Words: Darci Jackson
Photo: Name is Beau
Is it a cricket club? Are they coming to pick your bins up in the morning? No, Denver County Council is a band. A Manchester based 5 piece, with hard-cutting riffs and a soft undertone to take you on a journey.
“My surname is Denvers… we laughed to begin with, especially me and Jake, but then it just stuck,” says frontman Luke Denvers as we sat in a sunny Deansgate outside Lions’ Den discussing their name. Guitarist Jake Chatterton reminisces about the alternate band names that were flying around including Zest. “‘We had all the tunes but no band name.”
As a 5 piece, they’re fresh out the blocks, having only played a handful of shows before they headed out on tour with good friends The Hunna during the summer. They play NBHD Festival next weekend at The Bread Shed at 2:15pm.
“Absolutely buzzing. It’s probably my favourite inner-city festival for sure,” states Denvers, citing the calibre of venues, the walkability and the unique atmosphere as the reason for this.
“Stoked. Can’t wait. Let’s go,” adds Chatterton with a cheeky grin.
Headlining this year’s festival are Pale Waves alongside many others like The Royston Club, Antony Szmierek and The Academic.
But Denver County Council think The Bread Shed is where it’s at.
“Let me just say, the lineup in that venue is incredible from start to finish, so if you’re not at The Bread Shed at that time, you’re a bloody idiot!” jokes Denvers.
“Dirty Blonde are on right after us, good friend of ours Kai who’s in Balancing Act, they’re great. Kaiden Nolan, The Sheratons, The Guest List.
“Deaf Institute is obviously just over the road; I imagine that’ll be unreal as well so between those two venues I don’t think you’ve got any need to go anywhere else.”
Denver County Council were recently invited to play a session at the AO Arena, which Chatterton describes as “a pinch me moment. It didn’t feel real.”
He went on to say, “turned up, I thought ‘right where do we load in,’ and they were like ‘yeah just this way.’ I literally drove my car into the arena.”
“I was expecting almost to play in a dressing room or in the restaurant or something,” adds Denvers.
From a 23,000-capacity venue to under 1,000 capacity venues, we asked about their time touring with The Hunna.
“It’s a privilege and an honour to play with those guys. Every room was packed out from 7pm, it was incredible, everyone was so nice to us,” says Denvers.
“You’ve got to tip your hat to them, everyone who knows them will tell you they’re the hardest working lads in music,” adds Chatterton.
They say how important that support from fans is as an independent band in the industry.
“We still have to take time off jobs and stuff because we’re completely independent, but we love doing what we do so to have that support and backing from people who are just turning up who didn’t know us, that felt really special for us.”
And that’s what NBHD Festival is all about, discovering the next big thing, the new talent coming through and all of the exciting fresh bands and artists. But why should you go and see Denver County Council? Denvers has the answer:
“Because we’re brand new. We could be your favourite band, you have no idea. Festivals like this are about new artists. You’ve got your headliners but I think it’s where a new artist is able to gain a few more new fans.”
Make sure you catch Denver County Council at NBHD Festival on Saturday 5th October.