The Answer will be playing at Download 2014 on Friday June 13 on the Zippo Encore Stage from 15:50-16:30. Ahead of their appearance, we caught up with Cormac Neeson of The Answer for a chat. Check out what happened below!
Could you introduce yourself and tell me a bit about the band?
My pleasure. Cormac Neeson, singer in The Answer here. We’re a heavy blues band from Northern Ireland. We released our fourth record New Horizon last October and we’re currently getting ready for festival season.
What are you most looking forward to about playing at Download?
Hooking up with the Download audience again. They’re a unique breed with a genuine passion for the music.
Are there any bands you’d like to catch at Download?
Looking forward to checking out Temperance Movement and Rob Zombie.
Have you got any surprises in store for your Download set?
I’m not gonna arrive on stage with a jetpack on my back or anything like that. But a festival like this brings out the best in The Answer. So expect our guitar player Paul to freak out up there even more than usual and if I jump into the audience here’s hoping someone catches me.
What’s your best festival memory, either personally attending as a fan or in the band?
The first big festival we played was Oxegen Festival in Ireland. We were on stage at 12.30 in the afternoon on the Friday and had the rest of the weekend off to enjoy the festival. I didn’t sleep for four days..couldn’t tell you what I did for a lot of the time but I know I had one of the best weekends of my life.
You recently headlined the Manchester leg of Hard Rock International’s Hard Rock Rising On The Road tour on a truck – what was that like?
It was a fun gig. It rained from beginning to end but if anything that just strengthened the audience’s resolve to enjoy the show and if our audience are having a good time then we’re loving it.
If you could play a show on another unique stage, what would you choose?
I’d love to play a full on rock show in my back garden but the neighbours would never speak to me again.
And finally, what would you say the best festival you’ve ever played has been?
We headlined a festival in Winterthur, Switzerland a couple of Summers ago. It was a free show right in the centre of town so the place was packed and everybody was loving. I just remember thinking half way through a ten minute face melting jam that this was what it was all about. But I’m sure Download will top that. See you down the front.
