Introduction
Today we are joined by Sean Smith Co-Lead vocalist of the Welsh Post-Hardcore band The Blackout! We talked prior to their exciting show at Chepstow Castle on the 16th Of August 2025. You can buy tickets here.
As a massive fan of the band and being played a hell of a lot by me when I was discovering the music I loved. It is fair to say I am rather excited to get this interview! Get tickets to the show and let me know what you think to the music and interview.
Interview
You have recently announced a one off show (August 16th), in Chepstow Castle! What can fans expect from this special show. Also, what made you decide to only do one show?
We are playing a set of songs that spans our careers! Also, getting to play Chepstow Castle sounded bad ass so we booked it! We decided to do one show because we were considering leaving touring until next year but at the moment we don’t have an plans to do anything else…
For the show you’re being supported by Blackgold and The Brass Bambees, what about these bands make them the perfect selection for such a prestigious show?
They’re both bands we all like. Black Gold are great. The Brass Bambees are an upcoming band from out town so we wanted to get more eyes on them. You should check them both out!
I love taking a deep dive into the back catalogue of the bands I interview. The Beijing Cocktail is a huge hit from your 2007 debut album “We Are The Dynamite”. Firstly, if this was a real cocktail what would you put in it to make it? Secondly when you released this album did you realise it would be so well received?
The song is named after the concoction that Chev Chelios is spiked with in the hit movie “CRANK” so whatever they put in that is what we’d use for a drink. When we released the album we were just putting out songs that we rushed to get made because there were time constraints on us. We had no idea it would kick start our career.
A personal favourite song of mine has always been “Higher & Higher” from 2011’s “Hope”. I was wondering how did the collaboration with Hyro Da Hero come about, and what was he like to work with?
Hyro was wonderful to work with. We sent him the song and a week later we had it back with his brilliant verse. He’s a good egg!
Being a Welsh band, I was wondering would you be able to give us a few pointers towards some new exciting Welsh bands coming through?
Valhalla awaits (Snoz other band), Raiders (Sean & Bobs other band), The brass bambees, nightlives, icantdie, Delour, public order…there’s a load!
Obviously, you guys broke up in 2015, I want to know though what exactly prompted the reunion in 2022. Also, what was it like playing your first gig together again?
We realised we were all getting older so wanted to experience the blackouts crowd again. The first gig back at Manchester academy was mind blowing. Bob nearly cried with joy.
I finally got to see you guys at Download Festival 2023 and your set was FANTASTIC! I’d love to know whether you prefer festival sets or standalone gigs? And why?
Festivals are fun cos you get to play to new people so seeing the shocked look on their faces of always fun but I prefer our headline shows as people know what to expect and know the songs!
Would you rather have Octopus tentacles for arms, or a Rhino horn for a nose?
Tentacles. I’ve seen online documentaries…and in them girls seems to like tentacles.
What is the best thing about being in a band? And also, what is the worst?
Playing shows with my friends to our friends is the best bit, worst bit is trying to organise everything. It can be a real drain.
There is 6 of you in the band! Does this make the creative process easier or harder? Speaking of creative… Can fans expect any new music any time soon? (It has been 11 years after all)
No new music. With TBO being our first band we didn’t really know any different when it came to writing so it’s always been quite simple for us.
STFUppercut is so deliciously aggressive! I was wondering though if you had to learn any form of fighting what would it be and why?
I’d love to learn BJJ but I’m scared of someone pulling my limbs off.
If you could rename the band to anything else, what would it be and why?
JEFF. The band. Silly name, silly band.
What exactly do The “Children Of The Night” look like?
Goths! We’re all secretly goths!
What would you pin point as the best “moment” that The Blackout ever experienced?
Either the comeback tour or when we were lucky enough to headline the roundhouse in Camden.
Can you tell us something about the band that nobody else knows?
We don’t know if we’ll play another show at the moment.
Your biggest hit in terms of streams is “Save Our Selves (The Warning)” , I would love to know if aliens invaded how would the band save themselves?
By showing the aliens love. Love conquers all.
Finally is there anything you would like to say to your fans?
Come to see us in Chepstow. Right now, I have no idea when you’ll get the chance again.
Quotes From Support Act The Brass Bambees Ahead Of The Show!
As part of this interview we also reached out to one of the support acts for this show! The Brass Bambees answered a couple of our questions!
How did the support slot for the gig come about ?
We were asked to play with The Blackout at their reunion show in our shared hometown Merthyr Tydfil in June 2023, which we were blown away by, as it was only our 4th or 5th gig at the time! But ever since, Sean has championed us which is a massive honour to be honest, he’s a legend.
What is it like being booked to play along side The Blackout?
They’ve always been a band that we look up to, and for this to be our second chance to play with them is so exciting. They are one of the bands to really put Merthyr on the map. Going from seeing them in our copies of Kerrang to playing alongside them is madness.
What should people who go to the gig expect to see from a Brass Bambees show ?
Rowdy, sweaty, Merthyr mayhem. We like to cut-lose on stage and have a lot of fun with it. Expect equal amounts of energy and chaos.
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