Dog is Dead chat to Skiddle ahead of Reading and Leeds this weekend

With their debut album set for release on October 8th they’ve already had a busy year with their own tour and various support slots. We caught up with them on the road to find out why playing Reading and Leeds festivals means so much to them, and get the low-down on who they’re most looking forward to seeing.

So guys, you’re on the Reading and Leeds line-up to play the Festival Republic stage this weekend, it’s safe to say you’re pretty happy about this right?!
Yeah it's great! We've always loved the festival and we're lucky enough to play Leeds on the Thursday night last year, so to get a proper slot this year feels like a huge breakthrough.

I believe Reading and Leeds is one of the festivals you’ve frequented as punters across the years, what does it mean to you as a band to now be on that infamous line-up poster?
We've been going to Leeds since we were 14, so to be on the line up of a festival we've loved for so long is a great feeling. It's awesome to think we'll be on the Tshirt!

Did you have a sneaky suspicion this year would be the year you made the bill or did it come as a surprise?
We were hoping so after playing the Thursday last year at Leeds, but it still wasn't certain until a few months ago.

Have you thought about the set-list yet?
Yeah we've been thinking what to play for a few weeks already, we think we've got a party set list ready and it should be an awesome fun show. We're bringing a choir with us so it's going to be a really special show!

You’ve already played the likes of Glastonbury in the past, do you still get nervous before a festival or are you fairly accustomed to it all now?
I think it's a bit of both, we've definitely become accustomed to playing big shows and performing when we need to, but Leeds and Reading are such big shows there will probably be a bit of nervousness. Saying that though, as soon as we got on the stage we know we'll own the show.

You’ve played a few festival dates already this year, how have they been so far? T in The Park was a pretty muddy affair I believe?
We've already done 10 festivals this year, and we feel they've gone really well, we've got stronger and tighter with every show. T in the Park was pretty bad for mud though, Paul got stuck with some girl’s wellies and all our stuff got messed up but it was a sick
festival.

The line-up at Reading and Leeds is always phenomenal, are you hoping to hang around and check out some acts while you’re there? Who are you most looking forward to seeing?
The only downside to Reading and Leeds is that the same acts play on the same day for both places. Lucky for us though we're on the same day as At The Drive In, so we get to watch them twice. Awesome.

Any embarrassing festival stories you can share with us?
Well, at Glastonbury Joss' top keyboard fell onto his bottom keyboard and hit the demo button, which accidentally made 'Fur Elise' start playing. I can't decide whether that was embarrassing or made the show better though...

Surviving a festival and not peaking too soon is key, any tips for anyone venturing to a festival for the first time this year?
Wellies. The weather has been pretty bad at most festivals so far so I'd say that was a must.

You’ve had a very busy and successful year so far, what’s on the agenda once Reading and Leeds is done and dusted?
Our debut album All our Favourite Stories is out on October 8th, so we'll just be preparing for that. And on the 1st of October our new single 'Talk Through the Night' is out, so we're straight back to business!

Catch Dog is Dead at Reading and Leeds Festivals this weekend.

Words: Michelle Lloyd

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