Forget confetti showers, The Wombats might just blast punters with autumn leaves during their performances at next month’s Future Music Festival.
Drummer/keyboarder Dan Haggis and I are discussing our country’s weather patterns when the potential stage stunt is suggested.
And, as it turns out – it’s not the first time the Liverpudians have embraced the weather around them and incorporated it into their live shows.
“We did a Christmas show once in Liverpool and fired out fake snow into the crowd… so maybe we’re just a seasons band,” he said.
“The leaves are pretty long over there, aren’t they? People do confetti and all that, so maybe we can just bring out some leaf cannons.”
“I don’t know what we’d do if it was summer though… maybe we’d have to fire out some sunscreen.”
Haggis has just got home from having dinner at his mum’s place and is about to watch a few episodes from Season 4 of Dexter on a freezing Liverpool evening.
The show is quite a favourite amongst those who travel in The Wombats tour bus – alongside some more intense shows such as The Sopranos, Sons Of Anarchy and House.
“A few of our crew have been into it for a while, and I eventually succumbed to general peer pressure and became a fan of the show,” he said. “It just seems to be what we’re into recently… it’s a great show to watch to pass the time.”
And there’s a good chance their DVD’s will be getting a workout in the bus when the band make their way around the country for the Future Music Festival shows, alongside the likes of Fatboy Slim, New Order, Swedish House Mafia and Jessie J.
The Wombats will be making their third trip to Australia in 12 months for the Future shows – having previously visited for last year’s Groovin’ The Moo Festival and their own headlining tour.
Haggis said the band can’t get enough of the country and their ever-growing local fanbase.
“If someone says to you, ‘Come to Australia’ – it’s a no-brainer and we’re straight back over there,” he said. “I don’t know if we’re being asked more, but obviously the reaction we get is good, if not better than what we get in England.”
“We love it over there so it’s a pleasure to come back – plus we get to see New Order this time too.”
Haggis said another contributing factor to the band’s multiple return visits to Australia was the hard-partying, fun-filled lifestyle which they often enjoy over here.
“Australia for us has been a blur of just going to bed late, getting up early to catch planes, playing shows and partying on,” he said. “We had a severe night out in Townsville when we were there for Groovin’ The Moo… it got very messy and I think mangina’s were involved. It’s a very intense week or two, but it’s always manic and always good fun.”
As they aren’t playing any sideshows this time around – Haggis is looking forward to seeing more of the country and doing unique activities in his time off – including shark diving.
“I really want to try shark diving – I’ve never done it before,” he said. “We never have any time to do our own things – see the country really – but this time we do the first weekend and then get five days off,” he said. “So it’s going to be good to go see people’s sideshows and climb a mountain or something, and do something apart from playing gigs and getting shitfaced.”
The Future shows are some of the last the band are playing before they start work on their third album – along with a festival in Kuala Lumpur and a show in Tokyo.
Haggis said he is particularly looking forward to performing in the city, which is the namesake of the lead single from their current record, This Modern Glitch.
“That will definitely be a moment,” he chuckles. “We’ve never been to Asia so I don’t know how things are going for us over there – but we’ll see! It’ll be a cool way to finish things off for the tour.”
The Wombats are playing around the country next month for the Future Music Festival. For more information on the festival and their tour dates click here. They’ll also be doing a DJ set at The Espy in Melbourne on Sunday, March 11 – grab your tickets here.
