Blaenavon: That's Your Lot

You couldn’t accuse Blaenavon of rushing their debut album, but good things come to those who wait. 

Words: Martyn Young. Photos: Sarah Louise Bennett.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A bit like the mining town from which they took their name, Hampshire trio Blaenavon (that’s singer and guitarist Ben Gregory, bassist Frank Wright and drummer Harris McMillan) have an unassuming reputation. Beneath their carefree exterior, though, lies a story of evocative beauty just like the wonders of South Wales’ industrial heartland. Just without the dragons.

Blaenavon’s tale is one that goes back to school classrooms, cafeterias and the family living room which still plays a central role in the band’s songwriting. “I’ve got a spot in my home, on my little red sofa with a nylon string guitar. That’s where I write tunes,” says Ben. Family ties are held dear. A recent show in Cologne was attended by a whole bunch of relatives, including Ben’s 80-year-old great grandmother. Despite their skyrocketing success, Blaenavon are in no danger of losing touch with their roots.

Perhaps those close bonds were forged by the band’s beginnings. Formed in 2012, their early days were shaped by the attitude that fires all teenage bands: living for the moment and making music purely for the sheer joy of it. As they approach the release of their long-awaited debut album, ‘That’s Your Lot’, Blaenavon have cast aside the worries of tired industry politics and embraced the youthful idealism of their teenage years, delivering a super smart, effortlessly classy and deeply ambitious debut.

“It’s gone full circle,” explains Ben. “When you first start making music at 15, you’re not worried if anybody’s going to hear it or what they’re going to say. When you start to get to a position of minimum power you’re like, ‘Crap, what’s everyone going to think about this?’ You realise after a while that all you can do is make the sort of music you want to make, and people will say about it what they want to say - and that’s fine as long as the music you make is fucking sick and important to you. I feel like we’re back to that stage now and our album reflects that; it’s very honest and sincere, and we’re all so happy with it.”

Blaenavon’s coming of age is the product of years of well-received singles, false starts, creative breakthroughs and gradually finding their feet. Back at school, the band was an outlet for the flowing creative ideas of three young, talented musicians. It never quite felt like they were a ‘proper’ band. Not yet, anyway - not until they made their defining statement. “We were all pretty busy,” says Ben. “We had a lot going on at school and college. Music was like the sweet relief when we had time off after school, where we could forget about all the bullshit that is growing up in a shit little town. We were trying to be creative with our friends and get something artistic done.” [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image="11671" img_size="full" alignment="center