The Hanwell Hootie 2018 takes over town tomorrow (Saturday, 12 May) and highly rated duo Rews will start the music off with their brand of high-energy alt-rock. They took some time out to answer our questions after finishing a UK tour.
Shauna Tohill and Collette Williams will take to the stage at 4.15pm, in Viaduct Meadow.
Describe your sound, and what inspires it?
Our sound is energetic, passion fuelled rock. We’re inspired by life events, an eclectic mix of great music, a motivation to make people dance and have fun at our gigs.
When it comes to your lyrics, what are your influences? What subjects are you interested in singing about?
Our lyrics are inspired by many things from love to disdain, empowerment, crazy situations and people we’ve met along the way. We like to create songs that tell a story or two that people can relate to and share our passions.
The Hootie’s presumably your first festival gig of the summer. Does it feel different to be part of a big event like this?
It’s actually the second, with Liverpool Sound City being the first last week. Yes, festivals are fantastic, people relate them to summery weather and fun times so spirits are usually high.
It is a pretty unusual festival though – with 15 different venues and buses ferrying people to and fro. What do you think of the concept?
It’s great; there’s lots of variety meaning it attracts a wide range of music lovers, it’s free which is brilliant and also means parents can bring their kids to some of the stages. Let’s get our music out to the masses.
Will you be checking out ‘the competition’ before or after you go on? What bands would you pick to see or recommend to others?
Oh for sure, we always try to do this when possible, it means we also get to watch our favourite bands, friends bands and people we’ve shared stages with before. It’s good to show support.
Collette: I’m excited for Fizzy Blood, Black Waters (who we’ve shared stages with before), and fellow label beauts ‘Press to Meco’, so go and show them your support.
Shauna: I’m also excited for Fizzy Blood and our good mates False Advertising. They rock. I’ve heard good things about The Tuts.
Want more information on the Hootie?
Read our insider’s guide.
For full details and the list of venues go to www.hanwellhootie.co.uk
For other updates, visit www.facebook.com/TheHanwellHootie or follow @HanwellHootie on Twitter.