As I wrote in the Unfest issue of Blam!, we put on four acts in the basement of The Sussex Arms on Saturday of Unfest, in a Blam! Vs The Stinger showcase. The quality was exceptional, the four Hastings bands put forward by The Stinger DOREY THE WISE, BOSCO ROGERS, KID KAPICHI and FOLLOW all managed to attract audiences, and hopefully new fans. Blam! had to bring in a last minute substitution when HOW'S HARRY couldn't make it. A few messages on Thursday secured a third Unfest gig for UGLY LOVE. Blam! Started the afternoon with JACK LEON MACKEY, and also had THUNDERNAUTS and HOUSE ON FIRE.

We alternated with bands upstairs on the Grom stage, but we all struggled with power cuts, and also the amount of equipment needed in one pub for fourteen bands. I think we all had a good time, it was nice to chat to visitors about how much the were enjoying the music and Unfest in general.

After Unfest I had a chat with THUNDERNAUTS: BLAM: Well done on Saturday. When the initial booking was made it was just with Kit Wharton, but in April this evolved into Thundernauts so how did the band come about? Kit: It started as a solo project but then Caitlin got involved playing drums and it worked really well. We have a really similar music taste and our writing style compliments each other. We decided we wanted a project of our own. We spent a while getting everything together, booking shows and writing music, then we got some of our friends (Lucy and Sunny) involved to help out with photos and the logo. That's pretty much it.

BLAM: What are your influences, and how would you describe your sound?Caitlin: I'd say my long term influences would be NICK CAVE, DAVID BYRNE, THE BREEDERS but more

current ones would be artists like WARPAINT, VIET CONG, CONAN MOCKASIN etc. I'm also massively influenced by my parents with my dad's drumming style and mum's writing techniques. Kit: At the moment Ive been listening to a lot of PIXIES, THE BLACK ANGELS AND COURTNEY BARNETT, I guess thats what Im being inspired by right now, but it changes all the time. Im reading a lot more recently too.Our sound is a big mash up of both our influences, there's something surfy about it whilst still being quite dark and occasionally psychedelic. BLAM: Going further back in time how did you both get into music?Caitlin: My interest in music came from having musicians as parents and going to gigs with them from a very young age. Even now my dad brings me home a new album every couple of weeks which has given me a really broad taste.Kit: I first got into music through my parents, who are both quite musical. I remember there being music on in the house constantly while I was growing up.

BLAM: You seem to be very busy gigging around the South East, what else is coming up; where can people see you if they missed you at Unfest? Thundernauts: Yeah May especially has been mental! It's been the first month having the new name and it's been a really busy one. We supported two bands that we were already fans of (THE GARDEN and THE PARROTS), we played at the Great Escape, it's been a really exciting first few weeks. Well we are playing the Isle Of Wight festival next week so for anyone going head to the Hard Rock stage on Sunday! But in terms of more accessible gigs we are playing at the Joker in Brighton on the19th June which should be a fun one, we also have a few more lined up but can't announce those yet.

BLAM: What other plans do you have will you be recording anything? Thundernauts: We havent really got a plan, I think were just going to do some recordings this month as we havent got any music out, try and release the new songs at the end of this month and gig a lot over the summer, see what happens!

Thanks THUNDERNAUTS, Blam! really thinks this is 'one to watch' for the future. As for the other acts in the basement UGLY LOVE get to support FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS at The Forum on Wednsday 10th June. JACK LEON MACKEY was played on BBC Radio Kent on Saturday 30th May when SLAVES co-hosted 'BBC Introducing in Kent' with Abbie McCarthy. DOREY THE WISE will be supporting SCOUTING FOR GIRLS at the Eastbourne Air-show. FOLLOW will be releasing a single on 20th June at The Union Bar, Hastings. And BOSCO ROGERS seem to be in Paris, which is a way to travel to watch a gig. Unless you are there already?

The rest of Unfest was equally enjoyable, I was asked for a high-light and couldn't think of one...Blam! would love to hear your comments - blam.tunbridgewellsforum@gmail.com