The Slow Show interview
Dan Nelson speaks to lead singer Rob Goodwin about the rebirth of folk and the Manchester music buzz
The Slow Show is a Manchester indie folk band with a diverse range of influences from classic artists such as Neil Young, to contemporary acts like Elbow.
The band members are old timers on the Manchester music scene and having just launched their EP 'Midnight Waltz' at the Deaf Institute earlier this month, they are primed for big things.
Daniel Nelson spoke to lead singer, Rob Goodwin about getting The Slow Show on the road...
There’s always been great bands coming out of Manchester. We work at Blueprint studio a lot and there’s a great buzz around that place with some really good bands like the Paris Riots and Elbow based there as well. You feel like you’re part of a pretty vibrant scene.
DN: Who is The Slow Show?
RG: We started about a year ago. We’ve all been in the local music scene for a while doing different projects. We met through working together and decided we wanted to do something together. We’re all inspired by different stuff and we kind of put all those things together. Hopefully we have come up with something that reflects our influences.
RG: We started about a year ago. We’ve all been in the local music scene for a while doing different projects. We met through working together and decided we wanted to do something together. We’re all inspired by different stuff and we kind of put all those things together. Hopefully we have come up with something that reflects our influences.
DN: You’re a teacher and members of the band also DJ and produce. Do you think these other skills have contributed to the music you make?RG: I think we are all musicians first and foremost. Fred’s a producer, Joel’s a session player and Chris is a session drummer. I think those skills help to make you better musicians and working with other people influences you as well.
DN: How would you define your music?
RG: It’s a tricky one. I hope that it’s just a classic sound really. I think we never really wanted to be part of any particular genre or scene. We didn’t go out of our way to be different. We have so many influences including jazz, americana, rock and roll. I think it’s just a real mixed bag.
DN: Would you say there’s a folk influence present?
RG: Yes, there’s American folk as well as jazz and classical forms of music.
DN: Folk used to be a taboo word but with Mumford and Sons success it has experienced a rebirth. What do you think is the appeal?
RG: I think it’s just that kind of foot-stomping rhythm that people tend to relate to. It’s just a great genre of music really. I think it only takes one band to make it, which gets people’s attention again. It also has something to do with the storytelling side of the music.
DN: You have classic influences in your songwriting such as Neil Young. How did you actually decide on the music?
RG: We don’t really. I tend to come up with the song and then everyone puts their stamp on it from my ideas which are folk or americana related. Once everyone else contributes, it transforms into a very different sort of song. We are kind of equal in that respect - putting our own twist on things.
DN: When I first saw the name of the band I automatically thought of the National. Are any of you fans of the band?
RG: Yes we are. They’re a brilliant band and in this bracket they’re top of their game so they are an influence.
DN: There seems to be a real buzz about Manchester music at the moment with Everything Everything, Dutch Uncles and The Heartbreaks all doing well. Why do you think that is?
RG: I think it just comes in cycles. There’s always been great bands coming out of Manchester. We work at Blueprint studio a lot and there’s a great buzz around that place with some really good bands like the Paris Riots and Elbow based there as well. You feel like you’re part of a pretty vibrant scene.
DN: What bands are you listening to at the moment?RG: We are all massive Wilco fans, so I’m looking forward to their new album and I am Kloot are a brilliant Manchester band, the National and Richard Hawley.
DN: You just brought out an EP which you launched this month at the Deaf Institute. What was it like playing there?
RG: It was wicked, really good. It was a sell out so we were really pleased to get such a good audience for what was really our first Manchester show. The Deaf Institute is such a lovely place to play. It suits a more laid back type of music.
DN: You played a gig in Glasgow last year. Any plans for a UK tour?
RG: Hopefully at the end of this summer we’d like to go on tour and we’ve been trying to get out of Manchester as much as we can. I think to get out for a couple of months would be nice so that's the plan in June, July and August. We’ll probably get out and do a load more UK dates.
DN: Any local festivals planned?
RG: No, the EP launch was the main thing and we’re just finding our feet, but we will probably play another big Manchester gig in a couple of months.
DN: What do you hope people will take from your music and what are you hoping to achieve?
We’ve got no high ambitions, we just hope people get something out of the music we make as we enjoy making it. We all decided we would play the music we love and hope other people like it as well. So far it’s been good. It’ll be nice to go on tour and interact with people
To find out more about more about The Slow Show, please visit the
Myspace or Facebook pages.
To hear the Midnight Waltz EP, please click here.
