London’s Bear’s Den are a standout band in the somewhat saturated UK folk scene. We’ve been long standing fans since their very first single and thankfully, the past two years have been kind to them, seeing them go from strength to strength. Last October saw the release of their brilliant debut album, TAG’s Jimmy Volts caught up with Joey Haynes to find out more about this dynamic trio…
OK, so a three-piece folk band from London comes along amidst the already fully established ‘nu-folk’ scene. Surely we’ve heard it all before right? Well, usually we’d side with you on that one. But Bear’s Den are a little different. Their debut album “Islands” is a truly goose bump-inducing listen, with a style that cuts through the theatrics often synonymous with the genre to reveal the genuinely beautiful soul-bearing songwriting. Joey explains the ethos behind their music.
“To us, it’s all about putting the music first and worrying about other stuff as a second priority. We’ve been building up to the album release for a couple of years now and it felt great to finally get it out and have a body of work we were proud of.”
And what about the critics polls and the ‘ones to watch’ lists that the band have featured on? Do they pay attention to such things?
“Well, I’d be lying if I said it’s not interesting to hear what critics think of what you’re doing. But at the same time I feel confident enough in what we’re doing to know that a bad review isn’t going to shake our foundations too much. Plus, these things are self fulfilling prophecies. If you’re BBC ‘s ones to watch then they have a stake in making sure their predictions come true. To be honest, we don’t pay attention to that stuff too much.”
You get the impression from Joey’s slightly dry tone of voice that reviews and popularity polls are about as far from this band’s sights as you can get. But on changing the subject to touring, there’s a clear change in tone as he jolts with enthusiasm;
“Most of our life as a band is focused on touring. It’s simply the most organic way of growing an audience. It has been slow and steady for us. But then you know what they say about that approach. We play as many places as we can and hopefully the people who came last time bring a friend or two along next time. We need fans with loads of friends basically! (Laughs)”
So, having settled on a subject which really gets him ticking, Joey explains how touring isn’t always a completely enjoyable experience for him. Although it’s obvious it’s what keeps this band motivated.
“Sometimes we play a smaller show abroad with a half full room of people or perhaps you haven’t had a good night’s sleep. But with this upcoming UK tour it’s a really good feeling to know that most of the shows are sold out. You get a bit more amped up beforehand and it just makes the whole thing more enjoyable.”
So, do the band have to be aware of not partaking in too many post-show ales when celebrating these sorts of gig successes? “You spend a lot of time confined in a small space. So there’s a balance to be struck between partying too much where you end up worn down, not able to play your best show, and getting cabin fever because you haven’t taken the time to unwind at all. To be honest, we’re still working on it but I think we’re getting there.”
New single “Think Of England” is out February 2
Tour dates:
Mon 09 Feb – Belfast Voodoo, UK SOLD OUT
Wed 11 Feb – Glasgow Oran Mor, UK SOLD OUT
Thu 12 Feb – Newcastle Cluny, UK SOLD OUT
Fri 13 Feb – Manchester Gorilla, UK SOLD OUT
Sun 15 Feb – Cardiff Clwb Ifor Bach, UK SOLD OUT
Mon 16 Feb – Oxford Academy 2, UK SOLD OUT
Wed 18 Feb – Brighton Concorde 2, UK SOLD OUT
Fri 20 Feb – Paris Point Ephmre, FR SOLD OUT
Sat 21 Feb – Brussels Orangerie, BE (venue upgrade) SOLD OUT
Mon 23 Feb – Amsterdam Melkweg Old Hall, NL (venue upgrade) SOLD OUT
Tue 24 Feb – Hamburg Knust, DE SOLD OUT
Wed 25 Feb – Cologne Buergerhaus Stollwerck, DE
Fri 27 Feb – Munich Strom, DE SOLD OUT
Sat 28 Feb – Zurich Mascotte, CH
Tue 3 Mar – London O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, UK SOLD OUT
