As the road to the Download Festival becomes shorter by the day, we will be speaking to a whole host of acts from this years festival about what to expect from them at Download 2015.
Whilst many bands at Download have well-known, huge names, others are just starting out. Blood Youth are one of those bands. Formed at the end of 2014, the Lincolnshire-based band came to frution following the demise of post-hardcore band Climates. Sam Bowden, Matt Powles, Chris Pritchard and Max Dawson parted ways with vocalist Wes Thompson in October and then proceeded to continue making music together, channelling their frustrations along the way despite no frontman. However Kaya Tarsus soon stepped in and Blood Youth came into existence.
Their appeareance on Jake’s Stage on Friday afternoon comes just at the quintet set to deliver their debut EP. ‘Inside My Head’ is a melting pot of cathatic melodic hardcore with big guitars, pounding drums and scaling screams. With a tour with fellow Download debutants Trash Boat set to take place in July, Blood Youth looks like a name we’ll be hearing a lot more of in the coming months.
We spoke to guitarist Chris Pritchard to get his thoughts on Download. He shares his memories of past festivals and gives some worthy advice for festival-goers.
AH: Why should fans check you out at Download?
Chris: Because we’re an up and coming band with an unlimited amount of riffs and hooks that’ll knock your wellies off your feet and hopefully have you on your back in the mud. All seriousness though, playing this festival has always been beyond all of us and a huge dream of ours. So now we actually get to play it, we’re going to be making this set very special. We’re going to be cramming every single last bit of energy, sweat and aggression each of us have into a 30 minute window that we hope you will all share with us.
AH: What can we expect from your set?
Chris:
Riffs, spins, hooks, surfing, devil horns in the air and a lot of climbing up stuff.
AH: What other bands are you looking forward to seeing?
Chris: Ah, that’s a tough one. So many awesome bands are playing this year. Slipknot for sure. Our drummer Powles is probably stoked on Lamb Of God playing, and is probably really really bummed out Metallica isn’t playing this year. Fightstar, Stray From The Path, Beartooth, Counterparts, there’s really way too many to name! It’s such an incredible line up this year, we’re so stoked to be apart of it. But we’re going to be checking out as many new bands as possible whilst there too.
AH: What are your memories of previous Download Festivals?
Chris: I used to go to Download every year as a kid with friends, and my favourite memory other than Slipknot headlining in 2009 and getting on the big screen during their song ‘Everything Ends’ (which was SICK) is probably in the campsite, staying up on the Sunday all night with my friend from back home called Ewan, just abusing our friend’s tent with anything throwable near by (fire logs, water bottles, chairs, rocks, hand sanitizer, wellies, mud, beer bottles and cans) whilst he was trying to sleep and being covered in mud at the same time. Was a hell of a lot of fun for us! Not sure if he enjoyed it as much as we did, haha. Also, the year of 836 was pure madness too. Me and my friend went home and got ‘836’ tattooed on us. That’s another great memory I’ll always have.
AH: What advice would you give to people attending Download Festival?
Chris: Don’t bring everything you own. My first festival I brought 2 military bags full of food and just random crap I thought would make my stay more enjoyable and comfortable, but in reality, the second I got there and cracked open a beer I realised none of it was necessary and all I needed was a bit of money for chips and beer around me. So pack light, bring wellies and bring a helmet for stage diving. Safety first.
AH: Do you have anything else you’d like to say?
Chris: Just a massive thank you to everyone for all the support and kind words we’ve been given so far! Everything we receive is extremely appreciated and nothing goes unseen. So thank you to all of you guys! We’re excited for the future and we hope to you guys there. PEACE!
Blood Youth will be appearing on Jake’s Stage at 3:30pm on Friday June 12th.
‘Inside My Head’ by Blood Youth is released on June 22nd on Rude Records.
Blood Youth links: Facebook|Twitter
View more of Already Heard’s coverage of Download Festival 2015 here.
