Grabbing themselves a slot supporting the Rolling Stones on the Main Stage in Hyde Park is more than a leap in the right direction for Dublin duo Hudson Taylor as they prepare to release their third EP towards the end of this year.
I caught up for a chat with both Harry and Alfie at Indiependence Festival before they took to the stage in the Big Top.
Hey guys! All seems to be going well for you at the moment in terms of the music. You’re about to play a set in the Big Top stage at Indiependence- Are you excited to play and be pretty high up in this fantastic line-up?
Alfie: Absolutely, yes! We’ve been looking forward to it for a while now. We haven’t played a gig in Ireland since Longitude. Yeah, just really looking forward to it.
Harry: We know the organiser, Shane, as well and he’s a real sound lad. This is our first time actually playing Indiependence. We’ve heard a lot about it so, can’t wait.
Yeah, it must be nice to come home and play to Irish fans while you’re predominantly based over in the UK now at the moment?
Alfie: Oh yeah! And the last gig we had in Cork- our headline- we played in Cyprus Avenue and that was mad. So yeah, it’s gonna be very fun I think.
Let’s talk about your appearance in Hyde Park with the Rolling Stones. From a band who started out busking in Dublin not too long ago, it must feel incredible?
Alfie: It was absolutely crazy! What happened was we played a small set in a little tent and we were finished, it was a great gig, we were all enjoying ourselves getting ready to watch The Stones and then Tom Odell was supposed to go on the main stage and pulled out and we took his place. In 15 minutes we were up there plugged in and ready to go so we went for it and it was just the most incredible thing. 45,000 people- it was the most incredible gig ever! It was such a crazy opportunity and we’re so lucky for that to have happened to us.
Harry: We even used Tom Odell’s drums so it was all real spur of the moment!
Alfie: Yeah, it was all magic how it happened, like there were tonnes of things that made the day even better or even funnier looking back on it. It was our drummer’s first day on the job and stuff so it was just crazy.
You have a real live energy when you perform- do you think the busking helped that a lot?
Harry: Massively yeah! A lot of the covers that we played were very high energy songs.
Alfie: They were also brilliantly written songs like, we played all the hits so I suppose if you’re playing all those songs you get used to Pop structures, so when it came to writing a song we subconsciously wanted to write a song like the ones we played when we were busking. So, it really helped with songwriting as well as performing I think.
Do you think your sound in general and even your songwriting has changed since the early days of Harry and Alfie?
Harry: Very much so. We’ve both matured and just done a lot of songwriting. We’ve figured out what works for us. It changes all the time really to be honest but I think we’ve found our little niche anyway.
In terms of tonight’s set, will you be sticking to older, more familiar stuff or experimenting and testing new material? How do you decide what approach to take with a set list from gig to gig?
Alfie: I think some new stuff. We’ve a new EP coming out in October and the leading track will be ‘Care’ and there’ll be three other tracks on there as well so we’ll be trying them. A few covers as well ’cause we’ve an hour tonight so we’ll just try get as much in as possible really.
Harry: Yeah, obviously we’re one of the last bands on the Sunday so we’ll just do a mad one! We’ve an hour and that’s quite a lot so..
You’ve started playing quite a bit with a full band, and Tadhg from Mo Hat Mo Gheansai plays with you a lot. Was that a big step, moving away from it being solely “Harry and Alfie”?
Harry: I think it was kind of natural. We sort of had to do it really. [Yeah true, if you want to play bigger venues and larger crowds, the fuller sound always helps.] Yeah totally.
Alfie: Ah yeah, we just wanted to fill the sound. I mean, we’re still happy to play with just the two of us or us with Tadhg or with just drums and bass or whatever.
Harry: It’s very good to have the option ’cause sometimes you don’t want to go do a full tour with a whole band ’cause it costs lots of money and as well you might only be playing a half an hour and you’re only doing five shows in Germany or something.
Alfie: Yeah, and you don’t want to be lugging equipment, whereas if you can just go with two guitars and a fiddle of whatever you’re grand- happy days!
So as you said you’re releasing an EP in October- any plans for touring or any information you can give us?
Alfie: Yeah, we’re supporting Kodaline on their tour in the UK, which will be really cool.
Harry: Hopefully a headline tour by the end of the year.
Alfie: Yeah, and if we don’t make it to Ireland, we’re gonna try something very exciting next year as far as headline stuff goes.
Great stuff! So, who will you guys be heading along to see today? Anyone you’re really looking forward to?
Alfie: Eh, Soak for sure.
Harry: Orla Gartland.
Alfie: We like our female singer/songwriters!
Thank you very much for that interview guys. Best of luck in the Big Top tonight!
Alfie: No problem love, thank you!
Harry: Cheers!
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