GuilFest 2005. The Guildford Music Festival on 15th, 16th and 17th July 2005

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Artist: Cold Comfort
Genre: Rock
Performing: 17th July 2004 / The Andertons LIveClub stage
Website Address:[www.cold-comfort.net]
Author: Colin Spencer

GuilFest 2004 is all over now; did your performance and the audience’s reaction live up to your expectations?

Nothing is ever quite what you expect, thats life, but it was the most exciting gig we've ever done. Being surrounded by so many like minded people is something we will never forget.

Did you get the opportunity to see any of your favourite artists this weekend?

I caught a glimpse of the levellers, we come from different musical worlds, but a great live act is a great live act. Was different as a performer I guess as we were there for ourselves, to give our best, not to see others at theirs.

Given the nature of your melodic guitar based material, is there any particular producer that you hope to work with?

Hell yeah. Can you imagine working with DOVES, OK COMPUTER's producer and RADIOHEAD, JOHN LECKIE or IAN BROWN. A question like that makes me think of my favourite albums, and how they captured me, these and many others, to work with would be a pleasure or apsolutely f**king amazing or both.

Have you managed to grab the attention of any labels or publishers yet?

Our latest demo is planned to do just that. We just hope it gets the attention it deserves, but thats why we gig. Its a lot of hard work, but that brings its own rewards. If I see one person dancing or 'tuning in', the whole gig is worth it, and then some.

Bob Dylan said, “People are getting famous too quickly these days”, and we’ve seen this clearly with Pop Idol, Fame Academy and such, do you see pros and cons to this situation?

Yes. The Beatles slogged their guts out in Hamburg doing 12 hour sets for 3 years before they took the world by storm. The media has changed though, and nowadays those who survive have to marry the two I guess. Be well prepared but be ready for success and handle it well. Most of all, when you get it, be ready to let your fame go cos it will when it reaches its natural conclusion, you gotta expect it.

If you had the opportunity to put your own festival bill together who would feature, regardless of whether they are still performing?

Bowie, Gomez, The Stones, Pink Floyd, Doves, Stone roses, Oasis, Brian Wilson, The Verve, Radiohead, Cold Comfort, Lou Reed, Happy Mondays, Supergrass etc etc and maybe the Beatles to Headline. But what order for the rest?

Regarding the song writing for the band, is it a democratic process, do you each have clear roles to play within the band?

The songs are laid out by the writer of each song, and others are always allowed input. Its necessary. We all have to be happy and agree where we want the song to go and what it should do.

A summary word about GuilFest – in your view, quality before fashion?

Only allowed one word huh. Atmosphere. It was a great vibe. Who cares about fashion. If anythings fashionable, that means its just about to go out of fashion, you gotta be yourself.

Tell us, where will you be heading next with the live show?

Eastleigh Festival, near Southampton 30th July.

For the longer term future, what are you hopes and plans for the next year?

We plan to hook up with certain other bands to do mini tours, we want to build up our mailing list. I believe we deserve recognition for being one of the best unsigned songwriting acts around. Gig, get better and better, record some more and just do it!