One of the most eagerly anticipated acts on the Splendour In The Grass lineup is The Strokes. But Julian Casablancas, frontman for the veteran indie rockers, isn’t actually the biggest fan of music festivals.
Speaking to Beats 1’s Zane Lowe shortly after the release of the band’s new EP, Future Present Past, Casablancas revealed he’s opposed to the very concept of pitting bands against each other on a timetable.
“Ninety-eight percent of musicians that I know and talk to really don’t like playing festivals,” the frontman said. “My main issue is the choice thing, where you have to choose who you want to see and you’re always left wondering if you should have gone to see the other one.”
Casablancas said he’d be happier to play guerrilla shows for the rest of his days. “It’s cool for fans to go and see a lot of bands,” he said, “my favourite thing is playing surprise shows at half-empty bars, although that would be a devastating financial approach.”
In the interview, which you can check out below, Casablancas also touches on the creation of the band’s new EP and looks back on the contrast between releasing albums as a new band in the 2000s and veteran rockers in 2016.
“You see the reaction, you get feedback pretty quick whether you like it or not,” he said. “I don’t really check to see what people are saying. I think it makes more sense than the old school approach.”
