Focus The Prelude

Article by Colin

The world's favourite Irish folksters The Prelude follow their critically acclaimed album Moving To The Country - Never Coming Back with the release of a new, download only single - No Sleep For The Rain, which also features fan favourite 86 Blues. The release includes a live version of album track By The Holy Well. The unique artwork comes from bass player Ryan Wyatt.

All this follows the end of a busy year with over 100 live dates in concerts and festivals: The Prelude have been wooing audiences in worldwide, as well as releasing their first studio album.

Charlie and Ryan from the band found time out of their busy schedule to speak to We7 about their music

The interview

How long have you been playing together and how long have you been playing in the band?

Charlie: We were all good mates before we started playing music. When we were 15 or 16 we decided it would be laugh to start a band. We picked instruments and learned how to play. It was about five years later before we started becoming a decent band. We've been constantly changing for 10 years but some people could argue we've only been a band for two years. Ryan joined last Christmas so that was the last major change. By the time we've got a new batch of songs and start again next year everything could change again. When you've not had loads of money thrown at you and you have to work hard just to get a record out and do some gigs then we try not to get carried away or take anyone for granted.

What was the progression from just playing together to actually recording your music?

Charlie: We had been messing round for about five or six years and we decided that we should have something to show for it. So we worked very hard trying to find our natural sound and learning lessons about what were good at and what were bad at...finding music that we are all inspired by playing. We finally got to a stage where we thought we had something worth releasing.

What made you choose to settle in Liverpool? Were you fans of the scene in the North-West before you moved?

Charlie: I originally came to Liverpool for university and Garvan went to Huddersfield to University. He moved over to Liverpool and we convinced the rest of the band to come over from Derry. We wanted to base the band in England as Derry is a bit out of the way for a band looking to broaden their horizons. Liverpool was an obvious choice as I was already living there. We've absolutely loved it here and it's our adopted home now. But we were all mad Oasis heads growing up and loved that whole scene from the Stone Roses through to Oasis. We were obsessed with The Beatles, and still are. We all lived in a big house on Penny Lane and used to practice in Aidan's bedroom every day. Then through gigging and learning our trade in Liverpool we were massively influenced by the current scene in Liverpool starting with the Bandwagon at the Zanzibar Club.

How have you found the response from the British audiences and press?

Charlie: It's been very positive so far. It's very difficult to get any decent coverage if you're not a high profile band so I think we've done quite well so far. We've always had great support in Liverpool and also back home in Derry; both places try very hard to promote the music of the city which is very important for new bands. The style of music we play, and the way we are as mates, means the gigs are usually mad affairs. It can be quiet difficult to keep us calm. We always want the gigs to turn into a shindig and some cities are just really up for it like Glasgow and Dublin and Liverpool - places with a bit of Celtic roots. We were surprised at gigs in London, I thought it would be very pretentious and not very receptive to mad Irish lads like us but it's been cool there as well.
Ryan: At the end of the day nobody dislikes the Irish and every gig we play we bring a party atmosphere on stage. The crowd really get involved and enjoy seeing a bunch of lads on stage having as good a time as the crowd.

What would you say your main musical influences are?

Ryan: We're all really big fans of The Band, Neil Young, The Beatles, Rory Gallagher, The Pogues, The Stones and loads of other stuff...
Charlie: ...With six lads there are a lot of different thing thrown in the pot which is an advantage for us. If you're asking what our sound comes from I would like to think it's a mix of traditional Irish and alternative country folk with a high spirited stomp.

Where do you see the band going in the future, and what are your ambitions?

Charlie: It's always been a slow grower with our band so I don't expect that to change. We are gonna put another record out next spring and hopefully we will gain some more support! Just more hard work, but we've grown to love it.
Ryan: We're planning writing and recording now then straight back out touring and trying to take over the world.