Cambridge Band Competition 2009

April is the month when the heats for the prestigious Cambridge Band Competition get under way. There are four heats (every Tuesday at the Soul Tree from Tuesday 14) before the grand final at the Corn Exchange on Friday 15 May. The Winter Kings have not looked back since becoming winners of last year’s Cambridge Band Competition at the Corn Exchange. After a year of gigging the fourpiece have reached new heights of success – Explorer caught up with vocalist Austin and lead guitarist Max to find out more about the band, their achievements and what the band competition meant for them…

What was it like performing in the Cambridge Band Competition final last year?
Austin: “Playing at the Corn Exchange was great! When there’s that many people in the audience you absorb a lot of their energy, which makes it more exciting.”
Max: “The gig at the Corn Exchange made it worth going into the competition.”

What have you been up to since last year’s band competition?
Austin: “We’ve made an album, The Gallows on the Shore, and we’ll be playing a lot of festivals this summer all around the country to promote ourselves on a wider scale. We’re also being recorded by Channel Four for a benefit gig, and national radio are taking an interest now.”
Max: “Have we mentioned our music video?”
Austin: “No, I’m getting to that.”

So tell us about your new music video…
Austin: “Well, our first single will be released alongside a professionally shot video starring film actor Ray Winstone’s daughter…”
Max: “It was a good day. She looked great whereas we looked a little haggard!”

So how was the band originally formed?
Max: “Originally the band was an acoustic duo – just the two of us. We met at a party.”
Austin: “I fell off a piano and he thought that was rock and roll enough to maybe take me on as a singer.”

And for anyone who hasn’t heard you, how would you describe your music…
Max: “I would say it’s moody. Epic. Rock.”
Austin: “All our influences within the band are quite different but I guess bands that operate in a similar vein would be people like The National or Interpol. Or older school influences like Nick Cave.”

Any advice for the bands in this year’s competition?
Austin: “Put on a show! I’m really tired of watching bands just standing still and not doing very much.”

The Winter Kings’ new single will be released and sold at a promotional price, at a launch party on Saturday 4 April at Soul Tree. For more info visit www.thewinterkings.com