UK Gigs And Festivals

Twin Atlantic - The Ritz, Manchester

The 99’s - Civic Hall, Uppermill

Sound Of Guns - Manchester Roadhouse

Liverpudlian band Sound Of Guns rock Manchester’s Roadhouse on their UK tour.

Pulled Apart By Horses - Club Academy, Manchester

Pulled Apart By Horses play a sold out Club Academy in Manchester in support of new album Tough Love.

Man Overboard - Manchester, Star and Garter

Man Overboard, The Story So Far and Save Your Breath bring their tour to Manchester’s sold out Star and Garter.

Twin Atlantic - Aberdeen Forum

Twin Atlantic play to a sold out Forum in Aberdeen on the penultimate date of their Free-ze tour in support of Free, their first full length album released earlier in the year.

“I’m still the same old immature bawbag.”

In the lead up to Twin Atlantic’s Free-ze tour we asked Sam some questions about touring, fame and what he want’s for Christmas.

Many thanks to Fiona McKinlay for the questions.

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Free seemed like an album about doing your own thing, not answering to anyone, not letting anyone else tell you what to be and not settling. Any idea what the overarching theme of album two might be?

Honestly it’s too soon to say. Also whenever I’ve tried to force something with my song-writing it just ends up sounding kind of desperate and contrived so I have opted to always take the route of instinct and feeling with a view to looking at it once it feels finished. Hopefully that way it will just be an honest reflection of my experiences.

Obviously you’re not Lady Gaga or whoever, but do you feel that the level of fame you’ve achieved, which is at least enough for thousands of girls to be apparently obsessing over Sam on the internet, has changed you and/or your interactions with people?

I would be lying if I said no. It is obviously a very flattering and humbling experience to realise that your band has fans that really care and that in itself has made me care more about this band. Overall though I’m still the same old immature bawbag.

What’s the most important piece of wisdom you’ve picked up or lesson you’ve learned from some of the huge names you’ve played with?

There has only been a couple of bands that I have got to know on a personal level that I would class in the huge department. Tom Delonge from Blink 182 would sit me down and ask me questions about my outlook on music and then he would tell me things about how he operates which was really interesting and helpful. The other is Biffy Clyro who have become good friends of late and they taught me probably the most in terms of taking control of your own music.

What bands are left to tick off the list of dream supports?

Nirvana or Muse. So just Muse.

When playing a town or city for the first time, such as Wrexham on this tour, do you ever have any apprehensions as to the turn out and atmosphere?

Not really. I’ve learned that those shows always turn out to be the most memorable. We sold more tickets for Wrexham than some places on our first tour for this album in other places we had been many times before or had in fact supported a bigger band in so I’m pleased already.

Touring with Middle Class Rut, it must have been hard not to laugh at the drummer’s chest tattoo on a daily basis, right?

It is honestly my favourite tattoo of all time. Getting to know Sean as a friend helps make the tattoo make perfect sense.

What new music inspires you?

Anything that sounds real and from the heart.

Now we’ve all had a while to live with Free, is there anything about that album you wish you’d done differently?

Honestly… And it feels weird to say… But no. It is exactly as I imagined it. No regrets when it comes to art. I think you have to be ruthless with your self to keep moving forward and progressing.

Do you think the demographic of your fan base matches what you’d have expected back at the start?

Over the last year it has really changed into something that I am really proud of. It seems to be a community of people who love music and having a good time and that’s all we ever wanted. It’s also great to see it’s pretty evenly split between male and female and also older and younger humans.

If you could swap any band mate for any other musician in the world - maybe not permanently, maybe just to fill in on a show, like Dave Grohl drumming for Cage The Elephant recently - who would it be and why?

Elton John to play keys. Like in that song he did with Blue.

What do you want for Christmas?

A fucking Lamborghini baby… And a good umbrella.

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There are still some tickets left for the free-ze tour if you’re quick. Click on the links below to take you to the relevant sites.

28/11/11 Cardiff, CF10

29/11/11 London, O2 Islington Academy

30/11/11 Brighton, Haunt

02/12/11 Birmingham, O2 Academy 2

03/12/11 Nottingham, Rescue Rooms

04/12/11 Manchester, Club Academy

06/12/11 Wrexham, Central Station

07/12/11 Leeds, The Cockpit

09/12/11 Edinburgh, Picturehouse

10/12/11 Glasgow, O2 Academy

11/12/11 Aberdeen, Forum

12/12/11 Dundee, Fat Sams