Music Support's 'Tales from the Tour Bus' explores the highs and lows of life on the road post-Lockdown with British rock icons AND their crew.
We’re pleased to share this open and honest discussion about the challenges of returning to the touring world post-Lockdown. Music Support’s George Levers meets rock front men Loz Taylor from ‘While She Sleeps’ and Rou Reynolds from ‘Enter Shikari’ alongside Lucy Harrison, Lighting Director and founder of Pixeled Event Production (who has toured with both artists). They share their experiences of returning to touring after so much time away. They also discuss ways in which artists and crew can protect the wellbeing of their band/crew mates (and themselves) from meditation and exercise to reaching out for help.
Commenting on the interview, Levers, who leads the delivery and development of Music Support’s frontline services, said “During the Global Pandemic, we saw an increase in call volume to our confidential Helpline by 60% as our industry peers were hit hard by the uncertainty, fear, isolation and financial consequences of Covid 19. Whilst it’s amazing that live music is back, it has brought a whole new set of challenges from the anxiety of being around so many people again to the physical and mental toll of overcompensating to make up for so much time away. This had led to a growing number of artists taking time off to prioritise their wellbeing.”
She continues “We are incredibly grateful to Loz, Lucy and Rou for coming together to share their stories. Music Support is a charity created BY the industry, FOR the industry. We offer help and support to anyone who works in music and live events experiencing mental health or addiction challenges, whether you are on stage or behind the scenes. We felt it was crucial to represent both sides with this important discussion.”
Guests
Rou Reynolds
Rou is front man of multi-award-winning British rock band, Enter Shikari. Since forming in 2003 at school in their hometown of St Albans, they have released six full-length albums all of which have reached the UK Album Chart top 5. 2023 is set to be another huge year for them with the release of single ‘(pls) set me on fire’ accompanying their forthcoming album ‘A Kiss For The Whole World’ and a global tour which is fast selling out. www.entershikari.com
Loz Taylor
Loz is front man of British metalcore band, While She Sleeps, formed in Sheffield in 2006. They have released three EPs and five studio albums and received the Best British Newcomer award at the Kerrang! Awards 2012. Throughout 2022, While She Sleeps flexed their profound live prowess worldwide, appearing at a plethora of European festivals and touring with Parkway Drive across the UK and Europe. 2023 will see their largest headline show to date as they are set to play London’s magnificent Alexandra Palace on 23rd September. www.whileshesleeps.com
Lucy Harrison
Lucy is director of Pixeled, an event production company. They provide all aspects of production including lighting, audio, special FX, lasers, video and staging and aim to be a one stop shop for their clients. They are not a large company by any means, and really like to work on a one-to-one basis for a personal experience. The company has grown from a hobby that got out of hand and a love of live music.
Lucy works primarily as a touring lighting designer. Her job involves liaising with clients and suggesting ideas for their set, programming the lighting, video, lasers and stage FX and pretty much anything that isn’t audio related operating.
Some of Pixeled’s notable clients include Enter Shikari, The Amity Affliction and While She Sleeps.
HOST - George Levers
George leads the delivery and development of Music Support’s frontline services supporting our beneficiaries. She has extensive experience working in music and live events, leading brand and artist partnerships at Live Nation and creative entertainment agency FRUKT. Understanding the complexities of mental health and addiction challenges has been a passion of hers for many years, having struggled with her own issues in her late teens – early 20s.
George is currently undertaking her first year of training, Advanced Diploma in Humanistic Integrative Counselling.
About Music Support
Music Support is a registered UK charity that helps those who work in music and live events affected by mental ill-health and/or addiction. Our team has been personally impacted by these issues and seen friends, colleagues and heroes lose their careers, families and even their lives. Our core services include a confidential Helpline, managed by industry peers with lived experience, training in Mental Health First Aid and Addiction and Recovery Awareness to empower individuals to look after the wellbeing of their colleagues (and themselves), and ‘Safe Hubs’ backstage at festivals, providing a space for artists and crew to take time out and speak to Mental Health First Aid trained staff. Find out more about what we do.
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