IMAGINE the Happy Mondays and Primal Scream had children together who grew up to be fans of disco, shiny silver helmets and yellow suits.
You may now have some idea of what to expect from Colonel Mustard and the Dijon 5.
Fresh from being declared one of the best bands at Liverpool’s Sound City festival, Colonel Mustard bring their infectious brand of live performance back to their home city of Glasgow to headline the Clutha Trust Festival this evening.
Since releasing their tongue-twister of a debut album last year, Party To Make Music To Party To Make Music To Party To Make Music To Party To 1, the band have starred across the UK’s festival circuit as well as headlining Glasgow Barrowlands.
Colonel Mustard co-founder and resident dancer David Blair is one of the band’s 15 members, and says their collective musical influences help to create their unique sound.
“We love so many different genres as a band so it is about pulling from different areas and trying to create our own melting pot,” Blair said. “We try to make people who come along to see us feel part of the band – we want to make music that will get the crowd involved in whatever song it may be.”
Although they are undeniably a party band, within the Colonel Mustard ranks there are committed activists, and their music touches upon some of the big issues of life today. The artwork for their Gay Icon EP gives a twist to the classic Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club cover, featuring the faces of prominent members of the LGBT community, including Peter Tatchell, who features on the title track.
“We stand for equality for all. We are against all forms of discrimination, whatever shape it takes,” Blair said.
This is in line with the “Yellow Movement” that the band proclaim. The mission statement fits the ethos of the band perfectly: enjoy life to the full but stand up for what matters.
When Blair himself is not dancing on stage in a shiny silver helmet or crowd surfing in a dinghy, he is busy with Scottish CND and helps run the Greenpeace stage at Glastonbury.
Today, however, will be a different experience for the band. Blair said he is excited and incredibly honoured to be headlining the Clutha Trust Festival, and hopes the Trust can start to build something positive out of the tragedy.
Also playing today will be Jack Eye Jones and country collective the Carlton JugBand. Tickets for the all-day festival are still available for £10.
Colonel Mustard and the Dijon 5 have a series of festival dates over the summer, including Glasgow’s West End Festival at the Record Factory next Sunday as well as their These Are Not The Drugs EP launch at King Tut’s on June 18.
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