Ahead of their appearance at Leopallooza, we caught up with Scottish rockers Make Sparks to fire a few questions at them.

Clean Slate Music: Hi guys, thanks for taking the time to have a chat.  We’re all stoked to see you on the bill for Leopallooza, for those going that might not be familiar with you could you give a brief introduction as to who you are and what you do?

Craig Make Sparks: No worries thanks for getting in touch! We’re looking forward to the trip down. I’m Craig and I sing and play the guitar in Make Sparks

CSM: You’ve got a busy summer coming up; it’s great to see you so far from your home in Dundee.  Have you ever played as far south as Cornwall before?

MS: Ok, (flips over to google maps) as it turns out this will be the farthest (furthest?) south we’ve ever ventured. Deepest, darkest Cornwall. Whats the time difference? 

CSM: What can we expect from a ‘Make Sparks’ set?

MS: Nothing less than the contractually obligated amount of time!

CSM: It’ll have been just over a year since you released ‘Rewound’ are there many new tunes kicking about now?

MS: Yes, well actually Rewound was more of a compilation of our first two EP’s so its been a couple of years since we first released those songs. We’ve done a couple of double A-side singles and another EP since then and also have been working on a few new tracks that may worm their way into the set for this summer.

CSM: I discovered you as part of the Lightguides/Make Sparks double single.  Any chance of smuggling those boys over the border with you when you come down?

MS: Ha! Unfortunately Mark has been smuggled away to Israel apparently for the whole summer. I think they just have a couple of gigs left and he’s off to seek spiritual enlightenment. We’ll try to squeeze the drummist and guitar 2 (as we affectionately call them) into the van but I make no guarantees.

CSM: With such a long trip down are you planning on making a weekend of it?

MS: We’ll definitely be there for a bit of a party. Its cash upfront right?

CSM: How does ‘Make Sparks’ prepare for a festival?  Any essentials you have to bring with you (apart from instruments…duh!)

MS: Our roadie Shep always insists that we bring him along. So then Bobby (Bass) always insists that Shep brings some air freshener. Murray our manager usually brings a square sausage for Barbequeing. He gets homesick easily. I’ll travel with my usual Harem of willing young ladies and Adam our drummer literally doesn’t leave the house without his The Winter Tradition Tshirt and fanclub badge. 

CSM: Thanks very much we look forward to partying with you down the front at Leopallooza in July.