AIL Meets Flowers & The Wild

We had a chit-chat with Josh from the band about all things music and his favourite things about London…
AIL Meets Flowers & The Wild picture

London band Josh Flowers & The Wild will be playing at the Magners Original Sessions this summer, a series of free music events touring London, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow to serve up a cheeky and spontaneous mixture of live music, street magicians, a hog roast and entertainment. The London event takes place this Saturday, 19th July, at The Grand Junction Arms, Acton – check facebook out for more details!


So Josh, can you tell us a little more about how you’re involved in the Magners Original Sessions?
We just thought it would be fun to play by a canal in summer and drink some cider!

How did you guys form? What are your musical inspirations?
Everyone in the band started out as friends of friends. I met Squiff, Squiff knew Bernie, Bernie knew a guy who put Dave forward as a bassist. That makes it sound quick and easy; it actually happened gradually over a couple of years.
As a group of 4 people who all love music, of course our inspirations are vast and there's a lot of variety. I love Dylan and Paul Simon, that's where my songwriting influences started. Tom Waits, Zeppelin, The Stones and more recently Jack White and The Black Keys are all influences to our sound, among many others.

If you could have one musician, alive or dead, play a gig with you who would it be and why?
I actually had a dream last night that Jimmy Page was in our band. But no, I think Ray Manzarek from The Doors would have been fun to jam with and the organ sound would fit well with what we're doing.

Being London boys yourselves, what is it you love most about our fair city?
The serendipitous run-ins you have with other people who are here because they also want to be where creative movement is happening. It's a huge mixing pot for ideas and energy. That and the 24 hour shop near me which sells more types of olives than you'll find anywhere else this side of Istanbul.

What’s the first thing you do when you get home to London?
Try to get with the program!

Can you share any secrets about what it’s really like being a band on the road…?
I love life on the road. It definitely hasn't lost its appeal for us yet and I don't think it will any time soon. The only thing that stresses me out is how badly you end up eating. Good food is hard to come by a lot of the time.

Tell us your favourite musical haunts in London:
Ain't Nothing But The Blues on Kingly Street is a place we go a lot. It's a guaranteed good time, always great music. We also enjoy a bit of late night jazz at Ronnie Scott’s. Squiff was there one time when Stevie Wonder turned up and started jamming. Where else does that happen?

If you had to choose a favourite EVER song (not your own!) what would it be and why?
Impossible question! We can give you a current favourite each though…

Josh - Roadhouse Blues, The Doors
Squiff - Real Life (Angel), Elbow
Bernie - America, Bill Callahan
Dave - Rock Steady, Aretha Franklin

What other dates do you have coming up where AiL readers can catch you playing?
We have a headline show coming up in London on the 18th September at The Garage. We add dates to our calendar fairly regularly though, the best way to find out is by following our Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

What are you favourite secret London locations, what for and why?
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, because it's a crazy ass rabbit hole of a pub where Dickens used to hang out. And the Huntarian Museum for some creepy stuffed animal times.

Published Jul 17, 2014