands - and the sun always shines on Friday nights as we walk down to get our first taste of the festival. Always. It’s the law. Even last year when we drove through floods to get there.”

“Our fave Indietracks memories include bumping into Emma from Standard Fare in the merch tent last year and asking if we could get a photo with her – she insisted on getting the rest of the band too and posing with our kids –who were all wearing Standard Fare t-shirts.  Gopal’s Curry Shack is always a highlight too, as is taking in a band in the church. Once seen, never forgotten! Gin and tonics outside our tents, having spent a full and fabulous day at the festival, are a given. This year, particularly looking forward to the Pastels and The Lovely Eggs, but one of the wonderful things about the festival is we always come away loving at least 10 new bands we’d never heard before. Have so many great memories of bands we’ve seen it would be cruel to pick just a few.”


Saturday 5pm: Three Cheers for Indietracks
Organisers: Seleena and Holly
Cost: Free

“Come and learn to cheer! we will show you some awesome moves, get you to rhyme and shout and shake your booty and pom poms. You don't need any previous cheerleading skills, just enthusiasm! Working together we will create a cheer for Indietracks with some hot moves to go along. Scream and shout, let it all out!”

“The Radical Cheerleaders of the North formed way back in 2002. Inspired heavily by the radical Cheerleading movement in the US, we were the first ones to appear in the UK. Wanting to hit the stage but having no musical talent, we grabbed some pom poms and began to cheer! We opened Ladyfests, supported some of our favourite bands, got cheered ourselves (and also got booed off stage) But above all we had fun. Now we're back and we want others to cheer too!”

"One half of us has been to Indietracks before, and the thrill of eating snacks on the mini train never goes away! We’re looking forward to pretending it's 9t6 watching Bis, trains, eating, cheering HELEN LOVE!"

Sounds ace! We'll introduce you all to our Sunday workshop organisers in the next week... 

Indietracks interview #23: EXPENSIVE

Interview by John Stanley 

EXPENSIVE play loud electronic dream pop. They formed in June 2012 and include members of Arctic Circle, Child Mole and The Middle Ones. Inspirations include riot grrl, bangra, r'n'b and happy hardcore. They plan to release their first album in 2013. John Stanley asked them a few questions ahead of their Indietracks appearance.

What have you got in your pockets?
Matthew: Holes
Pete: Dust
Grace: No pockets today, but they usually have bits of old tissue because I have hayfever/classy lady.

There's a rumour there's going to be a hot tub at Indietracks this year? Are you getting in?
Grace: Nope.
Matthew: no we'll be swimming in whatever's the closest river.
Pete: Yeah I think we'll get in. Probably a good idea to get in the tub. Get my gross nude body in a steaming hot Indie Tub And Slime Around A Bit

Mumford & Sons offer you £2000 to support them. You have to have your picture taken with them too. Will you do it?
Grace: I would love to refuse them. Shame they'll never know who we are.
Pete: 2000 quid is shitloads so yeah?
Matthew: Yes, we could use the money, they probably look ok

Do nuns have hair?
Matthew: yes
Pete: We all live in an impermeable bubble of solipsism and connection between sentient beings is impossible
Grace: If a nun takes off her wimple in the middle of the forest and no one is around to see does she still have hair or something funny I don't know, what.

What's your personal best in the javelin?
Grace: Stop this now.
Pete: Cant remember but probably a pretty hefty distance due to Arm Muscles
Matthew: No inclination so far

What shape would you shave a poodle into?
Grace: A mermaid
Pete: St George's flag
Matthew: I'm against exploiting animals for art or entertainment

The Aztecs invented the camera. True or False?
Grace: Hey that sounds nice, yes.
Pete: True, also invented schadenfreude
Matthew: False, but then again Aztec West* is the 'A to Z of technology' so they say?

What's your favourite track off (Michael Jackson's) Thriller?
Matthew: Eat It
Pete: My Humps?
Grace: Never heard the album. So Thriller then?

