Barratts EP gig at Roadmender

Indie rock and rollers The Barratts have been busy since the release of their debut single last year, playing gigs across the UK and picking up legions of new fans.
The BarrattsThe Barratts
The Barratts

The five piece release their new EP Open Wounds and Windows on Friday and to mark the occasion headline the Roadmender the same night.

For the release of their debut, Devil’s Garden, the band played in the back room of the Northampton venue.

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Determined to build on last year’s show, The Barratts have moved things up a gear and this time will be playing on the venue’s main stage.

“It was always the ambition to launch the EP in the main room,” explains singer James Faulkner.

“You have to better yourself and you have to be confident It’s possible.”

Recently seen supporting Cast at the Roadmender, The Sherlocks at the Picturedrome and Puppet Rebellion at the Lamplighter, Faulkner, bassist Jack Dunmore, rhythm guitarist Kyle Homer, lead guitarist Brandon Essom and drummer Evan Brigstock are eager to unleash there new EP on the world.

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After scrapping a session and going back to the drawing board, Dunmore explains the extra work has more than paid off.

“So much hard work went into this EP,” he explains. “We had a great team working on it, producers, co-producers and engineers. We couldn’t be happier with the finished result.”

Recorded at Core Studios in West London, the EP was also worked on at EAS in Milton Keynes and was produced by Ed Sokolowski.

It features the tracks Same Old Kids, Match Of The Day, A Certain Time Of Night, IV and Sister Amsterdam.

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“We’ve been drawing up plans for this record since the New Year,” Faulkner explains.

“Same Old Kids is probably one of the oldest tacks on the EP, It’s been around for about nine months.

“People have said there’s bits of Catfish and the Bottlemen and Pulp in it which is really flattering,”

The EP also features the instrumental track, The Barratts open shows with.

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“It felt a gamble putting an instrumental on there,” adds Dunmore, “But it was worth it and was really works.

“I love the lyrics on the second track, Match Of The Day.

“It’s about modern dating, the idea of Tinder and how It’s become almost like shopping and can be a brutal experience.

“Online is the first thing people go to now when dating. The song is really cleverly written.”

“A Certain Time Of Night lyrically and musically packs a punch,” explains Faulkner.

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“It’s probably the fastest track on the EP and straight out and hard hitting.”

The EP was largely recorded in a live environment, without overlays.

“I think doing it that way really caught the magic of the band and our sound,” explains Dunmore.

“This was one of the reasons we went to that studio, because of the set-up it offered.

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“For two of the tracks, we didn’t even use a click as when we tried they lost the energy.

“It’s a hard thing to get right – you’ve got to be well rehearsed.”

Faulkner adds the band became a little disillusioned with their debut single because of the polished sound.

“This EP is progress for us as a band,” he explains. “We wanted to show people that a slick produced single is not all we can do.”

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Following the release of this EP, The Barratts will be gigging during June and July before heading back out on the road in September. A further single may follow towards the end of the year.

Looking back at recent stand out shows, Faulkner and Dunmore both single out gigs at the Joiners Arms in Southampton, Esquires in Bedford and February’s gig at the Lamplighter

“The show with the Puppet Rebellion was great,” explains Dunmore.

“It was absolutely rammed in there, people were listening from the stairs because they couldn’t get in.”

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Turning to their influences, Faulkner cites Babyshambles bassist McConnell and The Strokes among his, while Faulkner remains more evasive.

“As a vocalist, I try not to be the person who gets on stage and tries to sing as someone else,” he explains.

“Often in young bands that happens. You look up to your heroes so much, but there’s only so far you can go if you do that. You need to be yourself.

“We want people to sit up and listen to us and we think the new EP is strong enough to do that.”

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Support on Friday is by Sisteray and Sarpa Salpa with DJ Steve Faces DJ-ing after.

Hard copies of the EP will be available on the night.

Tickets cost $4, doors open at 7.30pm.

To book and for more details, visit www.facebook.com/TheBarratts.