Here we go again… Last year we covered every band on the Hobgoblin New Blood and Jagermeister stages in the run-up to Bloodstock 2015. This year, we’re going one better and aim to have interviews from all the bands on those two stages as well as all of those on the SOPHIE stage prior to the event kicking off on August 11th. That’s almost 100 interviews to get online for you lucky people over the course of the next couple of weeks. I bloody love this job, but you lot owe me a beer at Catton Hall, right?
Thanks to all the bands who’ve taken the time to respond!
Garganjua – Hobgoblin New Blood stage, Friday
Simple things first – where are you guys from?
Hi, were based in Hinckley, Leicestershire.
How did you meet?
We have all been friends for years and grew up in the same social circles in small villages. Me and Ben (drummer) have known each other pretty much since our first day at school.
How long have you been playing together as a band?
We started in 2012 as an excuse to hang out really, played a couple of shows and packed it in.
About a year later I randomly checked the band e-mail and people had heard things online and were asking for recordings, so we got together to do one and the response kicked us into taking it a bit more seriously.
Where does the name of the band come from?
We wanted to go for a big sounding name, Garganjua come up and we just stuck with it.
What are your influences – individually or as a band?
Musically we all like different things but all have a mutual love for slow, heavy stuff, so I guess that comes out in our sound. Influences are varied but people say we sound like Yob, Pallbearer, Samothrace, Conan, Ahab etc..
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
I hate this question. I’d say progressive doom. I don’t know if it’s unique in any way, we just play what we love.
What’s your live show like – why should the baying hordes troop over to the stage you’re playing on to watch you?
We’re not the band that’s gonna run on the spot and do fly kicks for half an hour, we’re too old for that shit. But we move and our aim is to lose people. Our songs are pretty long. We had a guy from a known radio station who supports the local scene say he had never seen a band silence a crowd, we finished and no one knew what to do, clap, cheer they just stood there (his words). We have brought a woman to tears, who didn’t seem the type to listen to what we do. It’s nice to know you can captivate people so hopefully if you come see us we can make an impression.
When/how did you find out you’d been selected to play at Bloodstock?
Uprising festival in Leicester – we were invited as a guest band. Conjurer deservedly won the competition. Great bunch of lads, well worth your time to check out.
What sort of setlist can we expect?
A slow and heavy 3 songs haha!
Which main stage band do you most hope you’re not clashing with so you can see them play?
We play on the Friday so I’m hoping to avoid clashing with Boss Keloid and CoC as we love those bands.
What are you working on at the moment?
We have a few festivals lined up and we have got enough material for album 2 demo’d so we hope to get this nailed and have the studio booked for May.
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done on tour?
Andy Price from Conjurer (bass) is definitely the wildest thing I’ve seen. lol
What advice would you give to a young band just starting out today?
Don’t take it too seriously and have fun, take criticism on the chin and don’t let it bother you.
If you could be part of any 3-band line-up who else would you have on the bill? One band above you and one below – a chance to plug a smaller, unsigned act!
Yob
Garganjua
Mage (Sophie stage, Saturday)
What stage / time are you playing at Bloodstock (if you have your slot yet!)
All we know is Friday, New Blood stage. You’ll have to wait for times
