Overcasters intervew / Gathering of the Clouds Festival giveaway

Read an interview with Overcasters & win wristbands to Gathering of the Clouds in Denver AT THE SAME TIME!

This Thursday through Saturday, those beloved Denverites known as Overcasters will be bringing the second annual Gathering of the Clouds music festival to the City Hall Amphitheater in celebration of the release of their second album. In their words, it’ll be “three days to change your life, move forward and never look back; a maelstrom of culture, talent, ambition, music, and art.” Many fantastic acts and lovely local merchants will be in attendance, and so should you! Festival passes are still available, but Donnybrook is giving a few away, so email GoDonnybrook@gmail.com ASAP to get your greasy mitts on one of three pairs of passes that we’re giving away!

Donnybrook got the chance to chat briefly with Overcasters’ Kurt Ottaway (Vox/Guitar) about the festival and their upcoming sophomore album, Curses/Prayers.

Donnybrook: How did the idea for the first Gathering of the Clouds festival arise?

Kurt Ottaway: You get one opportunity a year as a musician, if you’re productive, to make an impact and all of your best friends will hopefully come to your gig. So at a certain point you realize it isn’t just about you or your music—it is about everybody and celebrating that accomplishment. All of our friends do so many diverse things: they’re photographers, merchants; so much energy. If you can take that energy and put it into this festival, it is a tremendous thing.

DB: Did it grow in scope this year?

KO: With the inclusion of national acts, it has, mentally! Whether it has grown in scope to the rest of the world has yet to been seen.

DB: What made you and the band decide to move it out of the warehouse and into a more traditional venue?

KO: Timing has a lot to do with it. While there will be more warehouse shows, between traveling to make a record this year and moving locations, everything needed to be done in a more legitimate fashion. I have to get permits if I am going to do it where I am at now to be considerate of my neighbors. However, there will probably be a first Friday show coming up at Cloud Land!

DB: What part of the festival are you personally most excited for?

KO: We have some national people traveling to be a part of this. It’s really nice to have people express interest and come to Denver to be a part of this. It kind of connects the dots. I am really excited to bring some new blood into the festival. I am also excited to see all my favorite acts over the three days. And more than anything, I am just looking forward to playing my guitars, when it comes down to it.

DB: Should fans be expecting anything different from your live show, based on the new record?

KO: We have been working really hard developing new projections and ways to project better. Also, there are songs on the record that we have never played live. We have a few little surprises…show up and see them at Gathering of the Clouds!

DB: What was it like recording with [producer] Rick Parker (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Dandy Warhols)?

KO: That was a flat out west coast blast! That guy is one of our favorite human beings!