Backstage with Featherstone

SoGlos.com goes backstage with the very loud, and very grounded, local band Featherstone – to talk covers, Iron Maiden, and playing Wembley Arena.

So, tell us about Featherstone.

Well, Featherstone is a five piece band – with Nick Featherstone on vocals, Mark Garton and Ian Vaughan on guitar, Barry Farmer on bass, and Jon Mumford on drums.

We play classic heavy rock ‘n’ roll, but with a bit of a bluesy-funky twist in places. We like the feeling of space and dynamics we seem to have stumbled across, and we have had a lot of favourable comments that we are not a complete wall of noise like a lot of rock bands. Having said that, we are very, very loud…

How long have you been playing this very loud music together?

This version of Featherstone has been going about three years, and there was a version before in a bygone era. We all got together by word of mouth, with an evening in the pub and a love of good music in common. The name ‘Featherstone’ had been in use for a few years, and was already known, so we kept it!

And what do you play?

We are still playing a lot of covers because that’s what people often want to hear, but we try not to do all the obvious songs. We always make the effort to have some of our own songs in the set too, and the reception to these has always been positive.

Now we are starting to really work well as a unit, and this has reflected in the songs we are writing. We all try to have an input, but some people are always more prolific at song writing!

Will we buying the new Featherstone album anytime soon then?

We are in the process of recording a lot of our own songs, with the end result hopefully being an album of some sorts. However, we are doing all of this ourselves in between gigs and family commitments, so it has taken its time…

Recommend one album you don’t think SoGlos.com’s readers will have discovered.

One in the Sun by Steve Gaines is a stunningly diverse album from the late Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist.

Who are some of your main influences?

They are so varied! We all love the great 70s bands like Zeppelin, Cream and Free, with a bit of Hendrix thrown in as well. Then the influences start to vary, with everything from early punk to British blues rock such as Whitesnake and Thin Lizzy. There are also a few prog rock bands in there, a fairly large slice of the blues, and even some northern soul, which we try to combine to mould a unique sound rather than trying to sound like someone else.

What’s your favourite Gloucestershire venue you’ve played at?

One of the best venues has been the Lower Lode Inn, as we have played at a couple of bike rallies there, and it is always a great night. We love playing anywhere there is a good crowd who love our music though.

What advice would you give to local bands trying to make it?

Play the music YOU want to, the way you want to play it, and have a damn good time doing it but, take the time to learn how to play your instrument to a reasonable level. It makes life a lot easier…!

Have you ever… thrown a TV out of a hotel window?

No

Would you like to?

Not really.

Any claims to fame?

I think we have a few minor ones! I used to be in The Screaming Ameebas with Ace from Skunk Anansie, and Barry was in a band with Dave Murray from Iron Maiden, before they existed!

Where can SoGlos.com readers expect to see you in a year’s time?

Who knows what the future holds. We have to be realistic, as none of us are getting any younger. We just try to play good rock music to a good standard and enjoy ourselves at the same time. If we get a bit of recognition and acclaim on the way, then that’s fine but we won’t be booking Wembley Arena just yet!

And before then?

Keep your eye on SoGlos.com’s Gloucestershire gig guide for details of where we will be playing live in the county in the coming months.

SoGlos.com
2 December 2009