Published at 12:00, Wednesday, 27 June 2012

SIMON Fowler and Oscar Harrison of Ocean Colour Scene were backstage at Whitehaven’s At The Playground festival, shortly before they were due to play a highly anticipated acoustic set that will be a highlight of the weekend. I managed to grab then for a few words, and here’s what they had to say, writes Heather Dempsey.

Acoustic stars: Ocean Colour Scene’s Simon Fowler (above) and Oscar Harrison

As I was aware that both Simon and Oscar and the full band have played Whitehaven quite a few times over the past few years, the first question on my mind was “what makes you keep coming back?” The answer, which after a long pause for thought, came from Simon, was a much simpler one than I expected: “The beer, the money and the students”

This confirmed what I was hoping; I had casually asked for a quick chat, and that was exactly what I was getting. Conversation flowed easily, covering topics from a gig of theirs I’d seen to The Waterfront restaurant on the harbour, which they recommended.

Simon was friendly, funny and not at all patronising, even though he was faced with an inquisitive 14-year-old with a notebook.

Moving on to the subject of music, I asked what were their influences, who inspired them during their teenage years? “Neil Young – Decade. It was a triple album... that album changed my life.” That was Simon’s definite reply, while Oscar broke out of his quiet, cool exterior and talked animatedly about his love for the two-tone scene. He revealed his fandom for bands such as Madness and The Specials, who he said played a big part in his life as a teenager.

Simon also spoke pitifully of the state of modern music and the majority’s dwindling interest in it. “Everything is so instant now... people don’t have time to get into an album,” he said. “I think it’s probably because you don’t have to put it on a record player and just sit and listen to it anymore. Or run over and flip the thing over in the middle”.

Despite his concern in this area, it was evident that the Whitehaven crowds cared every bit as much about the music as they ever have done. The tent was bursting with fans, all singing along enthusiastically to favourites such as Travellers Tune and The Day We Caught The Train, which were all delivered with the crisp, clear sound and level of emotion we have come to expect from the band’s treasured acoustic sets.

In conclusion to our chat, I asked them if they were playing anywhere close on their upcoming tour in October. After much umm-ing and ahh-ing Simon left me with this: “We don’t really know. We just get on the bus and go wherever it takes us.” What a life.

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk