With Hammerdown Festival happening less than two months away, excitement is building. We caught up with festival organiser Harry White to talk about what makes Hammerdown special, the changes this year, and why it’s an event fans won’t want to miss.
For those who missed last year’s festival, how would you describe the energy and atmosphere of a weekend at Hammerdown? What makes it special?
“There’s a real sense of pride at Hammerdown, and that feeling is infectious to those who walk into the event for the first time. The people who have been coming along for years create that pride, because they all know they are a huge part to the rapid growth of this festival. These people stood in halls with less than 100 people in and are now in massive reputable venues with internationally recognised bands. They created that, and the buzz & excitement really create a sense of energy in the room. Any newcomers who come along are brought into the Hammerdown Family, and they too will share in that pride as the festival continues to grow.”
Hammerdown has stepped up this year with a venue featuring two stages! How does that upgrade change the experience for both artists and festivalgoers?
“It means constant music from the get go for those who want it! Quite simply, no clashes means one band finishes and another starts in the other venue. For those who want non stop music, the option is there! And for those of you who want a break, the changeovers are longer than they have been in previous years, in order to accomodate for the next band’s set in the alternate venue, meaning there’s plenty of time to relax. It means more choice of what to see, a wider range of genres, and opportunities for more bands to play.”
This year’s lineup is a powerhouse mix – familiar fan-favourites alongside fresh, big-name acts. How do you strike the perfect balance to keep the festival exciting year after year?
“Good question. I think it’s basically as you described in the question. Booking established acts who have a draw, a history, a big fanbase, and then combining them with familiar bands like Bleed Again and Fort Hope who have both played the event multiple times. Familiarity is a good thing, and there are bands our fans expect to see here year on year. The final piece of the puzzle, and arguably the most important, is booking the new up and coming talent. Finding the best bands that are just getting going allows us to discover new bands that’ll become fan favourites (as Crushed By Waves have become), and hopefully elevate those bands to greater things in the future. It’s a tricky balance to strike, but I think we’ve got it right this year.”
There’s a strong spotlight on local talent this year. With grassroots venues facing challenges, how important is it for festivals like Hammerdown to help support emerging artists and keep the local scene alive?
“Super important. It’s hard because people just aren’t coming out to support grass roots music like they used to anymore. Everyone nags at Download for booking Maiden and Metallica over and over, but that’s what people want to see. So what festivals need to do is book that familiarity, like we’ve already discussed, and pad out the event with as much grass roots talent as possible. Because, let’s face it, the fan favourites won’t be around forever. We need to create NEW fan favourites, and that’s why supporting grassroots talent is so, so important.”
Hammerdown Festival will be held on July 19th and 20th at Chalk & Dust in Brighton
Interview and Photos by Mark Bestford (Alienation Photography)
Don’t miss our interview with Harry speaking with George Miller for DeVlog coming next month!
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