Red Wine Talk

This Friday, June 2nd, Red Wine Talk will be playing their farewell show at The Waterfront before the five-piece band will partway’s to pursue other interests. Since 2018, the band have become a staple of Norwich’s indie scene and they plan to say goodbye with a bang. The talented group consists of singer Edward Brookes, lead guitarist Cally Robb, saxophonist/guitarist Fred Clements, bassist Kain McBarron, and drummer Adam Smith.

I got to speak to Ed and Cally ahead of their gig on Friday.

How have you all been?

Cal: A bit hungover today, it feels like a constant state of hungover at the moment.

Ed: Without getting a bit soppy, it’s been nice to look back on everything lately and reminisce.

It’s your last gig on Friday, how does that feel?

We are really excited, the most excited we’ve ever been really. It feels like we our rounding everything off properly, Red Wine Talk has come so far over the years it deserves a great send off. We were going to stop after our gig at the arts centre, but we are so glad we didn’t as we’ve had some incredible moments since. It feels like the right time now. It’s not the final chapter, it’s just the last dance, we are on a new and exciting next chapter. ** We are still amazing friends in the group, this isn’t a split up, we are just all doing our own things for the time being.

What are you all doing after?

Cal: I am going solo traveling around Southeast Asia. I have got myself a one-way ticket to Bangkok! I have wanted to travel for ages, prior to covid. Traveling and even music was all put on hold during that time. ** Ed: Myself and my partner are moving to Manchester. I want to pursue working in the industry, I really want to achieve as much as possible without feeling constricted. I want to explore other avenues in music also. There is definitely big things for the future, this is just a chance to recoup.

We both love Norwich a lot, but we are excited to see what else is out there.

Ed: I think you need to enjoy what you do, to do good in what you do. You need to go all out for what you love. You have one life, you’ve got to give it all in everything you do. ** What have your favourite memories been?

Our favourite memory was playing at the LCR, supporting for The Fratellis. We played to over 1,500 in our hometown of Norwich. We had played our set and had queues of people after wanting photos and to meet us, it was so surreal! We are just a couple of guys from Thorpe St Andrews.

Y Not Festival was another incredible memory. Our 500 people capacity tent was full at this sold-out festival. We were able to stay for the full weekend in the artist camp which again felt so surreal. ** Ed: I think with bigger crowds, we play better as a group. With more people there supporting us, we just get more hyped. ** They are our favourite memories, but as a band our proudest memory was raising money for EACH with our charity single, ‘The Deep Blue Sea Between Us’. This was back in January 2022, and we raised over £1,300!

Ed: All the people we have met along the way has been so incredible as well. We have fans coming from across the country to see us one last time, Sheffield, Sunderland, and Brighton.

Are you carrying on music solo?

I think we are all still perusing music after still, music is integral for us, so we definitely want to carry on.

Is this the end of Red Wine Talk or is their a chance you’ll reunite again in the future?

It’s the end for the foreseeable, but you never know. You better buy tickets for now! ** After each break we have had over the years, we have always released something incredible after. So, I think if we ever do come back together, it will be huge. We have gained so much knowledge over the years and it’s all a learning curve.

Do you have any advice for new up-coming artists in Norwich?

You should definitely care about selling out smaller venues at first, you will grow and progress after this. Build traction as well, follow the trajectory of the fan base. Work things out easy and quickly with your band mates, compromise; it feels like you are in a dysfunction polyamorous relationship with them at times. ** Ed: Don’t take yourself too seriously, I have definitely done this. Take your music, career and business seriously, but not yourself. Have fun. ** Cal: Take every opportunity for a pint!

Buy your tickets here before they sell out!! HERE