Doomed Confessionary: Andrew Blackburn (This Summit Fever)
I may not be Santa but I still have loads of cool interviews in my bag…
Louder than two humans have any right to be, This Summit Fever play heavy, fuzzed-up riff rock since 2021. The duo, who hail from the birthplace of heavy metal, are equal parts traditional and contemporary in their sound.
From the outset, friends of the band would ask “How can you be a band without a bass player and second guitarist? Aren’t you limiting yourselves?” This Summit Fever have been more than happy to prove that their strength lies in that limitation at shows all over the UK, playing alongside the likes of Raging Speedhorn, Tuskar, Boss Keloid and many others.
Can you say a few words about your band?
We are a heavy fuzz duo called This Summit Fever from Shropshire in the United Kingdom. I (Andy) play the guitar and do the vocals and Jim plays the drums.
What was the biggest challenge for the band this year?
Our biggest challenge this year was finding time to do everything we wanted to do. We are both fortunate enough to have children so we have to prioritise them before the music.
What can you be most proud of this year?
We really proud to have released our 2nd EP called »Distraction Rituals« in April of 2023. It was a labour of love writing and producing the songs and they have gone down well at the gigs we have played this year too.
What was your biggest regret?
Our biggest regret was having to cancel a few of our shows due to illness. I had appendicitis in the summer and Jim caught covid which was no fault of ours, but it meant that we unfortunately had to cancel some of our gigs.
What was the best concert/tour this year and why?
The best show that we were involved with was Bloodstock Open Air 2023. We were fortunate enough to be selected to play on the Jagermeister stage and it was an honour to do so.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
The biggest and nicest surprise was to see how our friends bands support one another to grow. It’s so good to see others doing well and moving up and it only helps encourage everyone else.
Where can we see you live next year (concerts/tours)?
We have a few shows confirmed for 2024 so far:
May 4, 2024 – The Rigger – Newcastle Under Lyme
May 5, 2024 – The Bridge Inn / The Hive – Rotherham
May 7, 2024 – The Garage – Stoomfest – London
What are your plans for the next year as a band? What do you personally want the most?
We would like to get our full album finished and released. We will dedicate the first part of 2024 to getting the songs finished and recorded.
Do you already know what are you doing on New Year’s Eve?
I will be with my family.
How can people best support your band?
If anyone wants to support us:
• They can visit our Bandcamp and buy a T-shirt or digital EP.
• They can come to one of our shows.
• They can stream our music on one of the streaming sites.
• They can follow us on Instagram and Facebook and recommend us to their friend – this costs nothing.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Thank you for your support and thank you for helping the underground music scene.
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well