Here we go again… Last year we covered every band on the Hobgoblin New Blood and Jagermeister stages in the run-up to Bloodstock 2015. This year, we’re going one better and aim to have interviews from all the bands on those two stages as well as all of those on the SOPHIE stage prior to the event kicking off on August 11th. That’s almost 100 interviews to get online for you lucky people over the course of the next couple of weeks. I bloody love this job, but you lot owe me a beer at Catton Hall, right?
Thanks to all the bands who’ve taken the time to respond!
Witch Tripper – Hobgoblin New Blood stage, Friday
Simple things first – where are you guys from?
Nottingham.
How did you meet?
Stoff – Me and Richie have known each other for a few years now. Richie is a music tutor and I used to work alongside him. After a few years apart we met up at our local venue drunk one night and just happen to be both wanting to start a band! Jimmy was a drum student at the time and he just fit behind the kit perfectly!
How long have you been playing together as a band?
Just over 2 years now.
Where does the name of the band come from?
Stoff – Long story, but it was something I had in my mind for a long time. A band name can reflect a few things. For me I just wanted something sharp and different, but still loyal to our genre and attitude! Obviously it’s also a Down song!
What are your influences – individually or as a band?
As a band anything free flowing and groovy, anything from Clutch to Cream. As a 3 piece it’s easy for each of us to have a lot of freedom in what we are doing collectively.
Stoff – Everything from Clutch, Orange Goblin, Kyuss and Sabbath to Zeppelin and Rush!
Richie – I’m a massive Nuno fan so Extreme come through in my ideas and style, but I’m with Stoff with Clutch and Sabbath and ill chuck in Altar Bridge too!
Jimmy – definitely Anthrax and Maiden, I like to keep it quite simple for my tastes but those big 80’s bands! As I am a bit younger I tease these pair with bands from my generation but Stoff and Richie have showed me a thing or two in music taste!
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
It’s hardworking rock and roll! We just give it all we’ve got, we always have to keep the groove, that’s the main thing, in your face rock and groove!
What’s your live show like – why should the baying hordes troop over to the stage you’re playing on to watch you?
Sweaty! One thing we have in our work ethic is to play every show you can and play it as best as you can! We give it all we have and just rock out! Expect a good time!
When/how did you find out you’d been selected to play at Bloodstock?
July 3rd, winning the 2016 Metal 2 the Masses Final, we were quite surprised and very excited!
What sort of setlist can we expect?
All killer no filler, we’ve come a long way since last year’s slot and now understand what time we have to show the best of us! Fat riff’s, Bass lines all over the place and swinging sticks!
Which main stage band do you most hope you’re not clashing with so you can see them play?
Definitely Mastodon. Can we say Evil scarecrow too! Those guys put on a show we don’t want to miss!
What are you working on at the moment?
We’ve just finished our new album, so we are working on getting that out there as well as just gigging our balls off!
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done on tour?
Ha! We got asked that before and didn’t know what to say! We’re mental on stage, but pretty tame off stage. You’d usually find us at the bar or checking out who else is playing! Maybe give it a few more years and gigs and we might have some wilder stories!
What advice would you give to a young band just starting out today?
Just keep at it, don’t let anyone drag you down, you put the work in and keep doing it!
If you could be part of any 3-band line-up who else would you have on the bill? One band above you and one below – a chance to plug a smaller, unsigned act!
We’d love to Clutch! That’s a dream, as for the band before us, it would have to be one of our gig buddies 28 Double or Regulus!
What stage / time are you playing at Bloodstock (if you have your slot yet!)
We know it’s Friday, unsure of the time yet!