Tell us a knock knock joke.
Matthew: knock knock, what do you call a fish with no eyes? fsh
Pete: nok nok, kiss my arm pits
Grace: http://youtu.be/3F_pUiRdQ8Q / badkidsjokes.tumblr.com

Is there anything else you would like to say?
Matthew: no thats ok thanks
Pete: I have never met, associated with or contacted (in person, electronically, by phone, or mail) Edward Snowden or any members of his family or friends. Indeed I had not heard of him until recent reports in the international press. I love America and do not have any evil intent towards its citizens.
Grace: We're excited to play for all you babes!

*a weird suburb/business district of Bristol, where the band live

Indietracks interview #22: Tunabunny

Interview by John Stanley. 

Sitting on a carpet covered in paint and the sprawled out works of Julio Cortazar, Tunabunny has fallen down the rabbit hole and is begging you to follow, even as they doubt your own existence. Pop/rock music in the 21st century is a played-out corpse picked over by overprivileged boys and girls hoping to manufacture a personality for themselves out of something that other people think is cool. That is why Tunabunny thinks of pop/rock as something that should be destroyed, or at the very least subverted, but would probably be better for everyone involved if it simply ceased to exist. The members of Tunabunny are interested in revolution, which, contrary to popular thought, ceased to exist in the pop/rock world a long time ago, even as a latent impulse. As such, Tunabunny wonders just what it is doing here, and what exactly it hopes to accomplish.

Saw you guys play with Shrag in London and you did an extended free jazz bit at the end. Can we expect the same this time around?
We won't be playing with Shrag this time around. They've broken up.

There's a rumour there's going to be a hot tub at Indietracks this year? Are you getting in?
Depends on the weather.

What have you got in your pockets?
Trojans. Some of them used.

Do nuns have hair?
Never met one, but I can't see the point of shaving your legs everyday if nobody's going to see it under all those robes.

What's your personal best in the javelin?
Eight confirmed kills.

What shape would you shave a poodle into?
A hairless poodle covered in cuts & blood.

The Aztecs invented the camera. True or False?
False. Also, the Orange did not invent the juice and the Prefab did not invent the sprout.

If I said you had a beautiful body, would you hold it against me?
You're going to have to work a bit harder than that, I'm afraid.

Tell us a knock knock joke. 
Knock Knock
Who's there?
9/11
9/11 who?
You said you'd never forget.

Is there anything else you would like to say?
See you Saturday, Indietracks.

Indietracks interview #21: The Ballet

Interview by Claire Walker

Unashamedly “sissy” and explicitly queer, The Ballet marry the DIY queer ethos of the Hidden Cameras with the wry poeticism of The Magnetic Fields to create literate, infectious pop gems. As well as taking inspiration from Stephin Merritt’s body of work, songwriter Greg Goldberg draws from an array of pop artists and periods, from 60’s bubblegum to 80’s synthpop and 90’s indiepop, fusing these in sophisticated and novel ways which rewards repeat listening.

Formed in 2005 by Greg Goldberg and Craig Willse (who are both professors and met whilst at graduate school) with Marina Miranda (who they met at a party), The Ballet are still going strong after eight years of pop magic, retaining their original line-up. The band previously self-released two albums (Mattachine! (2006) and Bear Life! (2009)), before the release of I Blame Society (2013) on Fortuna POP!

For those who of not heard of The Ballet could you please introduce your roles within the band and your musical style?

There are currently three of us in the Ballet: Craig, Marina, and I -- the three founding members of the band. I write, arrange, and record all of the songs solo. Our first album Mattachine! was arranged and recorded in a way that more-or-less reflected our live set-up at the time -- i.e. with very few extraneous instruments or layers. In recording our subsequent two albums (Bear Life and the new album I Blame Society) I wanted a little more freedom to experiment sonically, so the live show has diverged from the recorded albums -- the songs need to be translated from layered recorded versions to our currently minimal live set-up. For the live show, I provide provisional arrangements to Craig and Marina and we try them out together and tweak them until they work. Craig plays keyboards, I sing and play guitar, and Marina plays bass, though she and I switch guitar duties occasionally. We're currently using a vintage drum machine as well. I would describe our style as relatively mellow and melody-driven, with a general bubblegum-ness that draws from melodic pop from the 50's onward. I often use a pretty limited compositional palette -- three or four chords for most songs -- with "interest" in the intersection of melody, production, and lyrics. In terms of production, I tend towards a layered, textured, saturated sound, though I feel the appeal of minimalism as well.

