110 Above Festival, Twycross, 2nd – 4th August 2019
You have to wonder how much longer 110 Above Festival can be touted as ‘indie’s best kept secret’ as word continues to spread about what a great event it is. Now in its 10th year, there is no let up in the array of hugely popular artists playing, but the limited capacity of around 1,000 people and intimate stages on site will ensure that this remains a slightly more up close and personal experience than many other festivals. Set on the outskirts of Twycross on Gopsall Hall Farm, this year’s headliners tick the full set of indie boxes with new music from Swim Deep, the continuing rise of Pale Waves and the wonderfully named Eel Pie Island’s best known export, Mystery Jets.
The rest of the line-up is equally worthy of your attention – we had a chat with four acts you’ll be glad you didn’t miss over the weekend – look out for CHILDCARE, Hunger Moon, The Tin Pigeons and Hey Charlie…
CHILDCARE
For anyone just discovering the band, tell us a little about CHILDCARE and your music…
We’re quite simply the best south London capslock soft-core psych quartet who are also running a revolutionary wellness campaign around.
Your album Wabi-Sabi has just been released to much acclaim – how long has it taken to put together and how does it feel now it’s out in the world?
It’s been a really long process actually because I kept thinking we weren’t ready to record an album. It was only when Emma (bassist) sat us all down and we listened to about 50 songs we’d recorded over the last 3 years that we realised it was probably time to put an album out. Now that the album is out fans are being healed all over the world.
Over the last year and through this summer you’re festival regulars – how does playing festivals differ to playing gigs, do you get a different reaction?
Festivals are fun because the crowds tend to be bigger, it’s glorious walking round on the grass in the sunshine and bumping into and watching other bands, but the gigs themselves are never as intense and focused as single shows.
What can people expect if they catch your set at 110 Above?
They can expect poise, personal glory, Chinese finger cymbals and hips.
And what else is on the horizon for CHILDCARE?
Continuing our Get Well Soon campaign, this will involve live healing at shows including the Radio 1 stage at Reading and Leeds, on a tour in September and at our biggest headline show to date, Scala in London in December. We’ll also be taking our Personal Glory™️ retreats round the country – events where we impart our twisted versions of mindfulness, meditation and yoga on fans.
************************************************************
Hunger Moon
Photo © Laura Chen
Can you give us a quick intro to the band and your music?
Absolutely, we’re James and Natalie and we’ve been writing songs together as Hunger Moon since December 2017. We describe our sound as ‘melancholy alt pop’ and draw our songwriting inspiration from the world around us, from emotions to, more recently, current affairs.
Your latest single Honey is getting great reviews, how did the song come together and how does it feel to read people’s reactions to it?
Yeah, we were discussing only today how crazy the response to the track has been. We’re getting people around the world popping up on our socials now, and have had such a great response from radio and blogs already. It’s a really great feeling to know that something you’ve built from nothing is connecting and reaching not only with friends and their friends but with complete strangers too. We’ve been growing as an act with every release, and it really feels like the momentum is too.
What can everyone look forward to if they come and see you at 110 Above Festival?
Our usual set of emotional alt pop bangers. We love festivals as they’re a chance to play in front of completely new people in new places, so that always feeds into the adrenaline of our performances. We love meeting new people, so we’ll be looking forward to having a chat too.
If you were putting on your own festival and had no restrictions who would you choose to play alongside and headline?
We love Amber Run, if it wasn’t for those guys we wouldn’t be making music together, so we would definitely pick them. Aurora, Stereo Honey, The National and Radiohead would all make appearances too.
And what’s next for Hunger Moon?
We are playing a handful of festivals this summer before heading over to Europe for a week to play some dates in late September / early October. New music will hopefully follow!
************************************************************
The Tin Pigeons
Say hello and tell us what it’s essential to know about Tin Pigeons…
Hey! Fraser and Thom here from Tin Pigeons! We think its pretty essential to know that we make music you can bounce to! Who doesn’t love a good bounce?
You’ve been described by BBC Introducing as ‘one of the best festival bands we know’ – what did you do to deserve such an accolade?
This comment came after we were named as Radio 1’s track of the week so they were showing us loads of love which was amazing, we just try and have as much fun as possible at our shows, and try and get people to dance along with us!
What have you got planned for your appearance at 110 Above?
We have been recording loads so we’ve got some brand new, hot-out-the-oven tunes to smash out!
Which other artists have you been listening to lately?
We have a load of mates all making music that we LOVE – we’ve been listening to loads of our good pal Lauran Hibberd who is sick!
And what does the future hold for the band?
More music! Working on touring plans for winter, then more studio time and new releases out very soon!
************************************************************
Hey Charlie
© Victoria Holmgren
Introduce us to Hey Charlie and your music…
We are a pop-rock band combining crunchy guitar riffs with sugar pop melodies. We manage, book and style ourselves and are trying to challenge the expectations of what it means to be a band in 2019.
What’s your desert island disc (ok, you can choose 2 each)?
Jimmy Eat World – The Middle
Neck Deep – in Bloom
The Band Camino – Daphne Blue
Bloxx- Headspace
Any top festival tips?
Talk to strangers and go see a random band you don’t know.
What’s in store for your set at 110 Above Festival and who else is playing that you’d like to see?
We have a new guitarist! So you can meet her…
We can’t wait to see Bloxx and Indoor Pets!
And what’s happening for the band in the coming months?
We’re touring the UK in July which we’re super excited about! We’re writing a lot of music at the minute and planning on getting in the studio over the summer.
************************************************************
Lots more information and remaining tickets for 110 Above Festival available here – be quick to get in on that best kept secret…
Photos reproduced with artists’ permission
17th June 2019
Breaking Glass Magazine 