Festivals Spector get ready for Truck Festival

With headliners Wolf Alice, Foals and Two Door Cinema Club, Oxford’s Truck is definitely the most indie of all the festivals this summer. IDLES, Shame, Whenyoung, Sports Team, The Japanese House, Heavy Lungs, The Murder Capital… it’s bound to be clash central. And that’s before Barry from Eastenders - actual Barry from Eastenders - takes on Barryoke (no, really).

We had a pre-Truck chat with Fred from Spector to find out how they’re getting prepped.

Hello, Spector! You’ve not-long released a new single: tell us about it!

It’s called ‘I Won’t Wait’ and people seem into it which is nice. We’ve released a couple of EPs over the last year or so but now it feels like we’re warming up to something. I’m not sure what yet but I feel something on the horizon. I’ve even heard it on the radio which is a bit of a surprise.

…we assume there’s more to come?

Yeah we’re in the studio right this second actually working on the next one. Rich Turvey’s producing - this Scouser who’s so into making indie bangers he’s almost getting us back into it.

What else have you been up to?

I’ve been writing with other people and doing a project with Cav from Swim Deep called Low Spirits. And trying to complete Dark Souls. And going to Glastonbury to watch the Bootleg Beatles.

You’ve also announced a pretty massive UK tour - any towns/cities you’re particularly looking forward to returning to?

There are places on this tour like Plymouth and Falmouth that I’m not sure we’ve ever even played. But there are a few places like York, Hull and Bath that we haven’t been back to for years which should be fun. And Leicester has this crazy prog rock mailorder place called Ultima Thule that you have to go to by appointment only. Always a tour highlight.

Judging from this year’s lineup, Truck is the indiest of all the festivals: how indie are the respective members of Spector, on a scale from one to Alex Turner’s perpetually lost train of thought?

Hmmm. I’d say I’m the most indie. It’s a blessing and a curse. Then probably Shaun [Paterson] who plays bass with us now ‘cause he plays bass with Jamie T and Baxter Dury too so that’s pretty indie. Then Jed [Cullen] who’s not that indie but he’s third becase Danny Blandy’s by far the least indie. Despite being from the steel city like Turner himself.

It’s on a farm - are any of you equipped to chip in if there are any agricultural chores needing doing?

I’ve milked a cow before, but to be honest I met a girl at uni whose boyfriend died in a grain mixer during the Christmas break. After that ‘Groovy Train’ is about as close as I get to the farm.