Music is a kind of culinary pleasure, and I enjoy songs that sound cohesive and reveal their layers over time. The first La Casa Azul EP is like that for me. In terms of lyrics, I favour a relatively straight forward approach, sometimes narrating an experience from the perspective of a character, sometimes working outside narrative to capture a feeling or affect. I like lyrics that are intelligible but supple enough to accommodate multiple interpretations. I don't write autobiographically, but the songs generally address queer themes and experiences, since that it what is both familiar and interesting to me.

What are your influences, both musically and non musically?

Stephin Merritt is a big influence, particularly the albums Wasps' Nests, Holiday, and Get Lost. There are plenty of bands I've loved -- They Might Be Giants, Stereolab, La Casa Azul, lots of the usual indie suspects -- but I tend to go more by song than by band. I'm a somewhat lazy and unfaithful listener, generally useless for band/genre history and trivia. I'm basically a hedonist who will take pop pleasures wherever I find them.

How do you feel coming to the UK and what are your plans whilst you are here?

We played in London and Glasgow in early 2009. We had an amazing time and are very excited to be returning, and especially excited for Indietracks. We really have no idea what to expect, and are pretty open to whatever the experience brings, including awkward conversation, drunken dancing, and general mischief. While I take music-making very seriously, we're a band without professional aspirations (and with other professional commitments), which I think makes it easier to enjoy the vicissitudes of touring. We'll be playing in Glasgow, Nottingham, London and some other shows as well while we're there.

Indietracks interview #20: When Nalda Became Punk

Interview by Mark Rose. 

When Nalda Became Punk started as the solo project of Elena Sestelo (Vigo, Spain). In 2006 she gathered some songs, and released “Tiny noises make tiny music” her first demo, though at the time the name of the project was just Nalda. After a long break, she came back to recording songs during summer of 2010 when she finished her second demo “Time to meet your family” which was her first release using the name of When Nalda became punk.

Later on, in 2011 Roberto Cibeira joined the band and the actual formation of When Nalda Became Punk began the recording of their first 7” single for Pebble Records released on August. During 2012 the band played several shows, including Madrid Popfest and recorded their debut album, “A farewell to youth”. As the previous single, it was produced and recorded by Eva Guilala and Ivan Juniper from the Spanish band Linda Guilala at their Kaiju Studios (Vigo, Spain) and was mixed and produced by Ian Catt (producer of Saint Etienne, the Field Mice, the School, Nosoträsh, the Proctors, etc). The album was released by Shelflife Records at the beginning of 2013. Mark caught up with Elena for this Indietracks interview...

If anyone going to Indietracks 2013 hasn't had chance to check you out yet, how would you describe your music?  It's not 'Punk' in a Sex Pistols sense is it?
I think the best way to describe our songs will be as indie pop lo fi, full of guitars, synths and drum machines. It's definitely not punk as in the Sex Pistols sense. I guess is more punk in a DIY sense, more like a Helen Love punk.

What track from your new album 'A Farewell to Youth' would you suggest people check out first? My favourite is 'Summer, You and Me'.
I agree with you, I think that song is perfect for showing the concept of the band, in fact that's the one we chose for being include in the Indietracks compilation. But I won't say that's my favourite, because my mind keeps changing about which song I like most...

Indietracks is a festival with a really great atmosphere.  How does playing festivals compare to club shows?
Club shows are alright, mainly for small bands like us, but we really love to play in festivals such as Indietracks or any Popfest because of the incredible atmosphere people create, they get truly involved into your music. It's quite emotional to play in front of such a friendly audience and get in touch with other bands or people, from a lot of different places that come together, from time to time, just to enjoy the same music as us. Also, Indietracks will a very special show for us, as it will be our first show with four people on stage! As our friends Antonio and Bruno, will be joining us there, playing keyboards and bass guitar respectively.

Who are you hoping to watch at Indietracks?
Lots of bands! I got stressed looking at the schedule, we are very excited about watching Helen Love, which is one of our favourite bands from all time. But there are a lot more that we want to watch such as Alpaca Sports, The Pastels, Big Wave, Martha, Finnmark!, Fear of Men, Brilliant Corners and a really long etc.

Will you be riding the train at all?
Of course! It's our first time at the festival and we will be enjoying it the three days, we want to participate in it as much as we can. We are looking forward to the shows, but also to the workshops, the DJs and everything that takes place at the festival.

Finally, Spain is sunny - England isn't, so will you cope if Indietracks gets a little wet & muddy?  I have a spare umbrella if you need one!
Well, we are from Galicia, at the north of Spain, and the weather there is similar to the English one, so we are used to the rain. Of course we prefer that there will be no rain but we won't really care if it gets a little colder or wet. Thanks for your umbrella anyway, we'll travel on a low cost so we won't be able to carry ours! Will be it big enough to cover all of us?

Indietracks interview #19: Haiku Salut

Interview by Sam from A Layer Of Chips.

Haiku Salut are a Derbyshire-based trio that use accordions, ukeleles, glockenspiels, pianos, loopery and laptopery to create sounds that have been likened to early múm, Detektivbyrån and the soundtrack to Amélie. Their debut album Tricolore was released earlier this year on How Does It Feel To Be Loved?, picking up glowing reviews from The Guardian, Uncut, Drowned in Sound and loads more. Sam interviewed Louise from the band ahead of their Indietracks appearance.


You've had quite an exciting year so far, haven't you? What's been the highlight?

We bloody have! We’ve done so much this year; our album release, going on tour, playing numerous weddings. Touring France was up there though, playing with Gang Clouds, a new favourite band of ours! We were constantly lavished with plentiful amounts of quiche. We did try our best at speaking conversational French to the locals, but ended up calling them an ‘old goat’ and proclaiming ‘I want to do some ironing’. I also need to mention our Derby Album Launch, which was where we premiered our lamp show – it was probably the most exciting night we’ve ever had as Haiku Salut! Oh, and lastly, being played on the radio by Jarvis Cocker!

Are you at all surprised about the reception your ace album has received?

We never imagined it would be as well received as it is - it’s a huge compliment. Our label ‘How Does it Feel to be Loved?’ has had a huge part in spreading the Haiku love. They’ve spread it over Europe and America now too! We’re glad to see it doing so well, and hope that we can match it with a second album soon.

Your stage shows are quite complex. Do they ever go horribly, horribly wrong and you end up playing each other's instruments by mistake?

Oh yes! Sometimes we’ll start a song and realise we’re all on the wrong instruments. Sometimes something will just start beeping for no reason. With so many instruments and a fairly complicated stage set-up, things are bound to go wrong, some of which we can just about get away with, others you will know about! Our set-lists often involve individual instructions for each song, e.g. SET THE LOOP! MOVE THE ACCORDION MICS! FOR GODS SAKE, DON’T FORGET TO TRANSPOSE THE KEYBOARD!

What's that weird Simon Says-alike thing you play? I'm deeply drawn to it...

You can only mean the Launch Pad! This was a fairly recent addition to Wheezy and the Gang (our family of instruments). Our music tastes were changing and electronic music was becoming more of an influence, so that’s how our sound ended up progressing in that direction. Plus, the Launch Pad looks awesome, with it’s flashing lights, oooooh!

Remember the time you played Indietracks as part of The Deirdres? I think that's my favourite ever Indietracks memory. What did you make of it?

Those were some very fun times! We have the fondest of memories of jumping and dancing around on stage like a bunch of idiots, with, if I remember correctly, pound-shop medals round our faces. Those were the days! We still enjoy performing now, just in a totally different way.

What are you looking forward to this time around?

The amazing atmosphere of Indietracks and the lovely, lovely people are what make it so special for us! It’s such a great festival to be involved with and we’re lucky to be performing in the church again… this time with our lamp show! Also looking forward to making shapes at the legendary indie-pop discos. Top bands for us this year are The Middle Ones, Lardpony and Cars Can Be Blue.

Three dream Indietracks headline acts, please.

If you could arrange for Detektivbyran to reform for one night only, that would be great, thanks. Dan Deacon, as he is epic live. Oh, and Madonna of course.

