SUNSET SONS have been enjoying the kind of year that would make many bands envious. A huge UK tour accompanied the release of their debut album Very Rarely Say Die earlier this year and a number of festival slots followed throughout the summer where their roaring pop-rock anthems went down a storm with the crowds. Now, with a growing fanbase and a reputation as a formidable live act, the four-piece are about to set out on another UK and European tour which will see them headline some of their biggest venues to date, starting in Aberdeen on Monday 17th October and finishing up a month later in Lyon on November 17th.
TTV caught up with drummer Jed to hear about the forthcoming gigs and their year so far. Heading to cities all over the UK, including two dates in Scotland, there’s so much to look forward to; a couple of places stick out though: “Obviously Glasgow! I’m a bit biased because I’m from Newcastle so anything up north I’m always into. I’m always really proud when I go to shows and the northern crowds are always a bit more up for it; they’re definitely more welcoming.”
It’s a sentiment often expressed by touring bands, but what is it that makes a northern crowd so special? “I think it’s just in the culture isn’t it? Are we all not just a bit friendlier? I think we’re just more up for having a good time. I don’t think it’s even that complicated… I don’t want to slag anywhere off but I always think when you get north of Watford everyone’s a bit more cheerful. I used to go surfing all the time up in Thurso when I was a kid and up there it’s dark all the time and it’s freezing and I’ve never met friendlier people.”
Widely recognised as one of the best music cities in the world with the most receptive crowds, the band are definitely looking forward to returning to Glasgow, where they enjoyed a standout gig at the QMU earlier this year: “I can remember the tour in April and the show in Glasgow was the second or third show and it was just absolutely brilliant, it was definitely a highlight… I can remember all of it. I’m really looking forward to that one.”
This tour will mark a step up though, with the band set to play the O2 ABC on Tuesday 18th October. With their growing popularity, this tour will take them to a number of bigger venues around the country, including significant shows like the one at London’s Shepherd’s Bush; no pressure though: “It’s a funny one for us.. Obviously we’re three Brits and one Aussie so we know all the UK venues really well but we’ve spent so much time in France. You recognise some of the names of the venues but we just love playing. The rooms are getting bigger and we’re buzzing about that and people are buying tickets so that’s good because it means people are still interested in the band. We’re playing Shepherd’s Bush which is a benchmark for when you’re a proper band so we’re buzzing about things like that. It’s good to see we’re still growing and people are still getting into the band.”
Following a number of well-received singles, the four-piece finally released their debut album Very Rarely Say Die earlier this year and it went down a storm with fans. Fulfilling all expectations, it is full of the kind of upbeat, catchy pop-rock anthems that are made to be sung along by massive crowds, orchestrated by dynamic frontman Rory Williams. A record that yearns to be played live, Jed believes that it is their years of gigging experience that influenced their sound: “We started as a live band doing covers to make some extra money. So by the time we signed a record deal we had played over 300 gigs together which is pretty rare these days. To have played so many shows and be so comfortable playing, I think it meant the record would always sound like that. Obviously I still think when we play live I think it’s a bit more rocking… I still don’t think we’ve totally captured the whole vibe. I love the record but it’s like trying to bottle lightning… getting the sound of any band when you go and see them and putting it on record.. it’s like finding a unicorn.”
“I really like playing Bring the Bright Lights. It’s got a good vibe.. I always know if the show’s going well if I can barely hear the drums with the audience singing on that one”
With 2016 offering so many opportunities to the band, there have definitely been some standout moments: “Reading festival was a massive one for me. We’ve done it the last three years and every year has got bigger. This year we did the Radio 1 tent which is a massive stage… We didn’t know if anyone would turn up because we were on early. I remember just walking on and the tent being full and it felt like we were in an arena again and I thought ‘this is going to be rad’”
“I love the festivals … I love that vibe; touring around Europe and showing up somewhere you’ve never been before in a tent or field full of people. Isle of Wight was great at the start of summer aswell… we managed to play and then stay for the rest of the day and see The Who headline the stage we had played earlier. So technically we supported The Who!”
A pretty tough year to follow, but what will be next for Sunset Sons? “We had so many songs for the record that we ended up choosing our favourite ones and the ones that went best together. We had one song that I was a massive fan of but it wasn’t quite ready so we just finished that about two weeks ago and there will be an exciting video for that coming soon. We’ve been writing loads and got a bunch of stuff together so as soon as the tour is finished, we’ve got some time booked in the studio in France. We just want to make another record and strike when the iron is hot.”
Check out the band’s session at TTV HQ below:
