Shwmae and welcome back to Green Man Chinwag, where we introduce you to a bumper bunch of GM25 acts via our punchy mini-Q&A – both newer discoveries and firm favourites!
This week, we are chewing the fat with Joe Hicklin and Callum Moloney, also known as ‘country-punk’ act Big Special. Eight months on, and we’re still reeling from the duo’s appearance on the Rising Stage at GM24 – an impassioned set filled with real verve and magnetism. At the time, they were crowning a summer of performances in support of their debut album ‘Postindustrial Hometown Blues’; as they return to the mountains this August, we’ll be awaiting new music with bated ears…
In their live show, Big Special bend all sorts of sonic ideas – from heavy, shouty, big-hearted catharsis to playful grooves and bluesy crooning – coupled with a delivery that sees them bring buckets of emotion to the stage. “Sunday Funday” is what they’re naming their forthcoming GM25 slot, and we’ll be joining them down the front, eager and wide-eyed.
As the anticipation begins to crackle ahead of GM25, we asked the pair some quick fire questions…
For fans of: Yard Act, Nadine Shah, Genesis Owusu
Where to start: ‘Black Dog/White Horse’ – Hicklin’s voice is a marvel, waltzing between a conversational register and a rich soul depth that sounds particularly spine-tingling on this stirring number.
Who are you looking forward to seeing live at Green Man 2025?
CMAT. 100%. Neither of us have seen her live before, and she’s one of our favourite artists. Even if it means missing our own set we’re going to see her! There are loads of others that we’re looking forward to, though – Wunderhorse, Chalk, Divorce, and Ditz, to name a few. It’s a class line up this year.
How does performing a festival set differ from one of your own headline shows?
There’s no pressure at festivals…at least not the same pressure. When it's your own headline show people have an expectation of what they are about to see, and you feel an obligation to make sure they get their money's worth. Festival sets are about new fans discovering us for the first time, and people are smashed from being on a mad one all day seeing 20 other bands, so are already feeling more open to new music. Festivals are more relaxed; there’s more room for daftness as we ain’t got nothing to prove!
What can we expect from your Green Man 2025 performance?
We’re not playing till the Sunday, and are planning on being there from the Thursday [of the festival], so expect two sunburnt and hungover Midlanders ready for a laugh. We were on the Sunday night graveyard shift last year on the Rising Stage and it was absolutely rammed, so we know the score. Sunday Funday…
You can only listen to one record for the rest of your life, what would it be?
It would be a very short, sad little existence if we could only listen to one record…sounds like torture! May as well pick something daft to live such a daft life, so we’ll pick ‘The Party Album!’ by Vengaboys and go out with a bang.
What first drew you together as collaborators?
It’s that old rock and roll story, we met doing a BTEC in Music Performance at college in Birmingham. All the greats have BTECs…but yeah, we clicked from day dot. That was 15-odd years ago. Time flies.
Track you play before going on stage?
[Frankie Laine’s] ‘Rawhide’ every time – because this ain’t our first rodeo!
And finally, what’s your favourite biscuit?
Bourbon Cream is an elite-tier biscuit and anyone who says different is wrong. All that flavour for 40p [a packet]. Bang on.