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... Aaron Mobberly from Clockwork Owls!

You know how the Hippy Hippy Shake Company likes hitting two birds with one stone? Well, imagine our luck when we realized that on the same night as Jim McShee was playing at The Old Brown Jug, so was the lovely bespectacled Aaron Mobberly from Clockwork Owls. Naturally we leapt at the opportunity to grab a quick interview with him in between sound-checks and despite my concern that I might begin to get a reputation, I dragged him out of the back-door just like I did with Jim, so we could talk in 'private'. Not nearly as naughty as it sounds, we spent the next ten minutes talking about music, college and milkshakes. My kind of conversation...

***

It's so very nice to meet you Aaron. I've heard so much about you! Am I right in thinking you're not actually performing with Clockwork Owls tonight?
Yeah, that's right. I'm taking a slight break from Clockwork for a little bit at the moment just to focus more on my acoustic stuff. This is my solo act. But don't worry, we'll be back on form for HippyHaze!

Good. Or else *smiles sweetly yet with what I like to believe is a dangerous looks behind the eyes* So, tell me about Clockwork Owls...
I'm on bass and vocals, we have Jimmy T on guitar, then Josh Morris and he's the drummer. We're alternative rock, with post-punk influences. We love Joy Division for our bass and drums post-punk element. Then Foals have a huge influence on us, and Wild Beasts too. Jim likes Radiohead and anything that's more progressive whilst Josh prefers more punk music.

Big mix. Like a cocktail. Yum. So how did you guys meet?
Me and James met at Newcastle college. I'm studying photography now (which is an expensive hobby...) but I was originally doing music technology which is where I first met Jim and Luke our past band member. Luke's at uni now. Then as for Josh, well, he goes to our college too but we actually met him at a gig here at The Old Brown Jug!

Ahh no way small world! Well I guess the music scene relies heavily on people being sociable, introducing themselves to new people and networking, right?
Yeah definitely. I mean that's how we've got a lot of our gigs really. After college Jim and I used to go around Newcastle, come to The Old Brown Jug and The Full Moon and we used to just talk to people and make new friends. It's all about making friends and knowing people who know people.

Ok, so around about how many gigs have you done together?
With Clockwork Owls we've done about twenty gigs probably. My favorite gig was on the 23rd of December. We supported The Control and the atmosphere was fantastic. It was the fullest gig I've ever played and we even had a small mosh-pit for our music so I was amazed, it was really cool.

Sure you'll probably have a lot of that at HippyHaze too what with all the beer. How do you get along in terms of writing the music?
We all write the songs together. Like I'll come up with a bass-line, then Jimmy and Josh will write to it. Lyrics usually come last and I don't really think about them. I usually write lyrics when I'm tired and I find that my subconscious comes out. Like a stream-of-consciousness rather than a planned out thing.

That's so refreshing! I like that. Now, if you could choose any act that is playing at HippyHaze to collaborate with who would you choose?
Ahh it's funny because some of the acts are already doing that for Stoke Sounds this summer. But apart from those that I'm working with on that, I guess I'd have to say Shane from The Get Alongs. He's like my brother. Oh, and Jo-ee-T. I met him at Mark Askew's gig at The Underground a couple of weeks ago. He's a bit of an icon for the Stoke scene.

Yeah, everyone gets really excited about Jo-ee-T! Anyways, let's wrap this up so you can get on with your folksy-acoustic set shall we? The one thing I really want to know is *drumroll please* what's your favorite Hippy Hippy Shake Milkshake?
*Laughs guiltily* I've had way too many to count... that's why I've got a bit of *gropes at stomach and trails off* Anyway, Ferrero Rocher has to be my favorite.

Mmm, good choice. Well thanks for your time Aaron, break a leg!
Thanks.

***

I can honestly say that Aaron's acoustic set was so easy to listen to, I could have listened all day. AND THEN when I got home and did a bit of Clockwork Owls listening on their Myspace page, I was amazed that this was the same guy! The quality of both projects is undoubtedly fantastic, yet they're so different that you can really tell that this is a guy with serious talent and flair for music. Clockwork Owls are officially on my Must See list for HippyHaze this Easter, and I strongly suggest you add them to yours too, especially if you've got a thing for handsome rebellious artists with catchy choruses. The ladies out there are going to adore Not My Face, and if they don't then they're stupid. 'Nuff said. :P

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