The Big Issue caught up with Barry Ashworth ahead of this summer’s festivals

This summer the six piece band play an impressive number of festivals, but Barry Ashworth tells Big Issue North why Beat Herder, in Lisburn Forest, 15-17 July, is the one they call home.
How would you describe your sound?
Our sound is a blend of dub, reggae, hiphop and electronic. We fuse many styles but live we like to keep the shows full of energy.

Tell us what you’ve been up to since last summer?
We have been recording a new album, which is almost finished, we have been to Jamaica to record with Beenie Man and Cutty Ranks as well as working with other artists such as Earl 16, too Many Ts, Navigator and the Ragga Twins. I think this is sounding like our biggest album to date. We have also been touring the world non stop, including our first ever live shows in Australia and New Zealand which went down a storm.

What festivals are you playing this year?
Our favourite and a place we call home – Beat-Herder – as well as Glastonbury, Kendal Calling, Blissfields, Isle Of White, Electric Castle (Romania) and Exit (Serbia), to name a few.

Who else are you excited to see at the festivals?
Primal Scream, Easy All Stars, Chronixx.

If you could curate your own festival with artists dead or alive what would the line-up look like?
Nirvana, Bob Marley, The Jam, Beastie Boys, Radiohead, Stevie Wonder, Prince, David Bowie, Chemical Brothers, The Specials (original line-up), Red Hot Chilli Pepers, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Marc Bolan.

What’s your best festival memory?
Always hard to have a memory after most festivals as the brain cells have normally been destroyed, but this year’s show at New Zealand’s Spore festival was pretty special. It was the first time we had played in the country, the main stage was set on a beach in the middle of a national park, which is breathtaking, and the crowd just went crazy. It really was one of those moments that will live with you forever.

What’s in your festival survival kit?
Lager, vodka, cocktails, headache tablets, a torch, bacon sandwiches and a spare phone charger.

Apart from music, what should the ideal festival have?
For me festivals are not about bands – they’re about meeting strangers and everyone entertaining each other. I love the crazy things people do when they get in a field, I love it when people dress up and take on a new persona, so I would say a good fancy dress shop.
Antonia Charlesworth
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Congratulations to our good friend Father Funk who picked up a UK Glitch Hop award this week for his amazing remix of Dub Pistols “Real Gangster”. The track taken from the bands “return of the pistoleros” was released as a single in July 2015 we a string of remixes commissioned and the father funk remix reached number 1 in the Beatport Glitch Hop sales charts.
Real Gangster remixes available here https://pro.beatport.com/release/real-gangster-remixes/1569339

The dub pistols uk tour is now in full swing and the band have been tearing down dancefloors across the country, last weekend they hit Manchester and reports coming in have said it was by far their best show ever at the much loved Sound Control venue. Many of the shows have been sold out and this week’s upcoming show are all getting close to selling out so we here at Pistol HQ recommend you grab your tickets whilst they are still available.
Tickets available from http://www.seetickets.com/tour/dub-pistols
https://www.facebook.com/events/220558704951592/?active_tab=posts
UK Tour dates

17th March The Forum, Tunbridge Wells
18th March Esquires, Bedford
19th March The Boiler Room , Guildford
22nd March Think Tank, Newcastle
23rd March Fibbers, York
24th March Duke Of Cumberland, whitstable
26th March Guildhall, Gloucester
27th March Ska & Mod festival, Bristol
31st March 100 Club, London

Tonight the dub pistols main man and DJ Barry Ashworth will be hitting the french alps with his partner in crime Mc Sir Real, the boys will be heading up to the beautiful ski resort of Meribel where they will be causing mayhem in a Pistols style at the famous Mountain Movers night in O’Sullivans. It’s gonna be a roadblock for sure and as always the place will be jumping till the early hours

advance Tickets:
€7 with a MM card
€10 without a card

On the door:
€10 with a MM card
€15 without a card

Get your advanced tickets from the following bars in Meribel from Tuesday!

– Jacks bar
– Meribar
– Lodge du Villiage
– La Taverne
– The Den

Find Vicky at the Rond Point apres on Wednesday or Thursday or call her on 06 66 58 08 63 for group bookings!

Sign up to the Dub Pistols mailing list and grab yourself a copy of the brand new exclusive single “Say Goodbye” feat TK and Ashley slater.

We caught up with Mr “rumpa pum pum” Jack Cowens ahead of the Pistols upcoming show @ soundcontrol in Manchester read what he had to say below

1: Dub Pistols are playing in Manchester this weekend, what is it about the city and the Soundcontrol crowd you like so much ?

Manchester is almost like a second home for the Dub Pistols. The people are super passionate about music and the crowds at Sound Control are proof of that. They know how to bring the party! I’ve seen that crowd bounce so hard I’m amazed the building is still in one piece!

2: How’s the tour been going so far?

We’re 3 shows in and every one has been brilliant! Croydon was special for me and Barry personally as we had a lot of friends and family turn up! I just can’t wait to get crackin with the rest!

