Hull grunge/alt-rock outfit Bedsit return to Stockton this month, so Lee Allcock caught up with the band to find out what gig-goers can expect.
You’re returning to Stockton! Tell us a bit about your last Stockton gig…
It was our first-ever tour and our first time in Stockton. We had no idea what to expect but immediately fell in love with the venue. NE Volume Music Bar is like a slice of home – fiercely independent and self-made. Everyone was very friendly, coming to the front of the stage. We can’t wait to come back on Saturday and, hopefully, see some familiar faces again.
What can gig-goers expect this time around?
This time we’re headlining which means we can play some of our favourite songs which wouldn’t fit on a thirty-minute set. We’re very particular about song order and set craft as we want to ease you in then throw you around and finish on something special. I hope you’re ready, Stockton.
You’re playing Stockton as part of a headline tour. So, what’s life really like on the road?
It’s a laugh – but it can be stressful. We’re organising everything ourselves so you have to be on the ball. Our tour vehicle was abandoned in a field until I (Tom) put a grand into it to get it repaired – and the engine light has been on ever since. No mechanic can diagnose it, but it’s never given me issues…I hope it’s just the air-con that’s broken. On the plus side, the in-car sound system is great.
And you have a new EP out too. Tell me a bit about that…
The EP is about the chaos and uncertainty of modern times, the struggle for meaning and motivation. We all have the sense that something isn’t right. We often get cynical and angry. But, occasionally, we get a glimpse of the magical – a moment of ecstasy – and that relief is worth living for. This is our first EP as a full band and the title track is a celebration of the heritage of live music. From gigantic rock stars who inspired generations, to local artists who you think never got the exposure they deserved, they were all answering the same calling – blessed release. It’s about how those burning passions, die as they may, continue to smoulder in the hearts of strangers, inspiring joy and creativity.
And finally, what are your aims for 2023?
We want to break into every city in the North, which is not as easy as it may sound. We aim to release another single and a few more music videos throughout the year while we work on the debut album. But really, we just want to start reaping the rewards of our hard work. We want to play loads of gigs and be in a position that, when we do release our debut album, we can book an extensive nationwide tour.
Bedsit head to our own NE Volume Music Bar in Stockton this Saturday. Tickets, priced at £5.00 in advance, are available from nevolumebar.co.uk or seetickets.com.
