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music Q&A Ferocious Dog: bark and bite, and back to rock again
Nottinghamshire-based Celtic rock band Ferocious Dog made an explosive return to Wales at the 2022 Merthyr Rising festival. With a unique sound combining classic punk and traditional Celtic strings with a side of political fury, it was no surprise they were met with adoring fans in Merthyr Tydfil. Rhiannon Farr caught up with violinist Dan Booth and guitarist/vocalist Ken Bonsall after their performance.
Were you interested in the Merthyr Rising festival before being invited here? Dan: Yeah, we had already heard of it before. The organisers got in touch with our agent so we were like “yeah, course!”
Ken: We’re not trying to be another band. We’re not trying to be anyone else – we are Ferocious Dog. Every band has their own music and this is ours.
Ken: It’s important to me as a socialist. I’ve often said this: I grew up under the backdrop of the miners’ strikes, my family were on strike until the very end after years in the coal mines. There was no way I couldn’t be a socialist after that. When you see it first hand while you’re growing up, it enlightens you to working-class ethics, and that’s what I try to put into my songs now. Finally getting to play at Merthyr Rising is a massive honour for me because of the area’s rich history – it means so much to me as a socialist.
I loved the fusion of punk and Celtic, being Welsh myself. When did you guys figure out that this style is what you wanted to do? Dan: We’ve been doing this for years! I’ve slept and drank since then. I think we just got together in a room and started jamming – what came out came out. I can’t really explain it.
We of course have Welsh artists performing at this festival, but it is so important to have an English band appreciate our history and truly feel honoured to play at Merthyr Rising. Ken: What I get out of coming here is that no matter where we are from, we are all human beings. I have brothers and sisters who work in coal mines in all different parts of the world – they do the same job as me, and I class them as my brothers and sisters. Forget the flags, forget the borders, we’re all brothers and sisters and we should all help each other. That’s what playing at a festival like this means to me.
Ferocious Dog, The Globe, Cardiff, Thurs 17 Nov. Tickets: TBC. Info:
globecardiffmusic.com
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