poppedmusic

Orchards

Words by Gary Lambert; main Orchards photo by Jessie Morgan

Orchards have been a Popped Music favourite for many years now with their delightfully contrasting sound and energising live performances meaning that we’ve watched them play from Austin to Lincoln. They are the Friday night headliners of this year’s CloseUp Festival at Colours, Hoxton, and we’re looking forward to it so much.

Popped Music: How are Orchards doing?
Orchards: We’re doing alright. It’s almost beach season here in Brighton which is always a good time. With that and getting back to playing shows, things are starting to feel just a little bit more normal right now.

Will you have any new tracks to play at CloseUp Festival?
We are going to be playing a mix of old songs, album songs, and tracks off our latest EP Trust Issues. Our brand new stuff is staying under our proverbial hats for a while yet.

If someone hasn’t seen you before, which song do you think best encapsulates your style?
Ah that is a good question! I’d say maybe Sincerely Overwhelmed. It has a perfect mix of twinkly, angry, singalongy, and dancey. If that makes any sense at all. But Luv You 2 is where our live show really shines. We aim for you to leave in a better mood than when you arrived!

What makes festival season so important for you?
Pals. Getting to spend unforgettable nights, surrounded by good music and good pals. It’s always so great to play to groups of people and meet people who normally may not come out to see you. Getting to share the stage with loading of amazing bands from all around the world too. What’s not to like?! There’s also just something about playing to a field full of sleep deprived people. Especially after the past couple of years of cancellations it’s even more important to us.

What are your favourite memories of festivals?
– Beach balls bouncing around the crowd during our set at 2000 Trees in 2019
– being dragged on stage by IDLES at a festival in France
– playing Nerf with about 20 strangers in a field at YNOT (there was a cricketer that joined in, she’d broken her arm and she absolute ran rings around us all)

When you’re in the van on tour who is in charge of the music?
We usually play the ABC game. Go around each person, go through the alphabet. Everyone chooses an artist that begins with the letter you are on. It’s very diplomatic.

Head to DICE for tickets to CloseUp Festival. We’ll see you there!

If you want to have a listen to some of the fantastic artists at CloseUp Festival 2022, here’s a playlist to help you get in the mood.