Trails Discuss: The Boileroom & UK Live Music
With Guildford venue the Boileroom facing the possibility of closure, TMMP caught up with local rock legends Trails to discuss the Boileroom and the state of the UK’s live music scene.
This interview is part of a larger TMMP feature which can be read in full here.
What is your general opinion of the Boileroom?
The Boileroom is our home away from home – a great venue that we love playing and love going to. As a band we cut our live teeth there, and as punters we’ve seen too many bands to count – from The Bronx to Reel Big Fish – and so many of our friends’ bands and other bands on the UK touring scene.
What would happen if the Boileroom were to shut down? What impact would that event have?
Guildford would lose a big point of alternative culture, 90% of the times I go out in Guildford it’s to the Boileroom for a good old fashioned rock show. It’s not the only venue that puts on live music but it does sound the best and has the best community vibe to it. The town would miss out on so many great gigs and moments if the venue were to go.
What is your favourite Boileroom-related memory?
Seeing The Bronx for the first time at the Boileroom really did blow my mind! It was possibly one of the best shows I’ve ever been to; or perhaps Jamie Lenman’s secret first performance with his new project. Good shit.
How do you feel about the state of the UK’s live music scene right now? What could be done to improve things?
As I write this we’re in the van driving to Preston, and I’ve heard that the night we’re playing is pretty great, so I’m excited.
The UK scene is pretty hit and miss; on one hand there are some incredible bands out there (Shrine and Yearbook to name a couple) but on the other it is oversaturated, with so many gigs it’s hard to know what is worth going to. The Boileroom is so good because the people who work for them really do love music, so you can trust them to consistently put on great nights.
What can be done to improve the UK live scene? Ban these pay-to-play shows where the bands have to buy 20-40 tickets in advance and have to sell almost all of them to break even on playing the gig before even considering expenses.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Make sure you check out our friends in Atiptoe, Darko, Yearbook, Swim Good, Palm Reader and Shrine. And make sure you go to GU1 PUNX gigs – those guys know how to party!
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