Wombats drummer on the Widnes artist he tips for the top

‘The Wombats’ were announced last week to be part of the Weekender line-up for next year, and in speaking to member Dan Haggis he said that, after having played the festival in 2019, they had been excited to return.

“We had we played Weekender a few years ago and had such a great time that as soon as we heard there was a chance to play it again, we jumped at the opportunity," he said.

"We’re really happy to be a part of it.”

The Liverpool band will join the Weekender line-up headlined by Pulp, with other bands such as the Kooks and Crawlers performing at the Victoria Park festival.

Dan went on to explain about playing in the north west.

He added: “there's obviously a bit of a jokey rivalry between Manchester and Liverpool, but like, even despite that we played Manchester on Friday and the crowd there is always just unbelievable, because it's obviously only like a 40-minute drive away. So, as a kid, growing up in Liverpool, I used to go to Manchester for loads of gigs…

"Anywhere in the north west, really, to be honest, does have that homecoming element.

"So maybe Weekender is probably actually a bit of a perfect meeting point for Liverpool and Manchester. People like to come and yeah, make a good weekend of it.”

The Wombats at Boardmasters last year (Image: Newsquest)

With this though, came a discussion around the state of the music scene in the north west. Dan reminisced over coming to Warrington’s Parr Hall to see Rufus Wainwright, but spoke of his concerns for where the industry was headed:

He said: “I mean, I'm a little bit worried. You see all the venues and their energy prices and people moving in and sort of getting rid of these little venues that maybe don't make quite as much money as like new flats would make.

"There is definitely a concern that that we're going to lose those grassroots venues and therefore the next generation of bands coming through, are going to have to just rely on recording themselves and putting it on Tik Tok or something, rather than actually being in a room, sweating it out with people and trying to hone their craft.

"So, I think if I could say anything moving forwards, I just hope that the governments and local councils and stuff really do kind of take into account how important these small venues that maybe don't seem like they're that important, but actually, to the future of British music? It really is important.”

Dan also, however, was looking to the future and listed some north eest artists that he saw as the exciting up and comers of the industry 

“Natalie McCool is from Widnes, she’s really good," he said.

"Stone from Liverpool were on tour with us last week, really young lads, really good players, kind of like punky, aggressive, psychedelic music, really good band… Also if you know her, Zuzu, she’s a Liverpool artist, great songwriting and I’ve worked with her as well.”

Tickets to Neighbourhood Weekender are out now for Warrington residents, and tomorrow for general sale.