Imagine the idea of heading along to a music festival and being able to leave your tent and wellies at home. Then imagine the same festival offering you the opportunity to soak up the music of some new up and coming bands, along with a major headline act, and all over the course of one day. Sounds appealing doesn’t it?
The man who had that exact same thought was Hamish Jolly, the founder and chief organizer of Haddowfest. “It was a crazy idea after too many beers, with a certain drummer, who the festival is now named after,” he joked.
Now in its third year, Haddowfest is a music festival, which allows you access to seven intimate venues across Edinburgh, where you can enjoy a varied selection of music from over 30 bands, many of them from the Capital. “Glasgow is traditionally known in Scotland for putting on the bigger shows, but the Edinburgh music scene is absolutely stonking. There is a great nucleus of unsigned talent ranging from The Winter Tradition to bands like The Stagger Rats, Ok Social Club and The 10:04s, who all seem to get along really well. The hope is that through the festival bands can get a bit more exposure,” said the founder.
On Sunday 28th October, venues including Whistle Binkies, The Caves, Cabaret Voltaire and Liquid Room will host the likes of The OK Social Club, Hadouken, Kassidy and Miaoux Miaoux. Another of the bands performing at this year’s event is a four-piece from the capital called The 10:04’s. With the event being named after a member of the band, does that bring any added pressure? “No, not at all,” said Paul Haddow. “The only drawback is getting a million emails sent to me from people asking to play and it’s not me that books the bands. That’s what happens when someone jokes they’re naming a festival after you then they actually go and do it!” said the drummer.
The 10:04’s, which consists of Steven Bolton (vocal, guitar), Danny Scrimshaw (vocals, guitar), Paul Haddow (drums, backing vocals) and Johnny Tracey (bass, backing vocals), have been on the circuit for a few years now and have built up a nice wee following across the country. Their first single ‘SOS’ currently has over 8,000 hits on You Tube and their latest single ‘Lights Out’ has almost 3,000 hits. Both singles are available to buy on iTunes.
Having previously supported bands including Idlewild, Razorlight, The View and The Proclaimers, The 10:04’s are best placed to support this years headline act, The Cribs. “From a personal point of view, it’s great that The Cribs are headlining. No disrespect to previous headliners, Idlewild and Razorlight who are great bands in their own right, but one of our favourite bands is The Cribs and they heavily influenced our sound when we first started out, so we can’t wait to meet them and hopefully get a good bevy with them after it! Also, I think having two other big established bands in Hadouken and Kassidy gives it more variety and it’s setting up to be some Super Sunday!” said an excited Paul.
The Cribs, a three-piece originally from Wakefield in West Yorkshire, have had five studio albums and hits such as Men’s Needs, Moving Pictures, Our Bovine Public and I’m a Realist. Up until recently, Johnny Marr (ex-The Smiths guitarist) was performing with the band. They have recently performed at this years Leeds and Reading festival and T in the Park, as well as previously performing at the legendary Glastonbury festival. Attracting a band of this size can usually thrown up a few obstacles along the way. “We always seek our headliners first and then book the rest of the festival after we have secured them. It can be slightly difficult – for example, we knew we had The Cribs for a couple of months but weren’t allowed to announce them until late last month. That being said though, we have a good idea who will headline next year!” declared Hamish.
This years headline acts, and a few other bands, can be found at the HMV Picture House. For all further information and ticket details, checkout the official website at haddowfest.co.uk.
More from Matt Ward at his own website.
- The Temperance Movement - 13 September 2013
- Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - 5 March 2013
- The 10:04’s - 27 September 2012