Miscellaneous - Interview with Stuart Mackay

  by Jamie Rowland

published: 19 / 3 / 2009

intro

Jamie Rowland chats to Stuart Mackay, the creator and organiser of train-oriented Derbyshire-based indiepop festival Indietracks, which is now in its third year

Summer is coming up at a pace once again, and that can only mean that it’s time to start getting your 2009 festival schedule in order! Of course, if you’re only just thinking about where you want to go now, you may be too late to take advantage of the likes of Glastonbury or Carling Weekend – they tend to sell out faster than John Lydon at a dairy farm (oh, zing!). Or perhaps you’re one of the few sane people left who isn’t really attracted to the idea of forking out well over £100 for the privilege of seeing Johnny Borrell take his shirt off. Well, worry not, for help is at hand in the shape of a growing number of indie-run, low-cost festivals sprouting up across the country – yeah, stick it to the man! One of the newest, freshest and most interesting of these events is Indietracks, the only summer festival where you’re likely to find yourself sat in a moving steam train’s baggage car, clapping along to an anti-folk troubadour while enjoying scenic views of the Derbyshire countryside. Taking place at the Midland Railway Centre, Butterly, Indietracks turns three this year, and to mark the occasion the organisers have teamed up with Spanish indie label, Elefant. Pennyblackmusic caught up with festival creator and organiser, Stuart Mackay to find out how Indietracks has evolved since it debuted in 2007, and what festival-goers can expect to find down amongst the locomotives this year. PB : This will be Indietracks’ third weekend festival, and this year you’ve increased the number of stages from 3 to 5. As you organise each new event, are you finding it easier to get more bands involved? SM : The first year was quite a struggle trying to convince bands that we could actually make this happen and to get them on-board. Now we're fighting them off. It doesn't make it easier unfortunately as there's so many wonderful bands that want to play it's a really tough choice picking some out and having to say sorry to the rest as they're every bit as good.   PB : In what other ways has the festival changed since it launched in 2007? SM : Hopefully, other than increasing in size, it isn't changing at all. It's pretty much the driving factor in the organisation is just trying to recreate what we've done before. It seems to work as it is.   PB : This year the outside stage is being curated by the Spanish label, Elefant Records. How did they come to be involved with this year’s festival, and what do you hope they will bring to Indietracks 2009? SM : It was actually a suggestion made by someone on the Anorak forum, and it turned out it was Elefant's 20th anniversary this year and they were wanting to have a big celebration, so were keen to get on board. They've managed to bring a package of bands that we would never have been able to achieve, both from their current and past signings and also bands that they are friends with.   PB :  Last year the festival had acoustic performances throughout the day, taking place on moving steam trains. I thought these were particularly enjoyable, as they were very intimate shows that really took advantage of your unique location. Can we expect more of these this year, and if so, can you tell us any of the acts that will be taking to the rails ? SM : Indeed they'll continue. Unfortunately the baggage cars only hold a very small amount of people, so we have to be very conscious of the acts we put in there and the demands to see them. Having said that this years acts include past indietracks favourites The Manhattan Love Suicides (doing an rare acoustic set), Roy Moller and MJ Hibbett.   PB : Last year you told Pennyblackmusic that you’d like a certain ex-Sarah Records band to reform and play at your festival. Has this dream come any closer to being realised in the last 12 months? SM : I wouldn't say that it's come any closer to being realised, but steps have been taken to test the water! PB : Thank you.

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