Indietracks interview #18: The Fireworks

Interview by Claire Walker. 

The Fireworks began in secret in 2011 when Matthew would sing some of his songs over the phone lines to his friends. Over time they convinced him to start a real group so everyone could hear them. Close friends Emma, Isabel, and Carys were finally drafted in and the band began in a burst of noise, snap, crackle and P!O!P!.

They immediately started playing gigs, including Indietracks, Indiepop Days Berlin and the Nottingham Indiepop Alldayer, and recorded a session for Dandelion Radio. Their recent EP was released on Shelflife earlier this year. Sadly, Carys left after the single was recorded, but the band have recently recorded a second session for Dandelion Radio with new drummer Shaun (ex-Wedding Present/ Popguns).

Could you tell us how The Fireworks began? 
The Fireworks was started by Matthew in Bristol as an on off, on off thing. In the first rehearsal he was the drummer! After time, people convinced him to just finally DO IT, so he drafted in some of his friends from around South East London including original members Carys (The Give It Ups) and Matt (A Fine Day for Sailing) and they started playing gigs. I (Emma, Pocketbooks) was originally a guest singer on one song, but eventually became a full-time member. Isabel (Things In Herds) replaced Matt when he departed to focus on his other bands, and then when Carys left to concentrate on her studies, Isabel asked her old friend Shaun (The Wedding Present/Popguns) to join. But is he any good? Well, we decided to give him a go. There are also others who may have stood in, or rehearsed with us once, who can say ‘I was a Firework’!

What are your roles within the band?
Matthew sings, plays guitar and blows things up; Isabel plays bass and brings savoury snacks; Shaun plays the drums and brings the beers; and I sing and bring the jaffa cakes.

What’s been the reaction to your recently released EP?
It’s been great! We were absolutely thrilled to be picked up by Shelflife, which is a label we’ve admired for some time. We’ve had some lovely things written about the EP and it feels like we’ve got a lot of support both in the US and UK. To us it just feels like four mates having a laugh and making some noises we like, so the fact that people like the result of that is brilliant!

How do you feel about playing Indietracks again?
We’re pretty excited! Actually only Matthew has played Indietracks with The Fireworks before, as the band was still in its formation the first time round, but apart from Shaun we’ve all been at Indietracks from the beginning (Matthew has DJed in the past, Isabel is DJing this year, and I’m involved in the organising). We’re looking forward to seeing Shaun’s reaction to it as it’s his first time. It’s always difficult to paint someone a picture of Indietracks - they just have to see it for themselves.

Is there anyone you are looking forward to seeing?
Personally I’m looking forward to Still Corners and Fever Dream as I’m a massive fan of both. Matthew loves The Brilliant Corners, and Shaun’s looking forward to seeing Tunabunny again. Isabel was away at the time I was writing this, but you should go and listen to her DJ set for some indication of her preferences, she has a brilliant record collection!

What else can we expect from The Fireworks this year?
Just after Indietracks we’re going back into the studio to record our next single for Shelflife. We’re rehearsing those songs right now, and we’ll also be doing an album at some point in the near future. We’re playing with The Wedding Present in August and the Nottingham all-dayer in September, both of which we’re really chuffed about. Apart from that, we’ll probably keep blowing things up and eating snacks.

Indietracks interview #17: The Tuts

Interview by Niall from The Spook School 

The Tuts are a three-piece all girl punk band from west London. In 2012 they released a self titled EP with heart-wrenching lyrics by front-woman Nadia Javed paired with overdriven punchy guitar riffs. The sound is propelled by Beverley Ishmael's drumming, who co-founded the band at high school with Nadia. They were joined in 2011 by Harriet Doveton (of Colour Me Wednesday) who brought melodic bass lines and backing vocals to complete their feisty and distinctive sound. Although the band's live performance is packed with punk and attitude, their lyrical content suggests vulnerability and playfulness, the pains of growing up, friendships and first loves.

In 2013 they released their long awaited single 'Tut Tut Tut', which shares the issues and experiences of being a female musician. They were also recently championed by Kate Nash and supported her in London, which then led to being chosen as the main support on her UK tour.

