BELSONIC returns in August for the eighth time, this year bringing top live acts including Bastille, Rudimental, Paloma Faith, Stereophonics and The Coronas to Belfast's Custom House Square.
The city is familiar territory for London indie band Bastille, who have previously played Tenants Vital, The Ulster Hall and Mandela Hall at Queen's.
“We always have really good shows there," multi-instrumentalist and backing vocalist Kyle Simmons says. "The crowds were always really fun and always gave us an incredible reception. Our Belfast fans were always pretty cool and we even got a chance to hang out with some of them after shows, so we are super excited to play there again."
The 27-year-old is impressed by the line-up. "Who hasn’t grown up listening to Sterophonics?" he says. "And we know the Rudimental guys quite well too – we played together at the Brits, which was great. We haven’t seen them in a bit so I am looking forward to catching up with them. We also got to meet Paloma Faith at the Orange Warsaw Festival in Poland earlier this month. She played the day before us; she’s pretty cool.”
As well as playing festivals in Europe, the band are gigging in the United States, where they are enjoying considerable success at the minute. Last weekend they played the Firefly festival in Delaware, alongside Kings Of Leon, The Killers, Foster the People and many more. So are they getting a buzz out of things Stateside?
“Totally, we have a really amazing fan base out there. They seem to be similar in age to us. They’re always pretty cool, cheering us and singing along. Its really incredible,” says Kyle.
After playing to 40,000 people at the Isle of Wight Festival in 2013 you would think playing festivals would be a breeze for the band.
“Festivals are different; it's not like we are playing to a crowd of people that have come specifically to hear us play. There is more pressure on us to be good, to impress the crowds. You want to hook that person that didn’t come to watch you but just tagged along with a mate. You’re definitely out of your comfort zone but it's always amazing to be a part of.”
Formed in 2010, Bastille – founder and lead singer Dan Smith's birthday is July 14, France's National Day, known as Bastille Day – had huge success with their debut album Bad Blood in 2013. It peaked at number one in the UK and the band won Best Breakthrough Act at last year's Brits. Single Pompeii brought them international success, selling more than a million copies worldwide and making it into the top 10 in Australia and the US.
They've also have had hits remixing covers of well-known songs including David Guetta's Titanium and TLC’s No Scrubs, in collaboration with other artists. Of the Night, their mash-up of 1993 Corona (not The Corona’s) dance hit The Rhythm of the Night and Snap's1992 tune Rhythm is a Dancer, charted at number two in the UK.
So what about this second album fans are patiently waiting for – why is it taking so long and what can they expect?
"It's being made but we were touring a lot and haven't had time to record in the studio," Kyle says. "We hope to get back at in September when the festivals are all over. Our musical influences will be less hidden in this album compared with our first. It’s going to be a lot ‘rockier’ – more guitars for sure. It's a development from the first album.”
"Plan A", he says, is that the new album will be ready early next year. Listen out for some of their new tracks, which the band will be showcasing at Belsonic.
Speaking of his experience so far with the band, Kyle sums up: “It’s been amazing. It's something I always wanted to do but never thought I could do."
:: Bastille, Belsonic, August 25, Custom House Square, Belfast. See belsonic.co.uk for info and tickets.
