How did you get started as a band?

K: As I remember it we were at a party round at David's house in Fenham in Newcastle. We started putting music together and doing a lot of our own gigs in the student unions and nightclubs which became quite popular. We even had a UV ceilidh in the dark, bra ceilidhs, disco ceilidhs, all great fun and predominantly a very youthful crowd.

D: People were starting jam sessions in my kitchen and living room. There were all these styles being thrown together; the students from the Folk degree mixing with Post-Rock and Experimental musicians I hung around with. There was a good energy to it all and we decided we were on to a good thing

You do a lot of writing and arranging, any particular inspirations?

K: I like dark minor sounding things, I leave happy stuff to the other guys. There’s a lot of Scandinavian bands like Tsummi Sound System, they write a lot of music based around minor/modal tunes. There’s a great Finnish jazz scene and great Jazz scene in general at the moment: Bad Plus, Acoustic Lady Land (just split up), all bands who are really making instrumental music more accessible. And of course Megadeth, all praise the ‘deth.

D: We play concert-style events as well as dances therefore we plan quite intricate arrangements that stand for themselves. Amy and Carly write a lot of great tunes which we arrange as a band in such a way that will work in either situation. Plus, it's something to keep us on our toes when we're performing! Inspiration comes in lots of forms for me - the wackiness of Primus, the dub of Jah Wobble, the books of David Toop. And feedback.

Do you see a younger crowd at your concerts?

K: Initially we saw only young people at our gigs (most of them where in dark nightclubs) but as we get around a bit playing more varied gigs we see a great mix of people. Our album launch night at The Sage featured a whole host of ages filling all floors.

D: Our crowds are really quite varied. We've been incorporating more modern sounds, with the electronic beats, instrument effects and such, and as a result you might imagine that it would appeal mostly to a younger crowd. However, the response from our recent tour proves otherwise. We've talked to all sorts of people during our shows and it is obvious to us that, regardless of their backgrounds or age, they've enjoyed listening to and, crucially, dancing to the music. They appreciate the traditional influences but seem to share our excitement at what happens when musical boundaries are crossed.

Where did you meet 'The Touch'? And what was his first reaction to the project?

K: We met him through asking him to do the DJing at our ceilidhs. I asked him if he would remix one of our sets on our first album, Stomach Steinway, and we sort of broke him in on our initial album launch night. We've been working with him ever since building up to releasing this album (Mechanical Monster). He has a background in folk music having drummed in bands before he turned his attentions to the electronic side of things. He will be drumming with us on our electro gigs now as well!

D: I used to play in a psychedelic-rockabilly kind of group with Joe 'The Touch' Truswell on drums.

Do you take the beats out on tour?

K: Where we can, its hard to do a straight ceilidh with them but we've done it a few times now... We have been asked to play in a lot more mainstream electronic dance festivals this year. We're very excited about the electronic side of MCB and playing dance audiences. In fact we tend to do a lot more electro gigs then ceilidhs these days.

D: We've taken the beats out on a couple of occasions but it is set to become a more permanent feature from this summer when we start playing the festivals (see website for more details). Expect more than just laptops and samplers though - the pumping electronica dance vibe will be doubly fearsome because we'll have The Touch on live drums! Those beats are sure to get the ceilidh (read 'party') started!

Do you intend to explore dance culture further?

K: Definitely. We've been talking about doing a drum and bass EP and we're always interested in exploring new takes on introducing traditional music to a more contemporary dance setting. It takes a lot of thought and planning to make it work well so we'll see what happens in the creative process. Luckily we have some great musicians in the Monsters who are very versatile and up for putting the effort in.

D: Ceilidh music is Dance music! The Monsters thought that they'd explore the instrumental arrangements and repetitive rhythms that characterise modern Dance music but try to translate that onto a more traditional instrumentation (minus the electric bass of course – but then, what is Dance music without BASS!). Incorporating the electronic beats is our way of taking things up a level and really emphasising the dance aspect of what ceilidh-ing is about.

Tell us about the single 'Magic Pepper' and the accompanying YouTube video.

K: MP was our first tune that we wrote specifically for The Touch. We arranged the tunes sparingly and introduced more riff based ideas to make it as big and mean as possible! Michael Flately in that video was pure inspiration from The Touch. I think if you look what Flatly has done for the music (and dancing) and what we've done its pretty similar. I think we have been a bit more honest about it and I think that’s what the video’s about.

D: We're all keen fans of the Drum 'n' Bass scene and it's roots in the UK underground. There is a raw energy which I feel can be assimilated to the mayhem that can occur during a ceilidh! Magic Pepper was our chance to explore this more chaotic energy! The video – well, what can I say. It speaks for itself I guess... Go and watch it. Makes me chuckle every time.

You're well travelled as a band. How was Russia?

K: 6 Days of chaotic awesomeness. Truly inspiring and playing St. Petersburg was probably one of the greatest moments in my life!

D: Whilst we were there we got to perform in some of the most amazing places including a 1000 capacity Heavy Metal venue – the décor was quite astounding!
How on earth did you end up at the Rainforest World Music Festival in Borneo?

K: Simple really - we gave the organiser our CD and he really liked it. That festival was also one of the greatest moments of my life, good times. Highly recommend if you're travelling out that way to go - its great.

D: Who would have thought that a ceilidh band would be playing support headline slot on a Saturday night to 8000 people in the middle of Borneo's Rainforest! The concerts were awesome but so too were the all-night sessions with musicians from all over the world – there's certainly no better way to learn the music of other cultures than getting stuck in and having a jam.

Are there currently other projects you have on the go, collectively or individually?

K: I'm currently working on material for a project called 100manorchestra there's currently 4 of us so you know... getting there. It features Dan Walsh - banjo, Jon Proud- Bass, me - flute and Brendan Murphy on percussion.

D: I'm currently on tour with 'Jez Lowe and the Bad Pennies' and am working on a new solo project, combining my take on continuing folk tradition and heavy basslines combined with the Experimental Glitch I studied at Newcastle. The Monsters are also planning to record a short EP exploring more dirty Drum 'n' Bass style tracks to shake your foundations, so listen out!

www.monsterceilidhband.co.uk/

Dave Kushar