HomeExclusive InterviewsExclusive Interview: Mercury’s Well talk about Summer Bash 7!
7th August 2025

Exclusive Interview: Mercury’s Well talk about Summer Bash 7!

The seventh annual Summer Bash hosted by Reading Progressive Death Metal trio Mercury’s Well took place last weekend and so after all the coverage we’ve provided over the last fifteen weeks or so, we figured what better way to wrap things up than a post event interview. Not only was it the most successful Summer Bash to date but it also saw eleven bands take to the stage at The Facebar in Reading and as always, the Hawaiian theme went down a treat. We spoke to guitarist and vocalist Simon Davies, bassist and vocalist James Tiffin and drummer Liam Fogarty about everything that happened and that conversation went something like this…

Now the dust has settled, how do you feel about having hosted your most successful Summer Bash yet?

Tiffin: “Tired. Tired. Elated. Tired. Want to go again. Tired”

Simon: “Exhausted, it’s taken me three days to feel ready to face the world again”

Liam: “Feel f**king great!”

Part of Summer Bash being bigger this year meant you were able to borrow a light rig from the Reading Rising team who have their own event in November. How did the collaboration come about?

Liam: “They’re the best, Connor [Shortt, InAir] is my drum friend”

Tiffin: “Hairy lairy kinda scary tour 2016. Tour mum. Blemerald. Words.”

Simon: “We ask politely. It’s a very informal collaboration I guess, we don’t have anyone who can do sound or lights in MW so we speak to the people who can, that do it well, and that we’ve known and loved for a long time.“

What was your favourite moment of this year’s event? The circle pit during Tape It Shut’s set was a surprise!

Tiffin: “Tape it Shut’s YuGiOh GX cover was incredible. Buds. are the best band on the planet.”

Liam: “Painstake bringing slamming hardcore vibes was sick”

Simon: “Hard to say; I enjoyed catching up with everyone, I had a great time watching bands, chilling ‘backstage’ and seeing everyone enjoying themselves. The reaction to us announcing our new track is going to stick in my mind for a while I think.“

There were a few hairy moments in the build up with Gutlocker bringing in a new vocalist and  Turning Point changing their name to Painstake. How do you keep sane when the World seems like it’s about to get turned upside down with the bands you’ve booked?

Simon: “I rely on others, we just have to talk it out. With an event like this I think the most important thing is communication, honestly. We’ve done 3 of these bigger events now and we also just have to trust that the hard work will pay off.”

Tiffin: “Anxiety medication and self loathing“

On the subject of bookings, you brought in Petty Squabbles and Arid Wave at the 11th hour as Killswitch Enchambers and Skin Reaper drop out and it has to be said, both replacements were fantastic. Do you have a backup plan going into the final weeks of the event or is it just a case of sending up the bat signal and reaching out to your contacts?

Simon: “My booking shortlist often extends beyond the slots we honestly have available, so there’s usually a few people that I have to ‘keep in mind’ in an emergency. Petty Squabbles and Arid Wave were exceptional because most of each band was already going to be at Summer Bash anyway (via Skin Reaper and Buds.) and so it was very easy to get them aboard.”

Tiffin: “Thank god we have friends who are in bands.“

It was also great to see a couple of bands pull out Black Sabbath riffs and pay homage to the Prince of Darkness that was the late great Ozzy Osbourne. What are your thoughts on the legend?

Tiffin: “Ozzy’s headline set at download in 2018 is one of my favourite headline sets ever. It was so much fun. He opened with bark at the moon, Zakk Wylde’s penchant for pinch harmonics and Ozzy starting his own encore chant. Sublime. RIP legend. Without you, none of this happens”

Liam: “I have vivid memories of listening to Black Sabbath on the bus rides to school. The vibe and presence he brought has been unmatched, barring a few exceptions. The metal community owes Ozzy and Black Sabbath a lot, and I think the way we honour that is to keep doing what we’re doing.

Simon: As Liam said, the world of Metal owes Ozzy a lot. I think if our final practice before Summer Bash hadn’t been before the news broke we’d have probably swapped out our intro riff to serve as homage to him.“

Changing the subject, it’s been three years since your last taped confession as a band so you debuted a new song in “The Haunting III” during your set. How does it feel to have shared something new after so long? You’ve previously mentioned having a fifteen minute three part single concept EP in the writing stages, how is that coming along? Could Summer Bash 8 end up doubling as an EP release show?

Simon: “It was very exciting and nerve wracking to introduce a new song live; and everyone was very positive about it. We haven’t finished writing yet so, hard to say when we’ll be ready to record and release.”

Liam: “I cocked up the drums.“

Tiffin: “No. No more new music. Please. Help us. Simon is planning devious things and they’re 27 minutes long (I’m very excited)“

We’re proud confirm that Metal Noise dot Net did in fact return for a third consecutive year as the Media Partner for Summer Bash! Mercury’s Well did indeed host the seventh incarnation of their annual Hawaiian beach party themed event on 26th July 2025 at The Facebar in Reading!

You can treat yourself to any one of a whole wealth of Mercury’s Well related goodies over at bandcamp

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