From Glastonbury to Shrewsbury

The Futureheads are one of England's finest bands, writes Catherine Roche, and last night they visited Shrewsbury for a sarnie, a chat with the Shropshire Star, and to play a bit of music.

The band played to a packed audience at Shrewsbury's Buttermarket - fans had originally bought tickets for the big event earlier this month, but the band changed its plans when it was asked to support the mighty Foo Fighters at Wembley.

See our gig photo gallery below

Of course they couldn't turn it down . . . but Shrewsbury welcomed them back.

Fresh from a turn in the John Peel tent at Glastonbury, the boys spent the day in the Shrewsbury wandering round the town and enjoying lunch at a town centre eaterie.

Lead guitarist Russ Millard, and singer Barry Hyde said they thought Shropshire's county town was beautiful.

Having just played for the third time at Glastonbury, you'd be forgiven for thinking they might view a gig in Shrewsbury as small fry.

But Barry said: "Big audiences like at Wembley are great. But we have crossed that off our list now. The audience is so far away it's very surreal. We have played a lot of smaller gigs this year and they are great as well.

"You never know what you are going to get. The audience can be really up for it or more quiet and enjoy the music. Which can be charming."

At Glastonbury, though the band didn't get much time for fun, they did get to take part in one of the most controversial festivals yet.

In fact, they performed at the same time as headline-maker Amy Winehouse was "interacting" with her fans on the other stage.

Barry said: "She's so talented. But we would never take the drugs she is taking. We've been doing this for a long time and if we wanted to be addicts we'd have done it by now. We are very settled, we like being in control."

This band spend their time more productively, and when they aren't writing and recording they are touring.

This is something their other halves have got used to, and Barry is due to tie the knot on July 12, which he said he couldn't wait for.

As well as settling down in their love lives, The Futureheads seem to have also got their work ethic sorted.

The split from their label Warner after their second album, which wasn't received as well by the critics as their first.

Russ said: "We weren't really sure what the goals were when we were with Warner. Now we can do what we want and be more modest about it."

After chatting with the Star in their makeshift dressing room, the band retired to get ready for their gig.

They didn't make it on to the stage until 10pm, but the crowd was thirsty for the start. So thirsty, in fact, that Barry even assisted security by asking the front of the 'mosh pit' to move back.

The Buttermarket and Shrewsbury aren't used to seeing such top bands. But they should be, judging by the reception last night's top-of-the-bill performers received.

Barry and Russ were joined by drummer Dave Hyde and bassist Jaff and gave a storming performance, belting out crowd pleasers such as their critic-silencing Beginning of the Twist from current album This Is Not The World.

And perhaps the band's best known hit, the cover of Kate Bush's Hounds of Love, was in there too.

A couple of eager boys were ejected by bouncers, but let's hope bands such as The Futureheads get used to such great acts visiting Shropshire . . . and that more top name bands find such smaller venues charming.

The Futureheads entertained their fans at the Buttermarket in Shrewsbury.

Earlier the band had spent time wandering around Shrewsbury.

The Futureheads on stage at The Buttermarket.

The gig was rearranged after the band were asked to support Foo Fighters.