Viola Beach have been extremely busy turning heads recently, including the likes of Annie Mac who has placed them on her ‘New Names For 2016’. The bands efforts have seen them rewarded with a support slot on Blossoms’ upcoming tour, as well as some impressive headline gigs of their own. We caught up with front-man Kis Leonard to see how life was treating them.

Hello Kris, how are you and what have you been up to this week?

Hello! I’m good thanks and we’ve been smashing a lot of things this week as we’ve just moved in to our new house. We’re now in a Travelodge in Cork!

You’ve recently released your second single ‘Boys That Sing’ – what can you tell us about the track?

It’s a poppy love song about learning to sing to impress a girl. That’s about it really it’s quite simple!

You’re also scheduled to go on tour supporting one of the hottest bands in the country this month, how are you feeling approaching the tour?

Yeah we’re really looking forward to it, we just like to get out of the house really. Blossoms are great lads too as I’m sure Vryll Society are so that helps! I’m looking forward to seeing Ireland as well.

Viola Beach are also on Annie Mac’s ‘New Names For 2016’, that must be quite exciting?

Yeah we’re very honoured to be on that list amongst some great names. It’s very kind of her to include us in it. It might be because we have similar hair.

Sticking with radio 1, you played the prestigious Maide Vale studios last November, what was that like?

It was a very surreal experience. I’ve never been filmed before. And the studio is very big and somewhat intimidating. We had a good laugh though and the tracks came out sounding cool.

As well as the support slot with Blossoms, you’ve also pencilled in a few dates of your own. What do you most enjoy about playing live?

The thing I personally enjoy most is definitely releasing a lot of pent up energy and possibly some subconscious aggression? It’s a very fulfilling thing to do to play your music in front of people and it hopefully shows that I enjoy it. Also the free beer’s good too.

Amongst the gigs is a fairly impressive headline show at your home town’s Parr Hall, where of course the Stone Roses played a momentous gig back in 2012. How does it feel to be headlining somewhere like that?

We’re very humbled to even get that opportunity. Not many people get that especially at this stage. I just hope people turn up, I played there when I was 14 to about five people so hopefully history doesn’t repeat itself.

What other bands are currently catching your attention?

I’m really enjoying listening to this guy called William Joseph Cook at the minute. I really enjoy his melodies and songwriting style. Also a fairly new Manchester band called Pysblings. They’re great live.

What else can we expect from Viola Beach throughout 2016?

Just a lot more exciting shows and more tunes really. We’ve got a lot planned and this year is gonna be a lot of fun.

James Cummins.

@CummyBear