In order to promote the Hen Stage we managed to speak to Alice Bentley about her new act, Young Trees and there forthcoming performance at Belladrum 2011.
invernessGigs: Hi there Alice Bentley would you like to give a quick bio about yourself?
Alice Bentley: Hey, we met at Feis Rois 2007 but only started doing original music this year. We love all types of music but if you had to put us in a genre it would most likely be new folk.
iG: What would you say are some of your biggest influences?
AB: We are influenced by many genres of musicians, such as Bob Dylan, Ben Howard and Rachel Sermanni – from the more “folky” side of things – but we also look to people like Paolo Nutini and Laura Marling and even a few rock and pop legends Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, and even Simon Neil. They all influence and inspire us to write music.
iG: I here that you are performing under the new name of Young Trees and will be doing so for the first time at your biggest gig so far. Are you excited about playing the festival?
AB: Indeed we are. Think people are starting to get sick of us talking about it. The atmosphere is fantastic. Such great banter and everyone is just generally lovely!
iG: Have you either of you played the festival before?
AB: I have played at the festival before on the Potting Shed with another group but this is Finns first year at the festival.
iG: What do you think about the new stage?
AB: It looks absolutely fantastic. We are very excited to play and also to see the other bands such as The Black Rock Ceilidh Band and Last Summer Effect.
iG: Who are some of your favourite artists?
AB: We both love bands such as Two Door Cinema Club, Bombay Bicycle Club, Paolo Nutini. Finnies favourite singer/bands are Warpaint and Bob Dylan and I like Bruce Springsteen and Newton Faulkner.
iG: Who are most looking forward to seeing at the festival this year?
AB: PAWS, Rachel Sermanni, Newton Faulkner, Ed Sheeran and Boycotts.
iG: What do you think about the music scene up in the Highlands/Inverness?
AB: The music that is produced from the highlands is varied and exciting. It can be from ceilidh music up to brand new music such as techno and so on.
iG: Thank you very much for the chat.
AB: Your welcome.
Alice Bentley will be playing the HEN Stage at 3pm on the 5th of August