Hi, The Tuts, who are you and what do you want from me?
Nadia: We don't want anything from you, wait, what have you got to offer...?
Beverley: I want Krispy Kremes
Nadia: ...not your facebook photos we've just had a look at them. We are the Tuts, Nadia, Beverley, Harriet

Your songs are refreshingly biting in the lyrics department about being a 'girl-band' with 'Tut, Tut, Tut' being a prime example "all I ever hear is / ladies you're on first." Is this something you have come up against a lot?
Beverley: Yeah, loads of guys they assume that we're the first band on, most of the time we were the first band on but after doing a lot of shows and getting recognition for our talents we're getting better slots which is great...
Harriet: Yeah its obv more than that, we don't actually mind going on first...
Nadia: As long as the bands on after us are decent. A lot of the time the bands on after us are Oasis rip-offs with no interaction on their facebook or twitter, with pointy shoes and skinny jeans and if you're lucky a fedora.
Harriet: Yeah we noticed a pattern forming at our early gigs, we were always put on first, the bands on after us wouldn't even have a crowd, people would be more interested in us, but they'd be taken more seriously by the promoters just because they were male.

What obstacles do you think you face that boy-bands don't? 
Harriet: Again its just the attitude we get from a lot of promoters or sound men. We’re often taken less seriously or patronized.  But then we do get annoying backhanded compliments from audience members too like ‘I thought you’d be rubbish but you surprised me’ or ‘you were pretty good actually’
Nadia: Basically people look down on you, they see you as lower class, they don't think you're capable of playing guitar. I think men are intimidated by the fact we don't need a man in our group. I think it's male-bonding, boys in the crowd take male musicians more seriously.
Beverley: Boys always push to the front as well, all they see is these bros at the front appreciating bros on the stage.

What was it like touring with Kate Nash? Any shenanigans behind-the-scenes?
Nadia: Too crazy to put into words but mental, backstage belly rubbing, dancing to old-school garage, sharing vodka, stealing Kate's toaster, meeting all of her girl fans and taking some of them on board.
Beverley: Stage invasions.
Harriet: Beating up boys who pinched her bum.
Nadia: We got the fans out of their shell and made them get onstage.
Beverley: They were coming onstage and going crazy, cos we know how important it is at age 14/15 going to their first gig, experiences like that can change your life, your perception. I know they do because that's what it was like when I went to see the Libertines when I was 15.
Nadia: Imagine you're just playing low-key gigs, two people come... then you're playing to 500 people, little girls are asking you to sign their cds and t-shirts, lapping up your merch. Then they're tweeting at you...
Harriet: Girls are wanting to start bands cos of us and even cover our songs. This is exactly the type of reaction we've always wanted.
Nadia: I remember being that young girl walking to school with my discman, listening to my favourite tunes and wanting to start a band...
Beverley: And now young girls are listening to us...

Have you any plans for when you play Indietracks? Will you ride the train? Late-night dancing?
Nadia: Mate, I'm causing havoc. We're gonna sell all these tote bags that no one else wanted to buy, I've heard indiepoppers love tote bags.
Harriet: Haha we’re really excited and it's gonna be the best Indietracks ever, a year to remember!
Beverley : Might be learning an indiepop classic to cover on the night... who knows...
Nadia: We're gonna go to the disco (on the campsite) where we didn't know any of the songs but everyone else was going mental like it was 90s classics. Just play some Spice Girls.

SCENARIO
The Tuts are on stage when you discover there is a meteor about to strike Indietracks. You are the only people holding instruments, how will you save the day? 
Nadia: Grab the tote bags, sell as much merch as you can.
Beverley : We're all secretly superheroes so we'll all save the day. We can't tell you our superpowers in case our enemies find out.
Nadia: You can save us with your sexy body, Niall.
Harriet: Human shield.

How would you rate my questions?
Beverley: I'd give you 2/10
Nadia: I thought this was an interview about us?! Must be a Leo, what star sign are you? Must be a Leo or an Aries.
Harriet: We prefer interviews in person.
Nadia: Come and meet us in real life.

How could I have been a better interviewer?

Nadia: I hate questions.

Indietracks 2013 schedule revealed!

Today we’re delighted to announce which bands will be playing on which days and on which stages at Indietracks this year. In total over 50 bands will be playing at the festival, as well as a host of DJs, and craft workshops.

