INTERVIEW

We caught up with Shannon Smy of festival band Seize the Day and got her to divulge her thoughts on protests, pain and parenting.

QTell us a bit about your music what inspires your powerful lyrics?

AWhen I first started writing songs it was a kind of therapy... I was painfully honest about what was going on in my life. Over time that style has stayed with me and I have added perspective and love to my lyrics and I still find that telling the, sometimes painful, truth is what makes most sense.

QWhat campaign/issue are you most passionate about right now?

AClimate Change and the Government Cuts. On a personal level I have decided not to fly any more and I can tell you its not easy. And the Government Cuts are going to hit the poorest in our communities and the public sector, the services that make our lives more communal, caring and fairer are under attack.

QWhich is your favourite festival as a performer?

AI love folk festivals for the quality of the PA and the sound on stage... And

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I love Glastonbury, Buddhafield and Sunrise for playing off grid with great sound crews (The Small World Stage is great...) and wonderful audiences!

QAnd which festival do you most enjoy as a parent?

AI really love Buddhafield, the fun things for children; swing boats, chair rides, performance, theatre workshops and shows are all FREE!

QHow do you manage the performing/parent balance?

AIt still isn’t easy... Mainly because I get nervous before every gig and so the worry from one seeps into the organising of the other...but somehow I’ve managed it for seven years and she still loves festivals and claims the band as her own (‘My band Seize the Day’).

QWhere can we see you in 2011?

AWe’ll be playing a lot of festivals this summer, like Sunrise Celebration in June, and we’ll also be playing further afield at Leamington Peace

Festival and the fabulous

“Raise Your Banners”

festival of political song in Bradford. More details of all our concerts can be found at seizetheday.org.

The new CD, Standing Strong, is out now.