Interview: The Blackout

The Blackout were championed by fellow Welshmen Lost Prophets when they first started gigging. And these days it’s the fans who are fully behind them. Vocalist Gavin Butler talks to Kelly Murray about why they love playing Guilfest, the all important three F’s and falling asleep to ZZ Top. Yep, really… 

You’ve got two albums under your belt - is number three being written?

We actually started writing last week. We've been writing on our own for a couple of months and have just got together to jam the new songs out. We’re really excited about it; it’s a good feeling to be back in the studio.

What are you gaining inspiration from right now, musically or otherwise?

The new stuff isn’t going to be too far away from what we’ve released before. We still listen to the same bands we always have; Limp Bizkit, Faith No More. I don’t think that will change unless we become a rave band! 

What does being in this band make you value the most?

That’s a good question…  friends I’d say, and family. Obviously we’re best friends in the band, but we miss girlfriends and family and other friends back home. It makes you value what you have around you too. We were in Australia recently and it blew my mind, not just being in Australia, but being there, playing music and having people watching it. So fan are really important because if it wasn’t for those people, I’d be in Wales doing God knows what! So it’s the three F’s; friends, family and fans! 

more info

Do The Blackout really make friends with their fans?

Yeah definitely, there’s people we’re friendly with now, people who would have supported us when there were only 20 people there. Every time we go back to their town, they’re there for us.

You’re playing Guilfest this summer - are you excited for it?

Yeah we’ve played it before and it’s a really nice environment, it was a good day out and I liked the vibe of it. You have bigger festivals where people just seem to go to get drunk instead of to watch the bands,  but at Guilfest there’s more of a family atmosphere; it’s about the music. 

What can the crowd who hasn’t seen you before look forward to during a Blackout festival gig?

A lot of movement, a lot of rocking and moshing! Blood sweat and tears is usually a Blackout show.

What makes you say 'yes' to playing one festival and 'no' to another?

We’ll play anywhere! We started off as a live band and we still are, whether we’re offered a tiny festival in Sweden or whatever, if we can afford to get there, we’ll play it. 

Have you got a fantasy festival line up?

We played at Download last year and it wasn’t far from it. I’d chuck Queen in if I could, Bon Jovi are always good to watch, I’d have Cancer Bats and The Bronx… I could easily fill a line up with bands I’d want to watch.  

Have you got any festival-related embarrassing moments you‘d like to share?

At Download last year, we played on the Friday and Saturday, so by the Sunday I was beat and I fell asleep watching ZZ Top on the main stage.

That’s fairly embarrassing. Anything you’d like to add?

We’ve just been added to a Paramore show on June 22nd in Belfast, so keep checking our myspace for more dates! 

Catch The Blackout at Guilfest, 16th - 18th July.

www.myspace.com/theblackout

Tickets are no longer available for this event

missed out?