Drenge

I caught up with Sheffield lad Eoin Loveless from Drenge at The Roadhouse in Manchester. We had a natter about soulless X Factor, the re-release of Nirvana's In Utero and signing record deals.

Jeremy Pritchard of Everything Everything at Festival Number 6

Another festival Another interview. I caught up with some musical pals again. After arriving too late to catch the lads on their press time, Jeremy was more than willing to give up some of his time to catch up with me and XFM the next day. I knew he had been mega busy and exhausted of all of the planes and he shared all with me.

Lianne La Havas at Festival Number 6 2013

I was welcomed to a huge smile and a hug from this beautiful lady. Sporting some not to right for a festival pair of heels and a pair of spangly red pants, Lianne looked as beautiful as ever and ready to natter.

Everything Everything

We last met in 2009 at the Manchester International Festival. I performed, Dutch Uncles performed and the day before, these lot had a go. I was sat in the press area waiting for Everything Everything to finish off other press jobs and then I watched as they were driven away. Panic and lots of swearing, I missed my chance. But then the best press officer came to my rescue. He took me by the arm and lead me to the back of the main stage and on a journey to Everything Everything's dressing room. We meet again finally.

After my official interview time with the guys, Jeremy Pritchard walks in and gives me a big hug. We exchange thoughts of when we saw each other last and BBC 6 Music's Marc Rileys Christmas bash and we continue with a off the record natter.

Temper Trap

Sat waiting for me on a beer bench was Dougy and Toby from Temper Trap and I have to admit that they were the most friendliest Ozzy's I have ever spoken to. They constantly smiled throughout the interview even though they knew I was trying to catch them out (listen to my questions and how many song titles can you hear?)They were more than happy to get involved in my musical jingle quest and Dougy even announced that he better than Jay Z!

Parklife love

Parklife 2013 in Manchester was my first full working festival. I did have a penis straw in my hair when talking to The MAccabees, yes, as I was also on my sisters hen do! She didn't mind though. It meant that was on beer delivery from the VIP area.

Theme Park

The sun is out and I have no idea what is going on at the press area at Kendal Calling. I have a timetable of interviews and I can;t find the band I ned and nobody else knows where they are either. Then when I slump into the Boohoo couch and look around I see a circle game of football (this is not a technical term for what it was) There with no shoes on, kicking a ball around like they were are school on break were Miles, Marcus (or brother M as he likes to be known by his brother) and Oscar of Theme Park. The hunt was over. When I approach miles almost looks at me with a familiar look like he knows me and of course he does. I made him do all sorts of ridiculous things last time we spoke. "Your the one ho made me sniff Oscars arm pit." Hello again Miles. We have a hug and walk into their dressing room. They go straight for my array of musical instruments I carry around and start jamming out Jamaica. Then we were like a bunch of teenage girls nattering away about erm, girls, Amsterdam, biscuits and tent sex.

Later that night after I danced my bum off to their performance I continued the dancing at the silent disco. To test the headphones I travelled to buy some more cider and my name was called. There were my three favourite southern lads, once again playing football in the main arena but thankfully with shoes on in the dark. We had a kick up competition, of which I was terrible of course and then shared moves to the silent disco blasting through my headphones!

The Horrors

I was lead onto a boy smelling tour bus, taken up the stairs and directed to a dark bus living area. In the corner dressed in black was Farris reading. Their manager told me I had 5 minutes with him. I was quite nervous about talking to him and I don't think he new how to take me at first, but then we got on the geek talk. Records, recording and analogue. The manager did return after 5 minutes and Farris shooed him away. Twice! Our 5 minute chat turned into a 20 minute conversation and I warmed to him a lot. Best mates I like to think now.

The 1975

Leading man Matty from The 1975 jumped out of his tour van and lead me to their dressing room for a catch up. He shared his anxiety about the release of their debut album and how the music press doesn't phase him. I was pleasantly surprised by how chatty he was up for answering my ridiculous questions. (we spoke about zombies)

And these guys know their stuff when it comes to working in the studio.

The Charlatans

It was getting damp at Kendal Calling 2013 and after being passed from one journalist to the next, it was my turn to interview the Northern lads. Disappointed at first that Tim Burgess was not about to chat, that lull disappeared when Tony and Martin from the band opened up about their future works as a band. It did take us a while to get the radio stinger down mind...

Findlay

I had to look twice as a small petit pretty lass walks past me sporting a beanie and some very cool boots. This was Natalie Findlay dragging her gear into The Ruby Lounge green room. When we did sit down for a natter, she was open and composed despite her young age. Still not quite up for everything I asked her to do (I ask her to do a very difficult dance move for our camera, but she wasn't feeling it at all!) she still sniffed my fingers and chatted about nights out with Jake Bugg.

Theme Park

It was dark, it was noisy and it was smelly. But Miles, Marcus and Oscar bought sunshine and nice scents to The Ruby Lounge dressing room. Unsure of how to take me at first, we bonded through embarrassing stories and rock and roll antics.

When we had finished having our natter, I had to giggle as their tour manager handed £10 pocket money each for the night!

Deap Vally

When I walk into the dressing room at The Deaf Institute I see Lindsey Troy sewing a fallen button back onto her coat. Julie is sat next to her and they are nattering away. This scene resembles their first meeting over crochet club. And I happy their rock n Roll life doesn't get in the way of their needle work!

After I turned the record button off, the girls were so welcoming and invite me for a beer. Their performance was incredible and I was shocked at how good they actually are live for a two piece. Can't wait until I see them again.