AIL Talks to Keston Cobblers Club

Set for big things, Keston Cobblers Club play the kind of contemporary folk music that makes you want to gather in a large room with a hard floor and stomp your feet until they bruise. Yes, in AIL’s opinion, they’re that good. Formed in a small village in Kent, the group are enjoying a rapid rise that is only being helped by the dominating force of the British folk scene. We caught up with the band and talked fables, favourite shoes and the best song ever.


Can you describe your sound for us in five words.
Tuba-folk , harmony pop music.


Can you introduce yourselves and tell us how the band got together?
I’m Jules, sister of Matthew. We started playing together in 2009 with Tom, and two other friends, having all grown up and gone to school in Keston. Over the years, our lineup has changed slightly and we’ve acquired the wonderful Bethan and Harry - who is also a local.


Were there any major influences on you (bands/artists) when you set out?
We always think there have been three main influences on us. 1) Our parents (As clichéd as it may sound!). Matthew and I were brought up surrounded by folk music, as our parents have always played in country and folk dance bands. 2) Orchestra – our school – Keston Primary was very musical, we all learned brass/percussion and then went on to play “classically” in orchestras and concert bands as teenagers. 3) Pop music. As most teens do, we grew up doing our homework with the radio on, dancing around to Dad’s records and listening to popular music.


Where did the name Keston Cobblers Club come from?
It’s folklore. There’s a story that 100 or so years ago, there was a cobbler in Keston who was very poor and extremely saddened by this. He played his fiddle in the local pub, where people joined in, playing and dancing. After a while, people’s shoes started to wear out from all the dancing and so the Cobbler was never out of work again. We have tried to bring back the cobbler and his club. We made a little film here to tell the story.


Having been inspired by – and taken your name from – the loose fable of the cobbler we’d like to know a little about your favourite pair of shoes you’ve ever owned?
Dangerous question to ask a girl! OK. I’m trying to narrow them down…. I’d say it’s probably an amazing pair of men’s boots I got from a charity shop for a fiver! They’re from the 1940’s, when men’s feet were a lot smaller… they’re brown and stompy and lace all the way up!


We imagine that a good pair of boots is essential to the foot stomping that goes along with your music.
Yes!! Definitely! I actually prefer not to wear shoes most of the time (that’s where our shoes-off sessions came from) but for gigs I have to force myself to keep them on so I can stamp along to the kick drum!


What has been your greatest experience as a band so far?
The Maida Vale sessions I think. I’ve always wanted to go there, let alone record. And we did an incredibly fun session for the BBC, playing in the studio that loads of amazing artists have graced.


Are you playing any festivals this summer?
Yes… so many I’m slightly worried my head may fall off!! Joking aside (I hope) we’re playing at Glastonbury and then every week until our tour in September pretty much! All our dates are on our facebook page and website too!


If you could play with any musician/band past or present who would it be and why?
We did a silly campaign earlier this year to back ourselves to support Fleetwood Mac! Although it started off as a joke, it ended up going a little crazy and was even featured in Music week! It would be amazing to play with a band so prolific. Another group I’d LOVE to play with is Simon and Garfunkel and a more modern band – Bellowhead.


If you could listen to only one song again for the rest of your life what would it be?
Only Living Boy in New York by Simon and Garfunkel. It’s funny you should ask that actually, I gave myself the near-impossible task of trying to work out my favourite song the other day in the tour bus… I think this was the winner!


And finally, Keston Cobblers Club are in London for a night of frolicking and fun. What do they do and where do they go?
Well. A few years ago I discovered an incredible night called Wonderland. It’s run by an amazing group of friends who give every penny raised to a charity helping people in Gambia, called Wonder Years. I can only describe it as a hippy-bonkers-ravey-folky-overnight indoor festival ! The organisers of Wonderland have just teamed up with some of the organisers from the amazing music festival Leefest, to create another new night too – it’s called Carousel. And is also amazing!!


Keston Cobblers Club play various festivals this summer before embarking on their tour in September.