We’ve provided a quick summary of the day line-ups below, and there’s a full line-up with stage details and times available at: www.indietracks.co.uk/schedule.html

Friday 26 July:
Bis + The Tuts + Big Wave + DJs

Saturday 27 July:
Camera Obscura + The Pastels + The Wave Pictures + The Brilliant Corners + Haiku Salut + The Secret History + Milky Wimpshake + The Magic Theatre + Emma Kupa + Cars Can Be Blue + The McTells + The Understudies plus 15 other artists, DJs and craft workshops.

Sunday 28 July:
Still Corners + Helen Love + The Wake + The Lovely Eggs + The Ballet + Kid Canaveral + Monnone Alone + Without Feathers+ Martha + Another Sunny Day + Fear Of Men + Flowers + Making Marks plus 15 other artists, DJs and craft workshops.

Weekend and day tickets
Tickets are £72 (weekend) and £38 (day – Saturday or Sunday) for adults. Children's tickets are just £10 (weekend) and £6 (day). Under 5s can come for free! Tickets are available by phoning the Midland Railway on 01773 747674 or by visiting: www.indietracks.co.uk/tickets.html

Hope to see you in July!

Indietracks interview #16: Without Feathers

Interview by Claire Walker

Without Feathers are a wonderful trio comprising of, Emma Kupa from Standard Fare, Nat Johnson from Monkey Swallows the Universe and singer/songwriter Rory McVicar. The music is beautifully gentle and charming but is really only best explained by listening (and purchasing?) the ‘Three Songs’ EP on their Bandcamp page. This is definitely one band to watch.


Hello Without Feathers, thank you for taking the time to take part in this interview. How did you three of you meet and decide to form a band?

Emma: I met Rory through Nat and loved both their music as soon as I heard it.

Nat: I've known Rory since my Monkey Swallows the Universe days when I invited him up to Sheffield to play with us and we've been friends ever since. And Emma and I were introduced through a mutual label - Thee Sheffield Phonographic Corporation (RIP). When Rory got in touch about organising a gig in Sheffield earlier this year, I suggested Emma get involved too, and then instead of the three of us sharing a bill, I had the not-so-crazy-after-all idea that we could actually form a band. And they said yes.

Rory: Yeh, Nat's definitely the glue that holds us together! I've known her for years, and we've played in each others solo records in the past, too. She put me on at the Grapes in Sheffield a few years back. Standard Fare played an acoustic set that evening and I thought they were fantastic. I was surprised when I took the record home and discovered they were usually an electric band! Since then we've all played gigs together and become good friends.

You named the band after a Woody Allen book, what is the reasoning behind this?

Emma: Nat? I was recently bought the book and it’s a good read! Much more off the wall than we are.

Nat: Aye, I'm a fan, and when I first read that one I remember thinking it would be a great name for a band. And we didn't have any better ideas!

Rory: I think at the time we had a working title of ERN. Just imagine the kind of music we would have made under that name. It would have been awful!

The 'three songs' album is beautiful was it intentional for each of you to take turns in being lead vocalist?

Emma: Thanks! It probably makes sense to split things equally as we all have massive egos! ;)

Nat: We do have songs where the vocals are shared too, and are working on more, but I think this was a nice way to introduce the band to people who know us from our previous ones. Also, because we all live in different parts of the country, we're emailing each other songs and then putting our own mark on them. It's more difficult to write fully collaboratively when you're rarely in the same room.

Rory: Emma's right - it's definitely the egos.

What can we expect from your Indietracks performance?

Emma: Smiles and songs played with heart by friends.

Nat: What she said :)

Rory: Bone-crunching riffs.

What solo surprises do have in store for us Emma?

Emma: No idea yet. I'm playing on the train so I want to be loud enough. My instinct is to play requests so a bit of solo/bit of SF, and some new stuff.

What are your plans for the rest of the year?
Emma: We're playing some gigs over the summer and writing more. Seeing where the tide takes us.

Rory: more gigs / more songs and also the potential of a DIY release later in the summer.

Many thanks for taking part, looking forward to seeing you at Indietracks!