INTERVIEW: We catch up with Jo from DESPERATE JOURNALIST ahead of their performance at BEARDED THEORY Festival....
We heard that a band called DESPERATE JOURNALIST are set to perform at this year’s BEARDED THEORY festival. I heard them being played on BBC 6 Music a few weeks back and was keen to learn more about their plans for the festival. Read on to learn about their musical style, what you can expect from their live show, their top festival survival tips, their dream festival lineup and see how they did in our Quickfire Question round….
Firstly, great news to hear that you’ll be performing at this year’s Bearded Theory Festival which is taking place from 23-26 May in Derbyshire, is this the first time you will have done so?
Yes
Please describe your music/sound/style in one sentence....
The pinnacle of all human creation. Or: melodic, dramatic, intense guitar pop.
I’m yet to see you live so do not know what to expect, please describe a typical live show (if there is such a thing!)
There will be a great wailing and gnashing of teeth and some lovely tunes and some jumping up and down.
Please share some of the acts that have influenced you over the years....
All the usual: The Smiths, The Cure, The Sugarcubes, The Radiohead, The Sale of Goods Act 1979...
The lineup for Bearded Theory this year is nothing short of spectacular, which of the other acts will you be sticking around to see?
I (Jo) really want to see the following: Orbital, BC Camplight, Therapy?, Divorce, Ibibio Sound Machine, Stereo MCs, Bdrmm, THE ORB, Bis, Liines, Ed Tudor Pole, Roni Size, 808 State, Steve Davis & Kavus Torabi.
The fancy dress theme for the Sunday at the festival is ‘Retro Future’, if you were to dress up, what would you come as?
The monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey
If you could curate your own 3-day ‘super’ festival, who would you have as the headline acts? (they can be dead or alive or supergroups)
The Smiths, The Cure, The Sugarcubes, The Radioheads and The 1979 Sale of Goods Act. The first four are genuine. Also something dancey like Underworld. The Teardrop Explodes. Hole. Massive Attack. Bowery Electric. Cardiacs. Yellow Magic Orchestra. The The. Nine Inch Nails. Judee Sill. XTC!
Please share your top three festival survival tips....
Pace yourself and don't get incredibly wasted on the first night. I still have yet to learn this (even outside of festivals...).
Go and see at least a few artists you don't already know.
Baby wipes.
Quickfire Questions
Wellies or Trainers? Dr Martens
Camping or Glamping? I don't mind camping as long as I can shower somewhere that doesn't give me the fear. So I guess that's glamping?
Burger or Pizza? PIZZA
Beer or Cider? A foaming pint of nut-brown ale
Airbed or Rollmat? Airbeds always break/let out all the air overnight. Rollmat. Or the grass.
Feather Boa or Elton John Glasses? No!
Set plan for the weekend or See where the wind takes you? A little of column A, a little of column B. Dance the dance of life, #YOLO etc (but don't lose your head).
Finally, why should people come to see you at Bearded Theory this year?
We are deluxe and delightful and we don't get booked to play many festivals so ENJOY IT WHILE YOU CAN.
We’d like to thank Jo for taking the time to chat to us and we wish her and the band all the very best for 2024 including their performance at BEARDED THEORY Festival.
Keep up to date with the band via the socials below.
Socials