Radio Interviews, Band Gigs and Final Preparations...

What have we been up to over the past week or so I hear you ask? Well, with less than three weeks left to go adrenalin is pumping, excitement building and admittedly, nerves are churning somewhat. And who could blame us? We're only throwing together one of the biggest musical events Stoke-on-Trent has ever seen! Anyway, just a short post to give you a quick update on all things HippyHaze...

Radio Interviews

 

Not sure whether you guys managed to catch the dulcet tones of HippyHaze organizer Richard Buxton and daughter Gabriella on BBC Introducing from Stoke, but it happened! Getting together once again with the lush lads from 3's A Riot, we sat super-cool (as if radio interviews are something we're used to) in the 'studio' and began to cringe as we imagined the sounds of our own voices being broadcast city-wide. The lovely Rob Adock made us feel immediately at home, asking lots of questions about the festival and getting us even more excited as he listed the fantastic bands we'll have playing. If you missed the interview NEVER FEAR you can still listen in on the show for the next few days. Just click here.

Can't get enough of listening to our excitement? Don't worry, we're going to be on Crewe and Nantwich Radio's This is the Cat on Tuesday the 27th of March between 7pm and 9pm so keep your ears open!

Band Gigs...

     

 

Being the party animals that we are, we've been making a big point of supporting HippyHaze bands recently, and since they're all so goddamn talented they've been gigging all over the shop. Bands that we've been loving the past two weeks include Sea Based Turtles, Six Towns, Fools Paradise, The Get Alongs, The Slippery Hill Boys, Neomantix AND Clockwork Owls. It's been pretty crazy, but you know we love it. That's why next week will hopefully be just as busy as we're going to see Nameless, Sworn To Oath, as well as The Get Alongs, 3's A Riot and Fools Paradise again! Feel free to go check them out and buy tickets for any of their gigs, you might just see us there :)

Final Preparations...

So HippyHaze is essentially organized by one man. And one man doesn't have unlimited time constraints, energy and brain power... However, having planned HippyHaze for nearly a year, our very own Richard Buxton is finally down to tying up the loose ends and putting the final preparations into place in order to make the event as good as it possibly can be. Wristbands? Secured. The Hippy Hippy Shake Company milkshake tent? Sorted. Band merch and Joe Gilligan Trust tent? Organised. Bins? Security? Other dull logistics? NOT A PROBLEM. 

To-Do this Week... 1) Finalize the silent disco 2) Photoshoot and interview with The Sentinel 3) Get a hair cut. All fundamental for HippyHaze as you can imagine...

We hope you're all really excited because we are literally buzzing at the moment waiting for our lives to begin! HippyHaze is going to be a big one. Just picture it; you and your best friends, camping in a field, getting to know some great new bands, partying until the early hours in the silent disco, pigging out on cupcakes, burgers, paninis and more, and most important, getting tipsy on naughty alcohol-infused milkshakes and smoothies. We can't think of a better way to spend our Easter weekend (don't tell Jesus...) so what are you waiting for? Hustle up the last few of your friends that still haven't bought their tickets and make sure they do now, because if they're not careful they'll be spending their weekend crying into their chocolate eggs whilst we're raving away at HippyHaze!

TICKETS ARE SELLING OUT RAPIDLY NOW. MAKE SURE YOU HEAD INTO MUSIC MANIA OR THE HIPPY HIPPY SHAKE COMPANY IN NEWCASTLE OR HANLEY AND GET YOURS NOW. £14 FOR A DAY PASS INCLUDING ONE NIGHT CAMPING AND JUST £33 FOR A THREE-NIGHT CAMPING TICKET. See you there :)

Love and milkshakes

The Hippy Hippy Shake Company

The Hippy Hippy Shake Company Sits Down With... 3's A Riot

The namesake of one of our current 'Special' milkshakes (available in-store at the Hanley and Newcastle shops), 3's A Riot just happened to be playing at the same 20th January The Underground gig as The Get Alongs, so I was lucky enough to grab five minutes with the boys and get the dirt on who they are and what 3's A Riot is all about... Hyper and packed full of adrenalin not long before stepping on stage, the down-to-earth Toby, Joe and the two Dans were more than happy to have a bit of a giggle with me about the state of the ladies toilets before we got down to business. Here's what I found out...

***

Ok, so 3's A Riot! I feel like I'm talking to a bunch of celebs in that you have a milkshake named after the band...

*Excited voices as all boys speak at once expressing their excitement and love for the shake. Words such a 'favorite' and 'epic' get bandied around*

Well, we're glad you like it! It's right yummy. Anyway, we don't have much time so let's get on shall we? Who are your biggest influences? 

Joe: Sergio Pizzorno from Kasabian!!! 

*This exclamation meets with some ridicule from fellow band members*

Joe: Don't give me any s**t about Sergio! 

