What are you up to at this very moment?
I’ve just taken apart a hoover and untangled a load of fairly light that were tangled round the rotors
What can fans expect to experience at one of your shows?
Heavy breathing,
What is your favourite song to perform live?
At the moment, a song called ‘After Hours with Johnny Guitar’. It’s from my new album and documents the lock-ins in my old pub where one of the old odd ball jazz musicians would stay late and tell me his woes.
When you’re not performing what do you do to keep yourself busy when you’re on tour / on the road?
I am a very unsuccessful inventor. I’m trying to get a couple of things patented with very little success. I potter. I make things in my cellar.
You’ve played/or playing a lot of great festivals year, which was the best so far?
Well I’m looking forward to Glastonbury and Wickerman, but the one that really stand out is Smugglers Festival in Kent. I had such a great time there last year. It’s small, maybe 1000 people but has all the things that a big festival has, apart from big bands that I didn’t really want to see anyway.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever played?
The single launch of ‘Further in Midnight’ two weeks ago. We’d rehearsed solidly for a week. The venue was sold out, the crowd were amazing and Laura Marling turned up and did a couple of tunes.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
Probably an Irish traditional folk gig with my old man when I was about five. He used to play all that stuff and we went to see his old mates.
Which other artists are you listening to at the moment?
The Magic Lantern, Nick Cave, Paul Simon.
Which song do you wish you had written?
Today – Peach Tree by Rufus Wainwright
Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Gillian Welch and David Rawlings
Plans for the rest of the year?
Festivals, more tours in the autumn. We’re releasing a short film about the manufacturing of the record sometime. And somewhere in the pipeline is a live recording that’s being discussed at the moment.
See him LIVE at Manchester Soup Kitchen on Friday 3rd May, tickets on sale now: www.gigsandtours.com/tour/pete-roe/