3: You support Manchester United what are your thoughts on the current team and manager?

United are in a tricky position at the minute. I think the club are torn between the tradition and ethos of the club, and the need for immediate success that comes with modern football. There’s no doubt performances haven’t been brilliant but this season especially the manager has tried to keep promoting our younger lads and that’s been a big plus point for me. We need to bring back that exciting Man United playing style though. Failure to qualify for the champions league will be a disaster and I think it might then be time to look at new managers. I’d love to see Giggsy get the job but it might be a step up too soon.

4: Are Man United the new Liverpool?

Haha not just yet! Liverpool’s ‘transition’ period has been goin on for 15 odd years! We’ve had 3 since Fergie left. But this summer is incredibly important for us as a club to make the right choices in all departments.

5: what festival shows are you most looking forward to this year?

Exit is gonna be special as its been on my ‘to do’ for a few years now. That along with Electric Castle and Beatherder. They’re the highlight of my summer.

6:Is it true that sitting in the back of the Pistols tour bus is a bit like being inside a tumble drier?

Yes, and it’s even worse when you’ve got a 7am start and you only got home at 4am.

7: Describe yourself ?

Excitable, determined, energised, team player, grateful.

8:What new music have you been listening to?

I’m listening to a lot of Goldlink and Floating Points at the minute as well as Snakehips, FKJ, bonzai and anything on Roche Musique! A lot of UK music as a whole is really exciting at the minute.

9: Tips for surviving the Tour?

Enjoy every minute of it! You have the best job in the world!

10: Most annoying Pistolero on tour?

To be honest I think we all have our annoying points. But Jonny’s constantly clinking bag does my head in but I’ll say no more about that.

Dub Pistols “Killa Sound” Tour hits Sound Control, Manchester 12th March 2006
https://www.facebook.com/events/455990687931883/
Tickets available http://www.soundcontrolmanchester.co.uk/events/dub-pistols-4/

The Pistoleros are heading out around europe this summer and are set to play some of the biggest and best festivals in the world including Electric Castle (Romania) Exit Festival (Serbia) Pohoda Festival (Slovakia)

DUB PISTOLS EUROPEAN DATES

6th April 3 Valleys Charity Day, Meribel, France
8th April CSO Gabrio, Turin, Italy
9th April Riders Palace, Laax, Switzerland
14th May 20 years of Radio RaBe, Basel, Switzerland
8th July Pohoda Festival, Trencin, Slovakia
9th July Exit Festival, Belgrade, Serbia
16th July Electric Castle Festival, Cluj, Romania
1st Aug Secret Sound Festival, Skyros, Greece

DUB PISTOLS are set to return to one of their favourite stages on the festival circuit this summer.
the band have said “playing at Beat-herder is always one of the biggest highlights of the summer, the crowd at Beat-herder really know how to party”

beat-herder 2016 line up

Friday 15th – Sunday 17th July 2016
The Beat Herder Festival Ground in Sawley, Lancashire

From £125

No age restrictions

Dub Pistols have been announced as this year’s headline act for the Alresford Music festival taking place at the Salad Bowl in Arlebury Park, Alresford on Saturday 11th June
Gates open from 10am ’til Midnight – 11th June 2016
CAMPING OPENS on Friday 10th June from 6pm.
Location:
Arlebury Park, The Avenue, Alresford, Hampshire SO24 9EP (view map)

The Alresford Music Festival is a one day music event showcasing a diverse range of music styles from both established and emerging local talent.
Entering the 7th year of the Alresford Music Festival, work is on to create an event that takes this ‘community festival’ concept to another level.

First dreamed up in 2007 by Alresford resident Ken Veitch as an idea to raise money for local charities, the first Alresford Music Festival had been three years in the planning. Based on the concept of the 3 yearly Eric Clapton Crossroads Festivals benefiting good causes, Veitch thought the idea should be applied here in the UK, and here in Alresford. Teaming up with fellow musician Brian Hayward they researched how to make the dream a reality. Tapping into their local contacts, the festival slowly took shape and, with just a few weeks to go, the team had grown to include eight dedicated volunteers and numerous professionals and companies hired for the day.

A huge learning curve was embarked upon taking up many days, and nights, to get the event off the ground: despite the fastidious planning and research by Veitch, Hayward and the team, there were still some hurdles to climb, mainly finance! This led to a rocky period when it was touch and go whether the event would be viable. The first festival was saved when Alresford based IT company First Option (who were more accustomed to stepping in to rescue IT projects), came forward with a sponsorship deal for the event. After that, it was all hands on deck to finalise the details and to build more relationships with sponsors for this and future years.

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DUB PISTOLS head back
3rd March Fairfield Halls, Croydon
4th March Hub Plymouth
5th March Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
12th March Sound Control, Manchester
17th March Forum, Tunbridge Wells
18th March Esquires, Bedford
19th March Boileroom, Guildford
24th March Duke of Cumberland, Whitstable
26th March Guildhall, Gloucester
27th March Ska & Mod Festival, Bristol
31st March 100 club, London