Gallows Feature (SMILEweek)

NME writer McMahon takes on raucous band Gallows

Watford-based band Gallows are renowned for their raucous, punk-enthused rock and roll sound, and have the personalities to match. Formed in 2005, Gallows now have two album releases under their belts, Orchestra of Wolves and Grey Britain. Established NME journalist, James McMahon, will be doing his best, on Friday, to settle them down to engage in a Q&A session at Southampton Solent University.

After touring around the world, with stops in Italy and America and making themselves heard at several festivals, such as Download and Reading, the band will be doing a 2011 UK tour and have a lot to discuss. And there’s no better person to take on this quintet, made up of Frank carter, Steph Carter, Laurent Barnard, Lee Barrat and Stuart Gili-Ross, than acclaimed writer James McMahon.

With Gallows sound emulating pure traditional punk qualities and elements of the brutal, hard-paced noise of hardcore they will no doubt bring everything that their music incorporates to the interview. The band has a reputation for being hard faced, angsty and confrontational, all part of which forms their anti government, working class, fight for freedom identity. Through combining this full throttle vibe with thrilling and crushing live performances the band have earned themselves an invariably solid reputation.

With Friday being the penultimate event of SMILEfest, the entire day is dedicated to a variety of exciting opportunities, interviews, live acoustic performances, gigs and an extensive range of venues situated within the city. Students are able to access high profile members of the music industry and witness some of their favourite bands and artists, but most importantly enjoy themselves.

The talk will take place within Southampton Solent University campus, the band can be found in JM315 at 1pm on Friday March 4^th. As a free event with a first come a first serve policy, it is undeniably worth getting there early.

So as SMILEfest will be coming to a close on Friday, yet again, Southampton Solent University students are given the opportunity to be involved in something special and with Gallows no doubt making their presence felt, as the week draws to a close, the talk will be unmissable.