With the festival season upon us, musicians and music fans alike are flocking to the alphabet of events available countrywide for some summer fun. But it's tough looking good, come rain or shine, so we asked some of the hottest bands in the business to share their top survival tips when roughing it. Take note - these guys are pros at looking good field style.
Mancunian rockers, The Courteeners' front man, Liam Fray, knows good personal hygiene is a must when trudging around fields in search of music this summer. And be prepared for the usual drunken revellers... yourself included!
"Just bring deodorant and don't be a d***," he advises. "You need to gage what stage of inebriation people are in before talking to them because if you're leathered and go up to someone and go urrgh and they've got two kids next to them, they're like 'will you please f*** off because I've got two children here'. There's got to be some sort of trade off."
Click here for more on The Courteeners
John McClure from from Reverend And The Makers is keeping it retro. His philosophy is less rock n' roll and more peace, love and harmony, the original festival message.
"Spread good karma," he says. "So if anyone asks for a cigarette give them one. If they ask for a Rizla or something like that or some of your drink, give 'em it because the more good vibes you spread the more you'll get back and I truly believe that."
Click here for more on Reverend And The Makers
The Subways always pack the essentials when performing at festivals. Drummer Josh Morgan is a big fan of wet wipes and gushes, "Baby wipes and wet wipes work a treat - I love them. Whoever made them must be minted."
Bassist Charlotte Cooper thinks practicality overrides fashion at festie time. "It's all about dressing well - you've got to do the wellies and you've got to do the rain macs," she explains. "It doesn't matter if you look cool - and when the cool kid next to you is really, really wet and uncomfortable you'll be really smug and happy in your wellies." Too right!
Click here for more on The Subways
Hotly tipped Scottish band Glasvegas' singer James Allan on the other hand never leaves home without his favourite pair of darkened shades. "You've got to take a pair with you," he enthuses.
Click here for more on Glasvegas
The Fratellis front man, Jon, who has been trudging the festival circuit for a few years now, has some fond memories of heading down to festivals before he and his band were taking centre stage. "I had to leave T In The Park early once as I got badly sunburnt," he says. "I'd fallen asleep in the morning before the sun came up outside the tent and when I woke up I was proper burnt."
And with the memory still fresh in his mind, Jon gives us his travel essentials. He laughs, "I take boring things like a kagoule - but some sun cream would be good to take due to the fact I got burnt!" Wise words indeed. No one wants to come back looking like a lobster after a weekend of frivolity.
Click here for more on The Fratellis
Click to shop here