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

More than Just the Music...

So of course most people with an interest in the local music scene will be aware that HippyHaze 2012 is a 'who's who' of the Stoke scene. With forty local bands spanning a variety of genres (yes, we threw country and folk in with indie and heavy rock... sue us!) HippyHaze will be an excellent opportunity to hear some raw talent, meet a bunch of new people and escape from the real world for three whole days. Well, as if that's not enough, we've also thrown together a nice chunk of retail and refreshment stalls in order to make sure that you're never hungry or naked. Unless of course you want to be, and you're in the privacy of your own tent. Or someone else's in a consensual tryst... We digress.

We thought we'd write this quick post in order to let you know about some great local businesses that HippyHaze 2012 will be supporting over the Easter weekend. Let's start with the food, shall we? We know that's what we'll be hunting down all weekend!

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The Hippy Hippy Shake Company Milkshakes...

 

Shameless plug we know, but when The Hippy Hippy Shake Company presents a music festival it would be somewhat bizarre if we weren't serving our delicious beverages throughout the event. Now, we know our shakes are yummy enough as they are what with chocolate bars and sweeties all blended up inside. Plus, we've also got breakfast covered with our refreshing frozen fruit smoothies. However, we've decided to 'mix things up' a bit (did you see what we did there?) So for the first time in Hippy Hippy History, we're making our shakes crazier than ever by pouring one or two cheeky shots into our blenders and seeing what comes out. Our absolute favorites include Terry's Chocolate Orange with Cointreau, Nutella with Bailey's and Strawberry Fields with Smirnoff. Bet you're salivating right now. We'll also be serving paninis, nachos and waffles. AND ice lollies and our signature ice-cream sundaes. Nomnomnom.

Sprinkles and Twinkles Cupcakes

 

You know how The Hippy Hippy Shake Company loves anything that is super-duper sweet? Well, this local cupcake business is right up our alley. Think creamy-thick icing, soft-moist sponge and bright-beautiful colours. Then imagine how happy your belly will be after eating five. What are you waiting for? What's that? You can't wait until HippyHaze for these yummy-scrummy bites of heaven? Never fear, if you head into our Newcastle shop you can get your mitts on a sneak-preview which will definitely have you coming back for more!

Mr Simm's Olde Sweet Shoppe

 

Candy is so much cooler when it's in old-school plastic baggies. We rapidly came to this realization after our first Mr Simm's experience which allowed us to see that vintage sweeties are still as indulgent as they were in our childhoods! Sugar mice, herbal tablets, barley sugar, rhubarb and custards, kop kops, bon bons and more... Our teeth will rot and it will be worth it.  

Food

Burgers, hot dogs, bacon sandwiches, chips and tons more. Head over to the food tent to grab some decent grub!

Donut Van

Speaks for itself :) Covered in sugar. Yes.

Dirty Slut Clothing

 

Let's face it, when we're away from our parents for three days it's highly likely that without the use of clothes washing facilities, we will walk around for days on end with milkshake and ketchup down our shirts if we have a spillage. However, thanks to Dirty Slut Clothing, you will be able to buy an emergency replacement T-shirt within minutes of virtually any stain-causing (wink wink) alcohol-inducing embarrassment. Winner. 

The Hippy Hippy Shake Company Gift-Wares

 

We feel so bad for all of your friends that may not be able to make it that we've chosen a selection of the gift-wares that we sell in our Hanley store so that you can take them a piece of the magic! Isn't that sweet of us :) We'll have hand-bags, incense sticks, essential oils, candles, sun catchers, oil burners and way more cool stuff so make sure you come check us out.

Krafty J's Gift-Wares

 

If you're after cute and unique jewelry then Krafty J's is the stall you want to be hitting up. Brightly-coloured strings with heart-shaped pendents, pretty wall plaques and dream catchers are what this local company is all about so you're definitely going to want to check it out for a couple of HippyHaze souvenirs.

The 'Cigarette Man'

That's right, we've really got you covered on all fronts, to the extent where even if the smokers out there forget or run out of their cigs they have a one-stop-shop for all their smoking needs. Great success.

Band Merch

Heard a great band and want to hear more? Thinking Aaron Mobberly is so talented you want your loser-mate who missed out on tickets to share your passion? Lusting after the lead singer of The Get Alongs and want to listen to him in your bedroom? Well, whilst it's actually against the law to kidnap Shaneth, you might be able to grab a CD or some other band merchandise over in our imaginatively named 'Band Merch' tent. Plus, if you head over to this tent you might actually get to meet some of your local music heroes! 

