Interviewing the band BARSTAFF

I spent the evening with BARSTAFF preparing their mixtapes, sound checking and putting on a phenomenal performance.

Formed in Wigan, BARSTAFF are an upcoming bedroom pop band with a unique style incorporating themes of Jazz, R&B and Indie music. BARSTAFF have currently got one EP ‘Show, Don’t Tell’ released and have been travelling the UK playing festivals like the Isle of Wight as well as headlining their own gigs.

The band is made up of Ben Ash (vocals/guitar), Josh Byrom (guitar), Ciara Hanley (bass) and Jack Holland (Drums).

I spent an evening with BARSTAFF to not only interview them and get to know their backstory, but to also get an insider into what they are like as people and what it’s like preparing to play a show.

On 1st  December, I went to the bands headline gig in their home town of Wigan. When I arrived Ben and Josh welcomed me into the venue with big smiles and introduced me to Ciara and Jack, who were wrapping mixtapes that were going to be given out during their performance. We soon went into a backstage room covered in the names of all the bands who have performed at the venue and the interview began.

Ben first discussed how they all met. Himself and Jack met in primary school. He then met Ciara whilst they were working together in a bar, and lastly he met Josh through each of their ex-girlfriends. “Myself and Jack have literally known each other forever” began Ciara before laughing and explaining they were born in the same hospital ward on the same day. In 2019 Ben asked the others if they’d like to form and band and BARSTAFF, named after Ben and Ciara’s bar jobs, was born.

“The songs write themselves” proudly stated Ben. “If a song is taking too long to come together, then it’s not right” he explained. Ciara chimed in to tell me the bands most popular song “Outta your league” was impressively written in ten minutes on the back of a bar mat. “We thought it was shit” she chuckled.

Next, I asked “Do you have any funny stories from touring?” and immediately all four of them burst out laughing then talked about the isle of weight festival which Ciara described as “a fever dream”. The majority of the band were keeping busy during the day and left Jack “to his own devices”. When they turned up at the tent three hours before the show Jack was described by Ben as “Fucking leathered”.  Eventually the band played well and made genuine fans from the night. Ben adds “It’s funny looking bad but was very stressful”. Jack defends himself “Me and Josh always drive to places, so I never get the opportunity to drink, and I just let myself enjoy it too much.” He sighs “lessons have been learnt.”

“Do you have any pre-show rituals to keep calm?” I questioned. Promptly Ben announces, “Get pissed” and begins laughing. Ciara gives her insight, “We always think no one gonna come and so we never feel that nervous and it’s a pleasant surprise when people do turn up”. Adding to her point Josh reflects on their set at Lakefest. “We played our first song with two people but by the end of the set the tent was full.” Ben quickly agrees saying “the best gigs are when you expect no one to come and people do.”

Ben attempts to describe the bands genre although he believes they don’t really fit solely into one. They have a lot of Jazz, R&B and Indie influences. “Bedroom pop” Ciara selects as their genre but ultimately she agrees their upcoming music will be less indie and have more soul and jazz influence.

BARSTAFF make it clear their aim is to enjoy themselves. “We don’t want to just play things, we want to put on a bit of a show so people remember us” explains Ciara. “Like the time Ben went and ordered a drink with a wireless mic during a gig, my friends still say that’s funny as fuck now.” Ben agrees and continues “when we play we are having a good time and you can see that we don’t take ourselves serious at all”. Josh exclaims “it’s contagious” before him and Ciara in sync shout “do it for fun”. Finally, Ben and Ciara give the advice “Don’t do music with the end goal of just getting big, just be silly”.

Soon enough each member got busy continuing to wrap mixtapes and write funny messages on them, going on food runs and speaking to the support acts and tech team. Once the support bands begin, guests start to arrive, and a few people wonder around the venue looking for each member of BARSTAFF to sign their posters. The four have a few drinks and chat to guests before beginning their incredible performance.

BARSTAFF’S next single will be out at the end of January followed by their next Five track EP ‘Robbing A Living.’ In May they are playing Luck Juice festival in London, a festival for underrepresented minorities such as women and people of colour. They also have two scheduled Manchester shows in 2024.