Rising To The Masses: Stone Soup

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Before the first riffs echo through the fields of Catton Park, we are diving head first into the pulse-pounding world of the New Blood Stage at Bloodstock 2024. So grab your backstage pass, tune your senses, and join us as we explore the stories, inspirations, and the relentless drive of the bands who are rising to the masses! Introducing Stone Soup…

How would you describe your band to someone who’s never heard you?

We have been best described as “The Blues Brother’s meets Metal!!!” Not that we mimic the movie but we bring a massive blues influence to our music.

We love our Hard Rock, Stoner Rock and Classic Metal.

Tell us about your band’s origin story. How did you all come together?

Forged from the embers of a burning joint…

5 lads from Hampshire met, jammed, smoked, gigged, recorded… and are planning world domination.

What song would you recommend for someone’s first listen of your band?

Describe your songwriting process. How do you create your music?

Usually after several weeks of ear worms, noodling and unstructured jamming.

Finally a song will emerge quickly followed by lyrics and then refined into something that we are all happy with.

Everyone in the band brings something different, for example we all have different influences.

How do you handle creative disagreements within the band?

We have never really struggled with this issue, but we would probably settle it by having a smoke and then forgetting all about it.

What are your musical influences?

Clutch, Black Sabbath, Alice in Chains, Monster Magnet, Hawkwind, Doctor Feelgood.

Grunge, Stoner Rock, 70’s Rock, Hard Rock, Brighton Rock and Dwayne the Rock Johnson… to name but a few…

What’s the story behind your band name?

It is a literal story.

The Stone Soup tale is found in many cultures, and sums up our ethos nicely.

What’s your guilty pleasure music outside of metal?

Jimmy Nail, Kate Bush, and Prince are probably the biggest offenders.

Paul likes his Prog music. Chris likes Carter USM. Jim, Wendy and Boney are too embarrassed to say (ABBA).

Tell us about your most memorable live performance or tour experience.

Our journey through Oxford Metal to the masses led to a final which encompassed everything we love about performing.

Fantastic bands, incredible audience and amazing energy led to an onstage experience that we will never forget.

What’s the most challenging aspect of being a metal band in today’s music industry?

There are so many sub genres within metal that it is difficult to know where you sit.

There is so much talent out there at a grassroots level, that getting noticed is challenging until you find your niche.

Particularly in our area, lots of venues have shut down which forces more bands to compete for less shows.

Any advice for other aspiring metal musicians?

From our experience it’s all about enjoying yourselves, not putting too much pressure on yourself or each other.

If it isn’t fun for you, it probably won’t be fun for anyone else.

What’s next after Bloodstock for the band?

Planning and recording our third album. Gigs, gigs and more gigs!!

Riding the wave of Bloodstock as far as we possibly can.

How do you choose album artwork or visuals for your releases?

We looked through Jim’s holiday photos, found one we like, ran it through some filters, et voila!!

What’s the most unexpected inspiration for one of your songs?

The three legged wizard from the Isle of Man (Triskellion).

What’s the best gig you’ve attended as a fan and why?

Gutlocker at Basingstoke Irish Centre (the police were called).

How do you stay motivated during creative slumps?

Through mild hallucinogens

Stone Soup are set to play The Hopical Storm New Blood Stage On Saturday 10th August 2024.