Idlewild: The boys are back in town

Alex Gore • Published 24 Feb 2010 09:00 0 Comments

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Idlewild have done a lot of growing up in the last few years. ALEX GORE found out more...

A DECADE after taking to the festival stage for a third year in a row, Idlewild return to the town next month to play one of Reading's newest venues.

Any music fan lucky enough to get a ticket for the gig at Sub89 can expect a rich and varied set which showcases everything from their explosive 1998 debut EP, Captain, to the latest album, Post Electric Blues.

In those 12 years the Scottish outfit have done anything but stand still, retaining a youthful energy and confidence which pushes their sound on with every release.

"We never had a career plan or anything like that, the band really just evolves naturally as we get better as song writers," said lead singer Roddy Woomble.

"The main influence is time, we have been together for a long while and I think one of the nice things about Idlewild is you can hear the progression."

Idlewild will be playing on Monday, March 8, at the Friar Street venue, surroundings more familiar to guitarist Allan Stewart than others in the group.

Roddy explained: "Allan was born in Scotland but grew up in Farnborough and used to go out in Reading all the time. It's almost like a homecoming gig for him."

He added: "I'm looking forward to it. I think one thing we've learned is not to just play the big towns and cities like Glasgow and Manchester all the time.

"Some of the best concerts we've played have been in places like Barrow-in-Furness.

"We keep writing songs, putting out records and playing concerts, it's what we love doing and if it's 5,000, 500 or 50 people I don't mind, as long as they're interested."

But their days as raucous teenagers are over and touring now is a completely different experience.

Roddy said: "We don't do long tours because we have children now. It's more relaxed, we don't go away for longer than a week and a half and there are no five star hotels - just a good pub guide!"

For some Idlewild fans the Reading gig will be the first opportunity to hear tracks from Post Electric Blues live since its standard release in October.

In many ways the album is the band's most balanced release to date, intelligently juggling their country, folk and rock influences to create a work of true quality.

It has been well received by critics and fans, many of whom funded its recording by pre-ordering the album in return for receiving it four months early complete with an exclusive bonus track.

Roddy said: "It worked for us but it wouldn't work for everybody. We were offered some deals from small independent labels but we thought we could get that money by selling the album to people before we recorded it.

"There was the danger that we put it on sale and no one buys it and then we would be committed to making the record for just 20 people, but we know we have quite a dedicated set of fans."

He added: "Bands are becoming more resourceful. We had to record it quite quickly because the budget was quite small, so there's a good energy to it and a freshness to the music.

"I think that's a way a lot of bands will end up having to go, it's much harder for labels to make money out of records, not enough people buy albums so they are having to be made for less and less."

Having last taken the Main Stage at Reading Festival by storm in 2000 following the release of the superb second full length album, 100 Broken Windows, will Idlewild be making a triumphant return to Reading Festival any time soon?

"I don't know if we would fit in there now." Roddy said. "They obviously call the big bands early and much of the line up is open to newer groups. I think we fit into a place in between. We are not a big headline band and offers are quite schizophrenic, having a record out helps though.

"I think we will definitely play a few festivals this summer, we have done some of the smaller ones that perhaps are more of a subculture. I think we are moving in that direction."

As is the norm for Idlewild, they have chosen an exciting support act, Glasgow-based folk-rockers Sparrow And The Workshop, who are definitely worth arriving early for.

Idlewild play at Sub89 in Friar Street, Reading on Monday, March 8 with support from Sparrow And The Workshop.

Tickets are £15 from www.seetickets.com and other ticketing websites, or from the venue.

This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 18 Feb 10

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