MPF FIRST TIMER SPOTLIGHT: ONLOOKER

Onlooker were kind enough to send us this completed Q&A ahead of their debut appearance at Manchester Punk Festival.

Catch them in the YES Pink Room at 16:30 on Saturday 19th April.

Tell us a little bit about yourself, formation, history, etc

Onlooker are a 5 piece post punk/post hardcore/garage outfit from the Teesside area and have been together for roughly seven years. However, we had a little bit of a line-up change about a year and a half ago, adding Will on vocals. Since then and since our first album we’ve changed a little. The core idea of what we want to do with the band is still there, but it’s always evolving. Since bringing Will on our live show definitely has a lot more energy.

Give us an idea of who/what influences you as a band, genres, other bands, etc

As far as bands we’re influenced by who we probably sound a bit like, I’d say Hot Snakes, Fugazi, Soft Boys, Gang Of Four, etc. But then we’re all into a lot of very different types of music so I suppose we’re all influenced individually by an awful lot and it makes us sound quite varied.

Talk to us about your first time playing Manchester Punk Festival – excited? What are you looking forward to the most?

We’re absolutely itching for it – can’t wait!

We played Beyond the Music in Manchester for the first time last year and had a blast, so we’re really looking forward to coming back.

Do you have anything on the horizon you’d like to promote?

There’s a new album in the works which we’re currently releasing bit by bit in the form of singles and an EP. Theres a few singles out at the minute and we’ll be releasing a 5 song EP soon. Beyond that we’re currently working on another album which should be ready for next year.

Check out Onlooker on Bandcamp.

There are very limited tickets left. Pick yours up here.

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