TGt Meets…Brand New Heavies for Minety Music Festival

The Brand New Heavies will be headlining the Eames Laurie Main Stage at Minety Music Festival, on Sunday 7th July 2025. Check out our TGt Meets with guitarist Simon Bartholomew.

How many festivals have you played over the course of your band? What’s a memorable moment you have from a festival?

We've played so many its hard to count the amount and so many different types too. Being on the bill with Diana Ross with a full orchestra was quite an honour. I once decided to stay over at a festival without telling anyone and the band thought I'd dissapeared. In a way I had - into the groove! Hats off to the crowd who one time stayed to watch us despite insanely torrential rain at Glastonbury in the early 90s.

You have so many hits that are still fan favourites from you record ‘Brother Sister’. Which one of your classics gets the most high-energy response from a live crowd?

Great question. The album is quite varied musically. Daybreak has been getting quite epic at the end. Forever, being a bit of a ballad is grooving People Giving Love is a nice departure from our usual vibe as it's on the reggae tip.

Whether you’re attending or performing, what’s your favourite thing about festivals?

Woodstock was a major event and in a way spurred the festival thing off. There's an energy seeing music outside and a freedom at the bigger festivals to drift here and there in a fashion laisée faire. We all need that from time to time. There's also a kind of cameraderie between everyone there and good to see that togetherness.

How does the atmosphere at intimate, outdoor festivals like Minety compare to indoor venues?

Well it's our first time at Minety so can't comment there fully, but across the board indoor venues seem to have one stage and one room whereas festivals tend to have more of an environment to explore, but of course you know that. You can get lost at a festival if there's no fences. Sometimes to never return, but become a wood dweller of sorts. Living off the grid is probably easier outdoors than indoors.

Do you have any pre-show rituals before you head on stage?

We always gather in the dressing room/changing area and have a little chant and get silly. Andrew and I would say  'If you don't laugh at yourself in the mirror before going on, then you're not ready'! Ha ha!

After a day of music and good festival vibes, what’s your preferred way to unwind after performing live?

There's nothing I like more than to join in the festival and stroll about. Maybe have a hot chocolate and find a campfire. A bit of Stairway to Heaven on an acoustic guitar. Meet some new people and dance til the sun rises. That's always me!

CLICK HERE to get tickets and hear Brand New Heavies live at Minety Music Festival!