Five Talk Comeback Tours And Bringing Big Energy To Newmarket Nights
Five Interview: Newmarket Nights: It has been a huge few weeks for Five, with their huge arena comeback tour selling out in record time, and the band have then gone on to a packed summer of live shows.
The British boy band will be performing at Newmarket Nights for the headline show, and we caught up with the lads in an interview for the event.
The guys spoke about life after the band had reformed, their thoughts on outdoor shows, how they have been reconnecting with old fans as well as gaining a whole new following, and what fans can expect when they take to the stage for Newmarket Nights.
It’s going to be a full-throttle night of fun, hit songs and all-out nostalgia, a truly chaotic night with Five.
After reforming and selling out your huge arena comeback tour last year, did you expect to follow it up with major summer shows like Newmarket Nights?
Sean: When we put the tour on sale, we were literally so hyper-focused on it. We really, really gave everything into rehearsal, so I don’t think we were thinking that far ahead. Then, one by one, summer live dates and festivals just started coming in. We were actually just looking at the list about 10 minutes ago thinking, “Wow, we’re doing quite a bit.”
Scott: Yeah, like Sean said, we were so focused on those shows—we thought we had 12 arena shows and that was it. Even when they started selling out in like half an hour, one of our managers said, “They’ve sold out,” and I said, “What, one?” and they said, “All of them.” That was pretty incredible. So now, a year on, doing all these summer shows feels quite ridiculous, really.
What do you enjoy most about outdoor shows?
J: The mad thing is, we actually haven’t done an outdoor gig together yet this time around, so we’re really buzzing for it.
Sean: Sunshine! If the sun’s shining, that’s always nice. But also, back in the ’90s we didn’t really interact much with other artists because we were so wrapped up in our own world, just going from one place to another. It’ll be nice to socialise a bit more this time and just enjoy it.
J: Yeah and just take our time with it and enjoy the whole experience. Also, the energy of outdoor shows is different. We bring a lot of energy, and the crowd reacts really well to us performing, so I think we are going to be—without blowing our own trumpets—one of the highlights of the series. We’re a festival band!
How does it feel to see the crowd – in sunshine compared to dark arenas – especially with new generations of fans coming to your shows?
Scott: That’s amazing, actually. On the tour, you’ve got fans who were there in the ’90s bringing their kids or nieces or nephews, and it’s quite incredible to see people who definitely shouldn’t know the music singing it back to you! That’s always a special moment where you think, “You definitely weren’t born when this came out!”
What are you enjoying more about being in the band now compared to the first time around?
Scott: Being present in each other’s lives. We’ve reconnected as human beings and as friends, and that’s a beautiful thing. Seeing us reconnect while also connecting with other people—and the music carrying that through—has been really special. It’s about being present in the moment.
J: And being able to enjoy the whole experience, because now we have the time to take it all in. We appreciate it a lot more, so it’s a completely different experience for sure.
Newmarket Nights combines horse racing with live music—will you get there early to watch the races? How would you go about picking a horse to back?
Abz: I’d love to—I’m all about that. I’d definitely have a little wager and see what happens. Picking who to back the same as football teams really—I’m not a big football guy, so I just go by the colours, the number, or the name. If it’s got something to do with five, that’s a good omen for me. As stupid as it sounds, I live at number five, and there always seems to be a five around me—so I go with that.
Sean: If you were on Deal or No Deal though, would you still go for number five?
Abz: I would pick it! Five all the way!
If you were to name a racehorse after one of your songs, what would you choose?
Scott: Mr Zuvaloppa!
Sean: “Slam Dunk” could work—that sounds like a racehorse name.
Abz: I’m sure we could think of better ones but we’re on the spot, we’ll go for Slam Dunk for now!
Who in the band is most likely to win money on the races -and who’s going home broke?
Sean: Abz would win!
Abz: (Laughs) Scott’s a bit of a jammy so and so, he would!
Scott: I’ll say right here and now, I’ll win money, and you won’t, because he’s betting on instinct and superstition, and I’m betting on facts.
Abz: But sometimes I’ll be right!
Finally, what can fans expect from your Newmarket Nights headline?
Ritchie: High energy, fun, authenticity, good vibes—fat bass, hit records, great moves, melodies… everything.
J: We’ve been working really hard to put on a great show, and our band is amazing. Our music live translates so well into a fully live set, and we really bring that energy.
Sean: The musicians we’ve got are unbelievable—we definitely need to give them a shout-out. Even without us, they’d be amazing, but when you add us – five lunatics – and the songs, it just becomes something else.
Abz: A rip-roaring ride of fun and frolics! It’s going to be a full-on, high-energy performance—loads of fun from start to finish.
