SOUTHAMPTON indie-rockers The Novatones will play their biggest ever festival this month and it’s in their home city.

The popular four-piece have been given a coveted place on the Saturday main stage at the inaugural Common People festival on Southampton Common during May 23-24.

Lead singer-guitarist Anthony Pittman, drummer Sean Swift, guitarist Mackenzie Gordon-Smith and bassist Toby Hornby-Patterson spoke exclusively to the Southern Daily Echo to explain how it all happened.

“We’d just won one of the The Joiners’ competitions to play on an outer stage at the festival and we were already chuffed to bits with that,” said Anthony.

"But days later a message came through saying there was some really big news for us. We couldn’t imagine what it was but it turned out the organisers were putting us alongside the headliners on the main stage. It was amazing to hear.”

“Last year we played at the Isle of Wight Festival to about 500 people and we couldn’t imagine topping that one so soon” added Mackenzie.

“Being in Southampton is going to make it really special, too” said Anthony, “It will mean so much to us”.

Devised by DJ Rob da Bank, Common People boasts an incredibly diverse line-up. The Novatones will be part of an all-star bill that builds up to superstar DJ Fatboy Slim on the Saturday night and Grace Jones on the Sunday.

As well as The Novatones there is plenty of other Southampton sounds playing across the weekend.

Band of Skulls are on the main stage on Sunday while other Joiners’ favourites Sean McGowan, The Rising, The Costellos and Bel Esprit are all on the indie-themed Uncommon People stage.

“It’s great that so many other local guitar acts are going to be there” said Anthony. “Most of them are our mates, too” he added.

But not everything is straight forward. Drummer Sean is anxiously counting the days to see if a broken wrist from a Saturday football accident will be healed in time for him to play at Common People.

“The plaster cast has to be on for six weeks and the festival is during the final seven days. The doctors say I can play if it feels ok but it’s going to be close” he said apprehensively.

Talented guitarists Mackenzie and Toby only joined the band fifteen months ago but all four in the group already seem pretty close.

They bounce off each other in conversation before beginning another rehearsal at Planet-Sounds studios on Terminal Terrace in the city centre.

Things are going well. The band recently supported The Rifles at The Pyramids, Portsmouth, and will soon tour with legendary mod-heroes The Lambrettas in Brighton and London.

The Novatones are regulars at The Joiners and have taken their indie-punk sounds nationwide, even as far as Glasgow. Their latest EP Sunday Romance is available on ITunes.

The lads are all Saints fans. Lead singer Anthony fondly remembers holding striker Rickie Lambert up on his shoulder during the pitch celebrations on promotion to the Premier League.

“It would be a dream come true to hear one of our songs playing out at half-time at St Mary’s,” he added.

But this month’s landmark festival on the Common is the biggest thrill for the band this year. The Novatones are delighted to be playing such a huge home fixture.

After all, like so many of the other acts playing there, the band is one of our own.

  • Common People Festival, Southampton Common 23-24, May 2015.