Young Guns are a 5 piece band consisting of Gustav Wood, Fraser Taylor and John Taylor, Simon Mitchell and Ben Jolliffe.  It’s been over two years since the release of their album, BONES, which saw them conquer the US and in turn sign a new album deal with Virgin EMI in the UK. This week the band have returned with the brilliant new single ‘I Want Out’ which received its first airing as Zane Lowe’s ‘Hottest Record In The World’. Nice!

We caught up with frontman Gus ahead of their main stage appearance at Leeds Festival in a couple of weeks. The polite and chirpy Gus comes to the phone having taken a break from putting the finish touches to the album….

Hi Gus, how are you mate?

I’m good ta, just getting a break from the studio. We’ve got two days left so it always gets hectic around this time.

I can only imagine. We’re all looking forward to the record, can’t wait to hear it. Before that though we have the small matter of a main stage appearance and Reading & Leeds festivals. As festival regulars what are your essential items to take with you?

I think you need to accept the fact it’s going to be grimy, muddy and sweaty so as a performer the key thing is clean clothes. You’d be surprised at how many you go through. Take plenty of water with you and I always take plenty of sun cream – I’m always that guy. Money too, we all know how expensive festivals are these days so you need plenty cash. And a bring a good attitude

A good attitude! I like it. Remember that kids… Leeds & Reading festivals have historically always has an incredibly strong line up and this year is no different. Will you be sticking around after your set and if so, who else are you looking forward to seeing on the bill?

Well actually this year at Leeds we’re going to be staying over in a hotel so we will be sticking about and enjoying the line-up. Usually we don’t get to see much – you’re doing press, then playing and as we live in London we’re usually shooting straight off after the show. We can’t wait to see Blink 182 and all the others on the bill with us. It’s a huge privilege to be playing Leeds so we’re looking forward to chilling out and catching the bands.

Nice. Overall do you enjoy festival season? It’s great for punters but bands are often in and out missing a lot of the fun…  

Yeah it great. Personally I grew up in London so my nearest festival was Reading and we would go there. It was part of our childhood growing up so now it is such a privilege being asked to play them. We’re so grateful and we always have an incredible time. I love looking out at 80,000 people in a field all there for the same thing.

What is your favourite festival you’ve played? 

There are a few. Rock The Range in America, which is a lot of heavier music, that’s great. Also Pukkelpop, I loved playing that one too. But when it comes down to it, it has to be Reading & Leeds; I’m just in awe of the place. We’re lucky enough to be of the select few who have seen both sides of the fence too – I’ll never grow old of the place.

What is your best festival moment, either as a punter or playing?

Ok, this would be The Big Day Out 1999. This was the first time I got to go to a festival, my brother took me as a treat for doing my GCSE’s. Metallica were headlining and it was a time they were still really great – they’re one of my favourite bands. Also probably playing Reading & Leeds main stage in 2010. It was the first time we’d played a main stage and it was quite surreal but something I’ll never forget.

And what is your worst? 

I’ve been pretty lucky in that respect. We’ve played a lot of “all dayers” when we were starting out where the stage would fall to bits or an amp would blow up but still in their own way they were still kinda ok.

What can we expect from your show at Reading and Leeds this year? 

We’ve been away for a while now, touring America then doing the album so this is quite a significant show as we haven’t played the UK for over a year. We’ll be playing new songs. As we’ve done the album we’d like to play loads, up to 9 if we could, but we won’t!

Speaking of new music you must have been made up to get the Zane Lowe ‘Hottest Record In The World’ accolade last night?

It was brilliant, yeah. We’ve been working the album for a number of months and it’s as a relief to get the single done. The response we’ve had to it has been absolutely huge and we’re really looking forward to people hearing the album.

What is the new album like – is there a change of direction from what your fans will have been used to? 

Sonically people will be surprised. The single [I Want Out] is a good indication of what it will be like. We wanted ‘I Want Out’ to come out first and it’s a good bridging between past and the future to where we’re going. The album is a lot broader and pushes the boundaries.

When we recorded it we put the pianos and synths down first then the traditional band elements after, I’m really excited for people to hear it.

As we are. Thanks for your time, I’ll let you get back into that studio. Just before you go can you tell us whats next for Young Guns?

Thanks. Yeah, we have two warm up shows for Reading and Leeds in Gloucester and Portsmouth. We’ve also got bits which we can’t announce yet and then we’re off to America with You Me At Six for a few dates then back home around Xmas.

Thanks Gus!  

Young Guns play the main stage at Leeds on Friday 22^nd August

For more info and to buy tickets for Leeds festival click here

Buy Young Guns new single ‘I Want Out’ click here

To win tickets to Leeds Festival, click here