Birmingham band Beaumont talk first shows, their new E.P and the local music scene - unsigned interview

From playing shows in local pubs alongside their other friends in bands, Beaumont have gone on to headline venues across the UK, release two EPs and be tipped as Ones To Watch in 2017 by Rock Sound.

Vocalist Spencer Edmonds tells us how the group came together to make music.

“We’re all from Birmingham. Two of us even went to school together and didn’t know that until we started playing music six or seven years later!” he said.

“A few of us were in the same friendship group and liked the same music, so we thought we’d give it a go.

“We’re influenced from anything from Trapped Under Ice to Lady Gaga. We do take a lot of influence from the likes of Weezer, The Xcerts and Circa Waves. And you can’t forget the classics like Springsteen, Thin Lizzie and David Bowie.”

After extensive practising, the band – completed by guitarist Jake Murray, guitarist Chris Inston, bassist Reece Aleksander and drummer Mitchell Dornan – felt ready to dive in and play their first live show.

“We played at The Bull’s Head in Moseley in front of a few of our friends who seemed to enjoy it,” Spencer says.

“Shortly after the place turned into a Cuban restaurant. I’m not sure if that’s because of our performance, but who knows?”

The band have gone on to play and support slots across the UK with the likes of The Gospel Youth and Gnarwolves – but the band are always drawn back to their hometown.

“I’d say hometown shows and shows elsewhere are very similar, but you see a lot more familiar faces when you play a hometown show.

“We have the biggest crowds when we play Birmingham compared to when we play elsewhere, and we’re always blown away when we get a few people singing along and having a good time.”

As well as playing local shows, Beaumont play alongside fellow local acts such as Light You Up and Fullshore to ensure the Birmingham music scene continues to thrive.

“It’s so important to have a strong scene in the region. It helps give bands a foot on the ladder when playing shows and, for us, this has always been a safe and positive experience,” says Spencer.

“The hard work from promoters and small venues means that the scene can continue to thrive.

“Unfortunately a venue in Birmingham – The Flapper – is being knocked down. The venue has played a massive part in so many bands’ success stories, so I’d encourage anyone reading this to sign to the petition to try and keep it open!”

Following a spate of successful shows the group decided that the time was right to record some brand new music – and their second EP Honestly was released on September 15.

“It was a long process to get the record out but we’ve learned a lot along the way. For us writing and recording is our favourite thing about being in a band.

“We recorded the EP at Outhouse Studios in Reading which has albums from You Me At Six, Enter Shikari and Lower Than Atlantis under its belt, so it was an obvious choice to go there.”

The band celebrated the release with a show at Birmingham’s The Flapper on September 22, alongside Milestones and The Gospel Youth.

Honestly follows the band’s debut EP Nothing, a record that they are immensely proud of and have used as a basis to further their sound.

“The songs on Nothing were some of the first songs we had ever written together. We were still trying to find our own sound and create our own niche on the scene.

“This time around, we were a lot more aware of what makes us different to other bands on the scene,” Spencer adds.

“We spent a lot more time writing this release than the last and that gave us the chance to experiment with sounds and influences we’d never used. We weren’t afraid to combine poppy hooks with the odd stupidly heavy riff.”

Beaumont have come a long way in their short time as a band, and have a lot of advice for other upcoming groups.

Their main piece of advice to bands is to focus on what makes their outfit unique and champion that.

“The main thing we try and accomplish is trying to be different to the other bands in the scene.

“It’s important, when starting out, to take your time writing those first songs, use each member’s influences and create music that’s original.

“If you sound like every other band in the scene you’re soon going to be forgotten.”

Following the release of Honestly, the band are focused on the future and moving forward.

“In an ideal world we’d be travelling to shows in our private jets, playing to thousands of fans and trashing hotel rooms,” says Spencer.

“But until then, we’re going to keep writing songs whilst the iron is hot, play as many as shows as possible and try to get our music and glum faces out there.”