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The Liverpool trio have been busy touring the world but this summer they return to home turf, playing Liverpool International Music Festival (21-24 July). In the first of a series of festival-inspired Q&As that will take us right up to the summer, drummer Dan Haggis tells us that comprehensive waste management and decent loos are vital for the ideal festival.


Tell us what you’ve been up to since last summer?

We had a very busy autumn touring round the UK, Europe, the USA and finally we played Australia over the new year. It was an amazing, hectic year for us so since January we’ve been having a bit of down time, recharging our batteries and getting ready for this summer. Being in the same time zone for the last two months has been a nice, unusual experience!

What festivals are you playing this year?

We’re playing several festivals (and doing a headline tour) in the US, a few around Europe and Reading & Leeds. We’re especially looking forward to playing LIMF in Liverpool for the first time.

Who else are you excited to see at the festival(s)?
At LIMF I’d like to see the Philharmonic Orchestra and Natalie McCool amongst others.

If you could curate your own festival what would the line-up look like (artists dead or alive)?
Neil Young, Bon Iver, Death Cab For Cutie, System Of A Down (never got to see them as a 16-year-old metal head and I loved their first album), Elliot Smith, Tame Impala, The National, Nirvana (never got to see them either), N.I.N, The Shins and The Smashing Pumpkins (original line-up).

What’s your best festival memory?
Seeing Rage Against The Machine at Leeds Festival in 2000. They opened with Sleep Now In The Fire and as the riff started the anticipation was electric. When the whole band kicked in the crowd went mental and I ended up in a huge mosh pit and crowd surfing. That was definitely a moment that solidified my desire to be a full-time musician.

What’s in your festival survival kit?

A blunt knife and a hair dryer is all I’ve ever needed. Saves on luggage.

Apart from music, what should the ideal festival have?

Good street food at reasonable prices. A comprehensive recycling and environmental programme to minimise all the litter and waste produced. Decent toilets.

Antonia Charlesworth

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