Are you surprised to have been accepted by the mainstream? We have never had any expectations, especially not for things that we couldn’t control. We’ve always believed in what we’ve done and you always hope that others are going to enjoy it, but it’s a dangerous thing to expect people to. Having said all that, we do count ourselves very lucky that so many people feel like part of our little gang and that they’re part of our story. How does it feel now the ‘Mon the Biff’ chant has been taken up outside Scotland? Well that whole thing started out as a little joke very early on in our life as a band. It’s funny how it has spread, and it makes us feel incredibly welcome when you hear somebody on the other side of the planet shout it at you. It feels like a call to arms and it always sends a bit of a shiver down your spine.
How do you see the new double album, The Land at the End of our Toes and The Sand at the Core of Our Bones, progressing from 2009’s Only Revolutions? It’s a bit of a personal dislike of mine when I hear people talk so much about music that isn’t yet available, so I don’t want to give too much away. We’ve always tried to explore different avenues and allow ourselves to do anything musically so I do think we’re constantly progressing and moving forward. The idea of doing a double album is a new one for us and it’s really exciting to have time on an album to experiment and try out some new ideas.
L – R : B e n J o h n s t o n ; S i m o n N e i l ; J a m e s J o h n s t o n .
special Looking forward to headlining RockNess? Yes! We played at the festival once before and have some great memories from time. There’s always that something that happens at a festival when the sun goes down and it’s a real honour to be the last band of the weekend. When the festival comes round we’ll have been in the studio for a couple of months and it’ll be great to get out and try out some new songs.
Really this is quite an easy one. We’ve been really lucky to play far and wide and some of those shows have been amazing experiences and have their own merits, but nothing can really compare to playing to a home crowd. The feeling of being with people like you and (hopefully) having them on your side is immense and it’s extra special if you pull off a good show. Is playing Scotland still special?
What can we expect from your RockNess set? That would be telling! Expect the unexpected, and naked men, and sweat and lots of passion.
Biffy Clyro headline the Main Stage at RockNess on Sun 10 Jun. For more RockNess coverage see page 36.
COLOURSFEST SAT 2 JUN GLASGOW
Scotland’s longest running dance festival returns to entertain 10,000 clubbers
with Paul Van Dyk, Laidback Luke and Paul Oakenfold.
DOT-TO-DOT SAT 2–MON 4 JUN
BRISTOL, NOTTINGHAM, MANCHESTER
You have the choice of three cities to see headliners Pulled Apart By Horses, The Drums
and Willy Mason.
FIELD DAY SAT 2 JUN
VICTORIA PARK, LONDON A celebration of all that is daring and innovative in alternative music in just one day; acts include The Vaccines and Metronomy.
SUMMER FESTIVALS SUMM MMMMMMMMMMMME
O N E S T O W A T C H List staff and guests List sta pick their favourite fest bands pick their favour
JONNY ENSALL Editor, The List LANTERNS ON THE LAKE What does that name bring to mind? Boats on the water? A night to remember? An ethereal choir of girlish voices, r of girlish voices, knitting together a sense of the magical l past and the optimistic future? You’re spot on with this talented bunch of Bella a Union-signed Geordies. ■ Belladrum, Beauly, 3 & 4 Aug.
VIC GALLOWAY BBC presenter, music journalist LORD ROCHESTER A raucous, tartan-clad R&B trio who love Bo e Bo Diddley! They lay down the law with ham-bone rhythms, primitive bass and tremelo guitar on a selection of 7” vinyl singles and their excellent Hey! LP. Catch them on the Isle of Eigg and shake yo tail feather! ■ Away Game, the Isle of Eigg, 20–22 Jul. HENRY NORTHMORE Clubs editor, The List JEFF MILLS Technically one of the best DJs the world has ever seen, alternating quick cuts, scratching, multi-layered mixing usually on three decks plus CDs and FX. They don’t call him the Wizard for nothing. Perhaps an obvious choice, but the right choice. ■ RockNess, Dores, 8–10 Jun.
ALLY MCCRAE Presenter, BBC Introducing, Radio 1 THREE BLIND WOLVES Their howling, beer-raising, fi st pumping folk/americana live show is unmissable. Imagine seeing that, at dusk, on a stage in a a clearing in a Highland forest, surrounded by y good people and no doubt even better beer. r. ■ Insider Festival, Aviemore, 16 Jun.
LAUREN MAYBERRY Around Town/LGBT editor, The List UNITED FRUIT United Fruit are great live – chest-crushingly heavy and tight as a gnats proverbial. Festival-goers seeking the gnarlier ilk should also look out for Holy Mountain, Hey Enemy and Edinburgh’s Vasquez. ■ Wickerman, 20 & 21 Jul. IAN HARROWER Festival producer, The Big Tent ANDERSON, MCGINTY, WEBSTER, WARD AND FISHER Weaving together shifting melodies that are intelligent but still reach the heart and the head these are one of our best kept secrets – though not for much longer. Classy musicians, clever ideas and musical fusions: an electric live band that will get our festivalgoers on their feet. their feet. ■ The Big Tent, Falkland, Fife, 21–22 Jul.
NICOLA MEIGHAN Music writer, The List List NICKI MINAJ Hits, wigs, tits, power, the biggest balls and d all the best raps: Nicki Minaj is reason alone ne to head to Balado this festival season. The hyper-star’s day-glo muse embraces pop, hardcore hip hop and R&B balladry, and her mantras are equally incandescent: ‘It’s Barbie, bitch!’ ■ T in the Park, Balado, 8 Jul. ALUN WOODWARD Director, Chemikal Underground JEFFREY LEWIS & THE JUNKYARD Jeffrey Lewis writes really engaging, entertaining songs and it would be a treat to see him in surroundings as beautiful as Doune. All that and I can sleep in the comfort leep in the comfort of a warm bed in my parents’ house! ■ Doune The Rabbit Hole, Doune, 24–26 Aug. 26 Aug.
Jun 2012 THE LIST 25 24 May–21 Jun 2012 THE LIST 25 un 2012 THE