The Commodores once sang “Once, twice, three times a lady”, you might want to sing the song but replace ‘lady’ with ‘BOSS CASS” as this is the third year on the trot that he has been invited to play at BOARDMASTERS FESTIVAL.
Festivals normally have a 2 year rule, whereby an artist or band cannot return within this time period. When it comes to BOSS CASS (FKA FLUFF), he has re-written the rulebook and will be presenting his one man punk rock show to anyone lucky enough to witness it.
We caught up with the man himself to chat about BOARDMASTERS, festival survival tips and his dream festival lineup, read on to learn more….
HELLO AND CONGRATULATIONS ON PLAYING AT BOARDMASTERS 2024!
Hiya Steve – thank you very much! Third year on the trot so it feels like I must be doing something right haha!
PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR ACT/BAND IN ONE SENTENCE
Boss Cass is best described as a one-man punk band with heavy hip hop / rap influences. Previously known as ‘fluff’ For fans of bands like Soft Play, Beastie Boys and Kid Kapichi.
PLEASE TELL US A FASCINATING FACT ABOUT YOU OR THE BAND THAT NOT MANY PEOPLE WOULD KNOW
Not particularly fascinating but I have a pre-show ritual of eating a meal deal ham and cheese sandwich and a chocolate bar roughly two hours before any show I play and an energy drink just before I go on. If I eat any closer to the set time, then I tend to feel very sick very quick because of the intensity I play my shows at with movement and the general shouting. Goes to show that the classic mum line of ‘you need to let your food go down before you go swimming’ may have some truth to it!
WHO WOULD YOU CITE AS A MAJOR INFLUENCE ON YOU/YOUR BAND?
My current biggest musical influences are hands down Kid Kapichi and Snayx. They play the music that I want to play so I tend to circle back to them in my inspiration playlists quite often. Strangely enough I find that the idea of being inspired by the rock gods like Zeppelin, Stones, Queen and Hendrix for example seems counterproductive to me as an artist. The music has already had its time and isn’t in the mainstream now, so it is unlikely to break through again any time soon. Hence why my focus is on the bands who are very much up and coming with a loyal underground fan base – it’s done me well so far! Another major inspiration for me would be Ex presenter of BBC Introducing South West Sarah Gosling. At the time when I uploaded my first track ‘Tea & Toast’ to the uploader I had incredibly low self esteem for this project. The second she took a shine to it I started believing in myself and pushing this project to where it is today. BBC Intro’s new presenter Dan Pascoe has been absolutely brilliant to me since and has nudged me along the way nicely but without that initial kick from Sarah, I don’t think I would have had the confidence to get back in the saddle after covid.
WHEN DID YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH BOARDMASTERS FESTIVAL START?
So, my birthday is in late August, which meant I was always one of the youngest people in my school year group. I remember all the guys at lunchtime (they were 16 years old) planning their trip to Boardmasters as a group once GCSEs had finished. They had their tickets and travel already sorted out and nothing was going to stop them from going. I asked my mum if I could join in the fun but being that I was 15, she didn’t feel it was appropriate. So sadly, I missed out on what could have been one of the craziest weekends of my life as a young teenager. Looking back now, I fully agree with mums’ decision. I would have drunk far too much to show off to my mates and gotten into a real bad state so, I have my mum to thank for saving me from that one haha.
HAVE YOU PLAYED BOARDMASTERS BEFORE?
Yeah, so as mentioned earlier this is my third consecutive year playing down at the bay and honestly, I cannot wait. The excitement is just as strong as it was the first year and I still hold memories from this festival over the past two years as being some of my best. Previously I have had relatively early set times in the mid to late afternoon but this year I am on at 10 pm and I cannot believe it. This is going to be my first ever after dark slot at any festival, so this is going to be one to remember.
WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION WHEN YOU KNEW YOU WOULD BE PLAYING THERE THIS YEAR?
I was pretty taken off guard with it strangely enough because I had been joking around with the agent who booked me for Boardies ‘23 whilst at another show in Falmouth in December and just casually said ‘You don’t fancy having me back for the Boardies hattrick do you?’ just trying to be cheeky and plant the seed of thought – and he turned around in the same second and offered it to me there and then. So, what started off as me being cheeky and pushing my luck became one of the best conversations of my music career so far. When the confirmation email came through saying that I was going to be included in the first wave poster that was a real pinch me moment!
FROM THE BANDS ANNOUNCED SO FAR, WHO ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING AND WHO WOULD YOU HOPE MAY YET MAKE IT ONTO THE BILL?
Of course I am looking forward to seeing Soft Play, the energy that those boys project is unreal. Willie J Healey is a master of his craft and a brilliant indie act to go and see along with Royel Otis. Strangely enough I have always wanted to see Professor Green, just because I quote a line from one of his adverts with Relentless energy drinks from like 10 years ago almost daily “No half measures”. Finally, my big one is Chase and Status, again not everyone’s cup of tea from my side of alternative music but the ‘No More Idols’ album has been and will always be a desert island disc for me, I personally think it’s a flawless body of work and is so nostalgic. This album along with ‘Brand New Machine’ are both very much in my regular rotation. I have since fallen off the C&S boat following the Tribe album as they have taken a slightly more grime direction than drum and bass / house, but I cannot wait to see them live regardless. I would have also said Sam Fender but my set clashes with him which sucks but I would happily take that L for the slot I have haha.
TELL ME YOUR TOP THREE FESTIVAL SURVIVAL TIPS
1) Bring a trolley / Sack Truck for loading your camping gear in – nothing ruins the festival vibe more than having to lug bundles of heavy gear around with you whilst you try to find a camping spot.
2) Lucozade sport is hands down the best drink to take with you, not only for rehydration but also as a refillable water bottle because of the squirty cap and its just generally a super comfortable bottle to carry. I genuinely do not go to a festival without these any more.
3) You can NEVER eat too much halloumi. Festival calories don’t count.
DREAM FESTIVAL LINEUP (CAN BE DEAD OR ALIVE)
I can’t lie, there was one festival line up from 5 years ago that I didn’t go to and I have regretted since. It was Truck 2019, IDLES, Slaves (now softplay) Sports team, Shame, Lady Bird, Easy Life, Zuzu, Heavy Lungs, Macky Gee, My Nu Leng. HONESTLY that would have been my dream festival line up full stop, just replay Truck 2019 haha! But if I had to hand pick 10 artists to be on a dream line up for me it would most likely be: Twentyone Pilots, Rage against the Machine, Death From Above 1975, Kid Kapichi, Lil Simz, Snayx, Bad Nerves, Big Special, Mother Vulture and me because I want to play too!
FINALLY, WHY SHOULD A FESTIVAL PUNTER MAKE AN EFFORT TO SEE YOU GUYS AT BOARDMASTERS THIS YEAR?
As far as I know, my act is genuinely one of a kind. I am a one-man punk band with major hip hop influences, I have a boombox for a drummer and a big sign with my name on it which lights up in time with the music. I know that every artist worth their salt needs to but blood sweat and tears into their project but when I tell you that everything you see on stage is DIY, I mean it. I am as stripped back yet simultaneously full on as you can get. So if you get sick of Sam Fender being the sweetest guy on the planet, come to the Keg and Pasty and get your dance on because nobody leaves my set without a smile on their face.
HOPEFULLY I WILL SEE YOU AT THE FESTIVAL, I'LL BE CAMPED OUT IN THE PRESS TENT, COME AND SAY HI....
Steve, mate you will absolutely see me there, look forward to buying you a pint x
Keep up to date with BOSS CASS at the following sites.