Toby: ...Arctic Monkeys, Foo Fighters, anything rocky... We've just got so many genres of music that we love, they all just kind of join together into one. 

So you totally don't discriminate? 

Dan: No, not at all. We even love pop music.

*One of the boys from The Pretty Great Whites comes and asks if he can borrow some kind of musical necessity (a tuner?) and Toby agrees*

Awh, you boys are all so sweet, helping each other out and what not! 

Toby: Yeah always! We're all dead close!

That's good. Tell me boys, what's been your best rock and roll moment so far, I mean you've only been together since last summer, but I bet you've got some good stories right?

Toby: I'll tell you a funny story... *Gives warning look to fellow band members* The last gig we had at The Sugarmill a lad jumped into the microphone stand, the stand tipped over and smacked Joe in the face giving him a massive black eye. *Joe shakes his head, with shame* We carried on though. That's been our biggest rock and roll moment we've had yet... we've got a lot to come! 

God, yeah, I can imagine! 

Dan: And the shoes.

The shoes?

Toby: Ah yeah, people have a tendency to chuck their shoes at us. 

Ouch. Shoes? That's horrendous. And dangerous!

Joe: And we've got a chant.

Toby: You'll hear it tonight.

I'm intrigued. I'll keep an ear on it and join in though, promise. Now tell me. Do you write your own lyrics? What's your most personal tune? Have any of you lovely lads been heart-broken and been crying and just had to pour your feelings into your music? 

*Boys share a knowing look*

Toby: Well, I've not found love yet, so I'm yet to have my heart-broken!

Awhhh. I'll get onto that in a minute.

Joe: What about the new one 'The Wanted Man'. That's a passionate song. 

Dan: Yeah it's a bit deep.

Toby: I guarantee you'll shed a tear tonight... 

*Boys share a mischievous glance*

Joe: You know, don't tell anyone but most of our lyrics don't mean much...

Toby: Whatever rhymes is put in there. It's the music that's important.

I like that response! Means you don't take life too seriously, go with your gut and don't over-think things. Ok, so Toby, you haven't found love yet... But to all of you... All of the girls out there want to know, would you ever sleep with a groupie?

Joe: WOAH.

Toby: We've slept with teddy bears, that's as serious as it goes.

*Boys cheekily smile at one another and quite clearly are not about to divulge their filthiest groupie-related anecdotes to me* 

Joe: This is all a bit intimate!

Toby: Look, whatever the night brings, the night brings...

Joe: She hasn't come tonight! I'm gutted. Gutted.

Awhhhh! Well, you're probably better off as there's no toilet paper in the ladies... 

Joe: So what? Do you want me to go fetch some?

*Boys laugh*

Toby: That will be because Joe went in there and did a number two earlier.

*Boys laugh more*

NICE. No, I'm just saying, unless they've brought tissues like we have, most of the girls out there haven't used toilet paper. Just giving you a heads up...

*Look of disgust dawns on the boys faces*

Ok, on that bombshell... Who would you like to perform with out of everyone in the HippyHaze line-up?

Toby: That's a tough question! I'd like us to collaborate with a lot of bands really. Anyone and everyone, it's all experience isn't it? We'd take them all!

Bless you boys. Ok, well that concludes my inquisition. Thanks for chatting with me and good luck!

Boys: Thanks, bye.

***

I can honestly say that this indie/rock/alternative band contain four of the most unpretentious, up-for-a-laugh lads I could ever hope to meet. Their performance was fab and the fact that they let their music guide their lyrics rather than vice-versa keeps their entire set sounding so fresh and different, in spite of their more mainstream inspirations. Toby, Joe and the Two Dans (as I affectionately call them...) are not only musically talented, but also packed full of charisma and I'm sure this is part of the reason The Underground sold out by 8pm at their gig last weekend. They'll be as much of a laugh off-stage as on at HippyHaze and I for one can't wait to kick back and have a beer with them after their performance on Easter Sunday. In the meantime, I'll have to get my fix from their delicious special 3's A Riot flavour milkshake containing Nestle Crunch, Chocolate Digestive Biscuits, Chocolate Sauce and Whipped Cream. Almost as yummy as the lads themself. 

TICKETS ARE SELLING OUT FAST SO MAKE SURE YOU HEAD INTO THE HIPPY HIPPY SHAKE COMPANY IN NEWCASTLE OR HANLEY AND GET YOURS NOW. £14 FOR A DAY PASS INCLUDING ONE NIGHT CAMPING AND JUST £33 FOR A THREE-NIGHT CAMPING TICKET. PLUS IF YOU BUY A 3 NIGHT TICKET, GET ANY REGULAR SHAKE FOR FREE!

Love and milkshakes

The Hippy Hippy Shake Company