NME caught up with Courteeners‘ Liam Fray backstage at Glastonbury 2023, the place the frontman informed us concerning the affect of enjoying the competition and what to anticipate from the 2 new albums on the way in which.

The Manchester indie veterans have been up towards Foo Fighters’ secret Pyramid Stage set as The Churnups, however nonetheless pulled a formidable crowd to their early night set on Woodsies – previously generally known as The John Peel Tent.

“Eighth time fortunate, it was fairly particular,” Fray informed NME after their set. “That was probably the most nervous I’ve ever been for a present. However folks simply need to come and sing some songs with you and have a superb time. Isn’t that mad? The stress could be operating round your thoughts however once you break it dow, isn’t it good? Individuals in a subject singing your songs. Fucking nice.

“The joy of the folks coming right here is palpable. These gigs are 99 per cent of our lives, however you realise that your set is lower than one per of this complete factor.”

Fray continued: “We’re having fun with the longevity factor – we weren’t cool within the first place, we’re not cool now, there’s no pedestal.”

After their set, Fray stated he was planning on catching units from Maggie Rogers, Badly Drawn Boy and Christine & The Queens throughout the weekend. After Glastonbury, he’ll be turning his consideration to finishing two Courteeners albums – certainly one of which was beforehand slated to be a solo launch.

“We’ve have the time to be afforded the prospect to do something we fucking need,” he stated. “I imply that within the freest sense. No one has ever given us any constraints; that’s simply me being conservative about what folks really need.

Revealing a couple of new music titles together with ‘Solitude Of The Night time Bus’ and ‘When Are You In New York Subsequent?’ – in addition to the declare that one other feels like “Mac Miller protecting Leonard Cohen”, Fray stated that the upcoming music “is gonna blow folks’s heads off”.

“The music is king, and the music will all the time win,” he stated. “After I play these new ones to folks, I really feel lifeless joyful. It feels cool to be on this place. Somebody who I belief informed me that they’re the perfect songs I’ve written since [2008 debut album] ