Good Shoes@ Lounge on the Farm 2007

United Kingdom | by Claire Elshaw | 24 July 2007

When The Wombats dropped out at the last minute, indie wonder kids Good Shoes filled their boots. They proved to measure up and lead singer, Rhys Jones, gave Virtual Festivals the low down on cow sheds, bin lorries and overpriced noodles.

Virtual Festivals: So you’ve just arrived. What do you think?
Rhys Jones: “Yeah I like it a lot. It seems really nice to be sat here next to a row of… what is this? Corn? I don’t know, I grew up in South London but yeah it’s really pleasant.”

VF: Have you seen much of the grounds yet?
RJ: “No, not yet. I saw the outside of the stage.”

VF: It’s in a cow shed.
RJ: “Yeah we knew that before we came. Our tour manager was telling us. He started talking about roast cows but then he’s from Argentina. We didn’t really understand what he was on about.”

VF: It does smell a bit cow-y in there.
RJ: “Oh that’s fine. I used to work in an industrial estate at this place called Dennis Eagle in Mitcham. I used to have to order the repair parts for dustbin trucks, so it smelled like shit every day. It's nice to come and play music somewhere that smells like shit, literally. It’s a shame people can’t smoke as that would mask the smell a bit.”

VF: The atmosphere has been quite good, lots of dancing. Are you going to play a few tunes people can get down to?
RJ: “I hope so, we played a gig last night and it was like that. But it’s down to the audience really. You can only give so much. It’s 50 per cent band and 50 per cent audience. You give a bit more if people are getting into it.”

VF: Do you appreciate the non corporate feel?
RJ: “Yeah that’s what pissed me off about Glastonbury. You go to this festival that’s meant to be a bit new age, for the people and supporting big issues, and then you’re charging people £5 for a tiny plate of noodles - it’s not really in keeping with the ethos. But this seems really nice, there’s some really good bands playing.”