Dreamcatcher, pre-Bloodstock festival interview

Dreamcatcher are set to slay the New Blood Stage on Sunday 12th at this year’s Bloodstock.

We catch up with the guys to find out more about them, what their are about, the festival and what you lucky Bloodstock go-er’s will see!

 

Can you introduce yourself?

[Alex, Guitars] Well I guess the first proto-incarnation of the band started with myself and the drummer Rossi playing together back in our high school days about 6 years ago, we’ve always played together as musicians as we were the only guys who really wanted to take it seriously but then as the band started getting members in and changing line ups we started getting closer to the DREAMCATCHER you see today. I think though that the moment we really thought to ourselves “We’ve got ourselves a real band now…” was when our bassist [Matt] joined around 2 years ago and the line-up felt complete. The music we were writing started sounding genuine and the live sound when we were playing together just felt right and since then we’ve been working hard to get where we are now, and the hard work hasn’t even started!

[Ross, Drums] 6 years ago we were still in high school so we just spent all of our breaks and lunch times in the music room playing Metallica and Van Halen. It got to a stage where that time simply wasn’t enough any more so Adele and Lukas (both from the same school too) jumped on board and we started going to real rehearsal spaces. At first we just did covers of bands I mentioned above but we were all inspired by so many different genres that it was only natural that we would eventually feel brave enough to give writing our own songs a try. Of course we don’t play any of those songs today but they were important in our growth to where we are now haha. This band has been a family that has grown from our first days of playing music, we are Not just a bunch of people who don’t like each other but tolerate it because they are desperate to ‘make it’.  

 

Have you ever been to Bloodstock before? If so when and what did you enjoy most about it?

[Matt, Bass Guitar] Yes we been a couple of times in the past, and i’m sure we would all agree that the best aspect to bloodstock is the fact that it is a festival that doesnt follow trends. They put on bands based on the musical talent rather than the current favourites. They support new and old. Therefore you know as a fan that when you go there you can see the greats as well as be introduced to loads of new and exciting bands! 

[Alex, Guitars} Bloodstock has always held a special place in all our hearts, I think for a few of us BOA was the first festival we ever went to! It’s always been that kind of festival where you’ll find an amazing group of music lovers, old and young who are genuinely enlightened and free thinking. You definitely won’t find what I call ‘trend-crowds’, circling around the current ‘in-thing’ at Bloodstock, mainly because the BOA organisers would never buy into fads like that and I guess that’s what I enjoy most about it, that attitude that people are there for the music, and it’s honest music as well!

Why did you want to become part of the New Blood Stage line up?

[Matt, Bass Guitar] It was an obvious choice for our band, mainly because we are still a new band and growing everyday. It allows us to be one of those bands that people discover on a more private journey. We are an honest band and would never try to sell ourselves as something that we are not, so we will do what we feel is right for our band, fans and future fans who are still to find us.

[Alex, Guitars] Since day one, when we set foot on the fields at BOA as members of the audience it was an immediate goal to end up playing ourselves, and it’s been a long road getting here. Bloodstock do things the right way though and they give you your shot on the small stage first, and then hopefully if you bring the thunder they’ll be watching and keep you in mind for a bigger stage the next year, but to have been called up to play the New Blood stage is still a huge honour for us, to be a part of what is definitely one of the most promising line ups of unheard talent seen at a UK metal festival.
What was your initial reaction when you found out you where playing on the New Blood Stage?
[Matt, Bass Guitar] It was a total shock because we were right in the middle of promoting our debut ‘SoulDesign’ so we didn’t expect any festival slots as we were focusing on the smaller shows for a tour, so when we found out it, became the best way to book our first wave of touring. For all of us it is a complete honour, as we are fans of music before anything else and so it is truly a very humbling experience.

[Alex, Guitars] I actually screamed like a little girl when I first found out! I’d completely forgotten about pitching the band to the BOA organisers and given my telephone number, so when I received a text earlier this year and only read the first line: ‘Check your e-mail’ I was a little confused, then I checked the end of the message with the signature of a BOA organiser and I just thought ‘No, No way….’, then upon checking the e-mail and seeing the subject when it all became real! Immediately calling around the band and having to say it a few times before anyone believed me. Summed up, lets just say our initial reaction was disbelief but at the same time, probably one of the the biggest highs any of us have felt to date with the band!
[Ross, Drums] I can back Alex up there I thought he was playing a prank at first so I ignored him for a while!

What is your opinion of the Bloodstock lineup?

[Matt, Bass Guitar] This year has a very unique line-up, the majority of bands this year are very rare appearances! Many of this years bands dont tour as often as we all may like so it is a great opportunity so see some of pinnacle bands for their genres!

[Alex, Guitars] I think it has a little something for everyone this time; Black, Power, Symphonic, Gothic, Thrash and even some just straight up Heavy Metal, which is just great for bringing together the entire community of metal loves who enjoy the more extreme side of the genre!
[Ross, Drums] There are comments that there are less melodic bands this time around but that simply isn’t the case. There is a lot of Melodic and Progressive Metal playing but its not as much on the main stage. Come to the smaller stages like ‘New Blood’ and you are going to discover some amazing new bands!

What are you looking forward to most at Bloodstock?

[Matt, Bass Guitar] Our performances are the main thing that im looking forward too, but on a whole the best part of Bloodstock is the feeling of community. Bloodstock is the only festival in the UK where it doesnt matter what bands you like, where your from, how you style your hair, or what you wear. Everyone is equal, everyone is accepted and everyone is welcome!

[Alex, Guitars] For me, it’s gotta be our Acoustic slot on the Jagermeister Stage on the Saturday. It’s been so interesting and challenging bringing the intensity of the songs we’re going to be playing down whilst keeping the energy up but we’ve actually added some really interesting twists on the tracks which even we weren’t expecting. So I’m really looking forward to seeing how the audience reacts to what we’ve done for the Acoustic set the most! [Ross, Drums] Meeting all the fans and listeners! Just sharing the experience and soaking it all up as much as I can!

What can the audience expect from you at the festival?

[Matt, Bass Guitar] We have a couple of very special things planned for Bloodstock. We will be performing some new tracks of our forthcoming record, we shall be unveiling some great new merch, and most special of all, as Alex mentioned above we shall also be performing on the Acoustic Stage, so you can see our first ever Acoustic show, which we can promise will be something special! 
[Ross, Drums] To celebrate our dual appearance at bloodstock we are releasing a single from our Début E.P. ‘SoulDesign’ for Free! It will be released on August 13th (the Monday after bloodstock) and will feature both a ‘Radio Edit’ and ‘Full Length’ versions of our track, Never Look Back as well as an exclusive track called ‘Foresight’ which is designed to give the fans a small glimpse into the future of DreamCatcher’s music! We also have a Music Video for Never Look Back coming out with a behind the scenes look into the making of that you get with the single download! So much free stuff!!

[Alex, Guitars] Couldn’t have put it better!

Can you sum up Bloodstock in one sentence?

[Matt, Bass Guitar] It is the festival that you can trust to deliver friends, family and the best music!
[Alex, Guitars] The Metal, The Party, The Music, The Family!

 

Any message you wish to pass on to the PM readers?

[Matt, Bass Guitar] We cannot wait to get to Bloodstock to play for the fans old and new! Make sure you come find us because we will be putting on a show that you do not want to miss!

[Alex, Guitars] Just a huge thank you to PM as a whole for asking us to be a part of this interview and for taking the time to read it! See you at BOA 2012!
[Ross, Drums] The ‘New Blood’ Stage is where you are going to want to be this year. There are so many great new bands that are in need and are definitely worthy of your support! Hope to see you there for us!