Gold Cup are a three‑piece built on fast riffs, loud instincts and the kind of dry humour that could only come from a band forged in Manchester’s scruffy rehearsal spaces and late‑night pub corners. They’re a group who treat mythology with a wink, punk with reverence, and the idea of “being a band” with the sort of chaotic enthusiasm that makes everything feel alive. From writing their first track in a jam room to accidentally driving to the wrong city on tour, Gold Cup operate on instinct, noise, and a shared love of anything that rattles the bones. This interview digs into the origins, influences, misadventures and future plans of a band who are clearly having far too much fun to slow down.

“Gold Cup” is a striking name—what’s the story behind it, and did any other names nearly make the cut?

Dan - It's the name of a pub in Manchester, which is named after a horse racing trophy. We thought trophies are cool, and gold cups in general are pretty mint, who doesn't want a trophy? Like that table at the end of the Last Crusade. Horse racing is shit though.

Tomas - it's also a nice gentle nod to that drink...what's it called again? Lager - also named BEER.

How and when did Gold Cup come together—was there a specific moment where you realised, ‘OK, this is a band now’?

It started just through some conversations about a lot of music we were all loving at the time, and fancied making some fast loud racket. CJ and I had played in bands before, and he and Tom also played together, so we knew the drill and what each other are like. Went in for a jam, wrote ‘8 Ball’ and realised that was pretty good so kept it going! Somewhere down the line Josh got involved with his musical magic, then we lost CJ to a bad case of Moving To Australia, so it's back to a 3-piece, which seems to work.

How much does being from Manchester shape your sound and attitude—do you feel part of a particular local scene or are you deliberately orbiting outside it?

Not sure Manchester informs the sound too much, not like we're just sat about listening to Hacienda mixtapes all day (and none of us are from here originally). There's a good little universe of garage-y punk-y stuff going on that we've gravitated towards. We practise above The Peer Hat, which is a pub below a space where loads of bands rehearse and have pints at before/during/after so it's nice always being around other musicians and seeing what they're up to. Also worth mentioning are the Sour Grapes Records crew, who have let us play gigs countless times and released our last EP, they know what's up!

Which artists genuinely sit at the core of Gold Cup’s DNA—and are there any non-musical influences (films, books, weird jobs, late-night TV) that seep into what you do?

Dan - There's the fairly obvious ones that I guess most bands of our ilk are truthfully big inspirations; Ramones, Motorhead, Misfits, all that kinda thing. Then more recent-ish stuff like Reatards, Split System, Gee Tee, Sick Thoughts, Sievehead. If it's fast and rockin' then it's probably in there somewhere, to a degree, we just like making riffs.

Tomas - Fast N Loud rock n roll is the DNA and that's as simple as it gets, there ain't no hiding the influences. Just raw music to get your heart pumping, soul shaking and your body quaking...something we all need right now i'd say, a classic bit of escapism by cranking it.

You keep things pretty minimal online and there’s that masked, slightly elusive vibe—what’s the intention behind that? Is it about freedom onstage, protecting your private lives, or just having fun with the mythology?

Dan - Originally we were gonna do the mask thing the whole time, but it's actually really uncomfortable so hats off (or on) to anyone who sticks that out. I think its not so much being purposefully elusive, just don't think we're actually that interesting and not sure anyone cares what we had for breakfast.

Tomas - it's also much more relaxed to just post about what you're doing musically and creatively rather than the day to day "come with us, come see my outfit, hey here's our opinions on the news, heres how we got that gig once..."fucking documenting every single sentence we say is so time consuming. Being an in actually DIY band takes energy and you'll hear that being released in the songs.

If you could curate your own festival and Gold Cup are headlining, who’s on the bill across the day—give me three acts that absolutely have to be there, past or present.

Dan: Bit bold of us to headline, but let's have The Ramones, Johnny Cash and Daft Punk.

Tomas: Judas Priest, T-Rex, Dead Boys...but we're just there to watch.

You’re hosting ‘Come Dine With Me’ as a band—what’s the Starter, Main and Dessert you’re putting on the table, and who’s actually trusted to cook each course?

Dan: Huge lasagne. Glass of Poncha.

Tomas: We are pretty good masters of the road side sarnie on the road so I'll keep it to tour food. Pickles out the jar, the massive ones the French soil produce, followed by a giant French baguette filed with tomatoes, cucumber, cheese, salad and those hot ass pickled chilli...I ain't a sweet tooth so round it off with Negroni or a Campari Soda, should all wash down rather nicely.

How was your summer—did it feel like a step up for Gold Cup? Any festival moments, big or small, that really stuck with you?

Yeah it's been mint, got to play with some great bands, Sick Thoughts, Gee Tee, Crocodiles, been on the wireless, wrote some new tunes, unfortunately the fan in the rehearsal room broke so the jams have been a bit shorter. Just got back from Get Lost Fest in Hamburg, which was a wild little ride, and an amazing sweaty show. The 25 hour drive home won't be forgotten anytime soon.

Where are you at with new music—are we talking finished tracks, half-built ideas, or wild experiments that might never see daylight? And how do you see the next 12 months for Gold Cup?

Slowly but surely getting an LP written! Been jamming riffs and stuff and I'm gradually getting some lyrics scribbled down, but it'll get done! Hopefully get that boxed off by the start of next year, maybe earlier, then I guess the next 12 months depends on how that goes down. Fingers crossed a heap of fun shows wherever we can play. Offers welcome!

Tell me something interesting about Gold Cup that hasn’t made it into any bio—a strange band ritual, a surprising hidden talent, or a story that sums you up.

Dan - We once drove to the complete wrong city on tour (sorry Hanover). Lesson learned: check the poster to see where you're meant to go.

Tomas - Many times people think the name is a piss thing...a golden shower of sorts.

Dan - Mind out of the gutter, folks.

If there’s one thing that becomes clear after speaking with Gold Cup, it’s that their momentum comes from joy as much as volume — a refusal to overthink, a commitment to keeping things raw, and a belief that music should feel like an escape rather than an obligation. With an LP slowly taking shape, new riffs being hammered out in a boiling rehearsal room, and a summer of sweaty shows behind them, the next year looks set to push the band into even louder, stranger, and more exhilarating territory. Whether they’re headlining a fantasy festival, serving lasagne and Campari, or accidentally touring the wrong city, Gold Cup remain exactly what punk should be: fast, fun, and gloriously unpredictable.

Keep in touch with the band via their INSTAGRAM page