We talk to The Vamps ahead of their Night & Day Tour at Nottingham Arena

We recently caught up with Tristan and Connor of British pop band The Vamps, ahead of their UK Tour and gig at Motorpoint Arena Nottingham on 1st May. We got the inside info on their new album and (slightly odd!) pre-gig routines, then tested their Nottingham knowledge before they took to the ice at National Ice Centre inside an inflatable ball!
 

How is it to be back in Nottingham? Are you excited for your gig here on 1st May?

Connor: It’s great, we are really looking forward to the gig. Nottingham is a great crowd!

Do you plan any sneak peeks of new music at the gig ahead of your new album release in the summer?

Tristan: Yeah, we will be giving some sneak peeks, maybe playing three new songs from the album and some fun things we are going to do.

Can you tell us what has influenced the new album?

Tristan: So many, we vibe of each other, like just us four working in the studio and the experiences we are having. We have toured the world quite a lot now, so we can dive into a different angle of writing. We went to South America, made this track with a girl called Tini - a South American artist that isn’t that well known over here but does arenas in South America. It’s cool for us to do something like that. It’s funny as that kind of sound has dominated the charts these days.

Do you have any further collaborations planned?

Connor: Yes definitely, we are just trying to get them finished in the studio at the moment. Musicians are very busy, as are we, even when you’re in the same place at the same time it's like, right make it happen! And if it doesn’t, it just doesn’t. You have to just jump at the chances.

How do you prepare ahead of your tours? Anything you specifically do?

Tristan: We rub our chins together. We have done that every show.
Connor: Every show since the start yeah. We relax, we go to the gym as we like staying healthy. We prepare the show, like two or three weeks of rehearsals, we get in and bounce ideas off each other, how it’s going to work - about the screens, fireworks and all that sort of stuff.

Will you be spending any time in Nottingham when you’re here?

Tristan: Well we do have a schedule, but yeah we will spend as long as we can here, explore the city and go out.

As you have visited Nottingham quite a few times now, what would you recommend a visitor to the city to do?

Tristan: Come to a Vamps show, there is one every year it seems haha. Yeah, we think it should be a yearly thing. But yeah just enjoy the nightlife - there is good nightlife here, its vibey.

Nottingham is a UNESCO City of Literature, are you currently reading any books or if there are any books that have influenced your own writing?

Connor: I don’t really read them that often, but James does. James is writing a book which is pretty amazing. He has done drafts after drafts trying to get it perfect so he’s probably the one to ask on that. He is very talented with literature.

What’s the book about?
 

Connor: Ooh we aren’t allowed to say.
Tristan: He really likes English Literature and wanted to study it at university, but you know The Vamps kicked off. He is always writing, every free minute he gets.

I saw on your Facebook page, when Brad announced your gig back in Nottingham he quizzed Maggie if Nottingham was the home of Robin Hood or not. So, I thought we could see how ‘Nottm’ you are by testing what you know about Nottingham.

Q1: What was the name of Robin Hood’s wife?

Connor and Tristan: Rebecca, Laura, Anne Boleyn….  Mary Poppins. Haha!

Correct Answer: Maid Marian, of course!

Q2: Mushy peas are a favourite of Goose Fair- so the question is - with or without mint sauce?

Tristan: Mint sauce added to the mushy peas? Wow that’s mushy mushy peas. Well I love mushy peas, but it wold be without the mint sauce.
Connor: Hmm I never have mushy peas with my fish and chips - sorry!
Tristan: Well we will try it definitely.

Q3: Do you know where or what is the Left Lion?

Tristan: Is it in Narnia? It’s Aslan haha. Is it a pub?
Connor: Something to do with history? Is it a statue?
Correct Answer: The Left Lion is a statue by Nottingham Council House and a popular meeting point in the city centre!

Q4: Do you know what “to mash” means?

Tristan: Like to mash your mashed potatoes? Baba Ganoush?
Connor: Is it like to have a good time?
Correct Answer: To make a cup of tea!

Q5: Nottingham gave the world HP Sauce, Raleigh bikes, traffic lights, the doughnut maker, and the MRI scanner - which one of these is not true?

Tristan: Traffic lights? Surely, they weren’t designed in Nottingham.
Connor: The MRI scan?
Correct Answer: The doughnut maker - made in Seattle!

You can read more interesting facts about Nottingham here.

Big thanks to The Vamps for chatting with us! Go see them perform live on their Night & Day arena tour on 1st May at Motorpoint Arena. Tickets are on sale now, please visit the Motorpoint Arena Nottingham to book online.

This blog was written by Genevieve Preece, Communications Executive at Marketing NG.