Brantford’s punk rock festival, Blackout Fest is now entering its 13th year. The 2-day festival takes place on October 18 & 19 and has become a huge part of the local punk rock and pop-punk scene.
We caught up with Edmonton, AB’s Calling All Captains. Check out their latest video, “Disconnected” below and find out more about the band and the upcoming festival.
First off, care to introduce yourself to the Canadian Beats readers?
I’m Nick Malychuk, I hold down the low end in Calling All Captains. I like long walks to the Liquor store, wrestling, and my family of mythological creatures.
The 13th annual Blackout Fest takes place on October 18 & 19 in Brantford, ON. What is it like to be a part of such a long-running festival?
We’ve been extremely fortunate to have been able to play some of Vans Warped Tour before it clocked out. So to be a part of Blackout, which in a sense is a Canadian microcosm of what Warped was, is incredible. Seeing our friends, watching some of our favorite bands, playing music, it’s all we’ve ever wanted.
Have you taken part in Blackout Fest before? If so, what is your favourite memory?
No, we haven’t had the opportunity of playing BOF before, but with the Canadian music scene being as tight as it is, we’ve heard a lot about it and can’t wait to make our own memories this year.
There is a stellar lineup for the 2019 installment, is there anyone you’re dying to check out?
Oh man, we’ve been playing beside Seaway in our hometown of Edmonton since 2015, I’m excited to see what they’re going to do on their own turf. Blackout is the start of our tour with Summer Wars, so I’m really stoked to see what my future tour fam is going to bring. Speaking of tour fam, we’ve got some brothers in arms in Romancer that we can’t wait to see again. Ben is such a sweetheart and an animal on stage, it’s going to be awesome! And of course our labelmates in Young Culture. Their last EP, (This Is) Heaven, is a staple in the CAC camp.
For people that have yet to see you perform live, explain your performance in five words or less.
Energetic, bouncy, sing-alongy, Tim Wilson!
If you were asked to give advice to an up and coming artist or band, what would that advice be?
Just fucking do it. We have people ask all the time how we’ve grown the pedigree that we have. And honestly, it’s just because we wanted it, so we did it. We haven’t let anything hold us back. We funded our own tour in the UK, quit jobs to tour more than once, sacrificed relationships to make this work. No one is ever going to do this for you, no one has a horse in this race like you do. To quote a man who truly knows what it takes to be the best, “Blood sweat and respect. The first two you give, the last you earn.” Hard work, some skill, and not being a dick, will get you places. Not just in music, but in life.
Now that the festival season is coming to a close, what’s up next for you?
Festival season is just the beginning, we’re going to tour our way into 2020, spend the first few months writing a new album, then get right back on the road. The goal is to play at least 150 shows before the years up. We’re going to have about 120 in 2019, so we’ve got to try and top it. We’re also going to be releasing new merch for the next little bit to help fund our endeavors so if you want to support 5 kids from an Edmonton basement pick something up. Thanks.
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