Joe Gilligan Trust

 

Easter is a time for giving. Whether you're religious or not, there is no better time to support a charity than when you're having the time of your life. So how about buying a T-shirt or wrist-band from the one charity in Stoke-On-Trent which not only improves the lives of young people fighting cancer, but also provides support for young musicians like many of those performing over the weekend? The Joe Gilligan Trust is a charity which has always been close to The Hippy Hippy Shake Company's heart so we'd really love for our festival-goers to mosey on over to the Band Merch tent and get giving! 

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So, what are you waiting for? A lot of time and effort has gone into organizing HippyHaze so that everyone can have a great time without a care in the world!

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...

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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

The Hippy Hippy Shake Company Sits Down With... Shaneth Davis from The Get Alongs

For our first band interview, we wanted to choose a band which we felt really epitomized what this festival is all about, and featured the sorts of people who we can't wait to work with. This is why we jumped at the opportunity to head to The Underground in Hanley on the 20th January to get up close and personal with the exceptionally professional and sickeningly cool Shaneth Davis from The Get Alongs. It was all very rock and roll being invited backstage to conduct our short interview before Shaneth was whisked off for another interview with Radio Stoke. So, what did we ask the man with so little time yet so much to say...

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Shane it's nice to meet you! *Conservatively shake hands before being invited backstage* I'm sure you're pretty busy tonight so I'll get straight to it with a question I'm sure you get asked all the time, but we really want to know... who are The Get Alongs' biggest influences? 

Ahhh it's dead hard because it varies from band member to band member and there's so many...

List them.

Number Girl, Mass of the Fermenting Dregs, Sparta Locals, The Housemartins, The Smiths, Billy Bragg, The Libertines, Stiff Little Fingers, The Jam, Morrissey, The Mars Volta, At The Drive in, Sex Pistols, Flogging Molly, The Cribs, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Ned's Atomic Dustbin... more?

Wow, no that's fine! So you're obviously into quite a diverse range of music which I guess is great when trying to throw some tunes together...

Yeah it's great to have all our different tastes. That's why our audience is a bit of a mix of people. Because we don't stick to one style, the crowd doesn't either so we have everything from mods to skaters. We like it that way. 

What's been your best rock and roll moment as a band to date? And you can't choose a sexual conquest.

I'm not like that! Loads of people think I am but I hate all that. 

That's what we like to hear, he's a good boy!

Well, the way I look at it is, I don't go to a restaurant to try out the toilet, I go there to eat the food. I'm in it for the music.

I love that phrase although I don't quite understand it... As for your rock and roll moment?

Selling out The Sugarmill before Christmas and having it packed full of people singing my songs is the best feeling ever. Smashing up my guitar, getting shut down by riot police when a crowd got a bit mental, supporting great bands... Music means more to me than life. I should be in hospital right now, but I've taken my medication and come here just because I'd rather be playing than getting better.

WOW that's pretty rock and roll! Don't die on me... Going back to the topic of girls... The Get Alongs write all their own lyrics right? So what inspires the words? Girls? 

Yeah sometimes! All of our songs are really personal. There's loads of hidden stuff! We have one song about them annoying girls who are orange. I always say before performing it, 'This is for all those orange f**king s**gs out there!' And there's loads of hidden stuff in that track. They are really personal... I write a lot of poetry and so a lot of the lyrics come from that, obviously the rest of the band add in their bits and we all share ideas.

Right! Next question... What would be your dream collaboration if you had to choose another act that will be playing at Hippy Haze?

Ahh that's a good one. We're good friends with Clockwork Owls although we'll probably do something with them anyway. We're pretty close to Sworn To Oath. Who else... Dirty Money No 5 are really good. The Pretty Great Whites, 3's A Riot we tour with these all the time. Heritage, Faux Feet. Anybody really... Joey T's on about doing a remix of one of our songs too...

That would be really good! I hear fab things about him. Finally, just out of interest, what's your fave Hippy Hippy Shake milkshake?

Oh, I had a 3's A Riot this week and that was really good, although I reckon when you put out a flavour named after The Get Alongs that will be the best!

Cheeky! I'll have to put in a good word for you :) Well thanks Shaneth, you've been great, I'll let you get on with all your other Rock Star Duties.

Thanks, better go find Radio Stoke for my next interview!

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And just like that he was gone! Simon, Gavin, Jack and the lovely Shane (aka. The Get Alongs) appear to be constantly selling out venues to the extent where The Undergound reached capacity by 8pm on the night this interview took place, and it's easy to see why. This Stoke-based, band mixes alternative, indie and 'post punk' into one huge mess of oral pleasure. And who doesn't want that ;) If you're into stage presence, hilarious lyrics with dual meanings and fancy a good time, The Get Alongs are definitely one to watch at HippyHaze this Easter.

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.

Love and milkshakes

The Hippy Hippy Shake Company