It’s time to start getting excited, Dear Reader. We’re less than a month away from the unofficial start of our 2019 festival season. That May Day Bank Holiday weekend means one thing – Live At Leeds. Packed with (literally) hundreds of the best new bands on the planet, it sees one of the country’s most vibrant creative cities turned into a mecca of buzz, hype and awesome live music.
To celebrate, we’re holding a special Live At Leeds takeover. Over the course of the day (11th April 2019, in case you’re coming to this late – Ed), we’ll be bringing you all kinds of stuff from and about the acts playing this year’s event. If you’re going, it’ll help you plan out those all-important spreadsheets. If you’ve not yet picked up your tickets – well, what are you waiting for? You can grab ’em here, right now.
Not gonna lie guys, we’ve already had a sneaky listen to Heavy Rapids’ debut EP ‘Cash In Hand’ (out 7th June). It’s four tracks of energetic, super-fun (probably sweaty) rock that’ll cheer up even the greyest of afternoons, which is super convenient because the band are playing a late-afternoon set at Live At Leeds in a few weeks. It’s nice when things work out, isn’t it? Vocalist/guitarist Dillon Squire tells us more about his band.
Hey Dillon, how’s it going?
Hello Dork, all is good. The sun is out which is a shock horror in the north.
Where did you all meet, and whose idea was it to start a band?
Tone named the band, so let’s say him. We’ve all played in different projects and formed this around two years ago. We all attended local high schools and merged friend groups.
What did you listen to while growing up, and how has it influenced your current sound?
I have always been wired to Green Day from a young age. Billie Joe Armstrong is someone I admire. We all love The Stooges, The Clash, The Who, Pink Floyd… we could go on forever, but you get the jist.
What’s been the highlight of your time as a musician so far?
The highlight of our time being in a band is definitely our show at G2 in Glasgow at the end of the last year. We took a chance making the step to a bigger venue, and it was the greatest buzz I’ve felt in my life. From playing some shows where you could count the people in the room on the one hand to selling out a 300 cap just demonstrates the crazy highs and lows of being in a band.
You’re playing Live At Leeds soon, what are your top tips for making the most of multi-venue festivals?
As a performer, stay sober and catch as many bands as you can before you play and after. Be nice to everyone and make new friends. As an attendee, just make sure you are spending more time in venues than in pubs and you are guaranteed a class day.
Have you spent much time playing festivals yet? Any particular highlights?
Buzzing for Leeds really, it’s our first time! Truck Festival was cool. We played in a barn next to some livestock (not the crowd by the way), so that was pretty interesting. We’re excited for The Great Escape too; the French weather will be nice.
What else have you got coming up this summer?
We’re confirming festivals all over the UK and hoping to poke our heads into Europe at some point.
What are you working on at the mo? Do you have new music on the way?
Our debut EP is coming 7th June; it’s a four-track monster. Keep them eyes peeled!
Heavy Rapids play Live at Leeds (4th May), The Great Escape (9th-11th May) and more.
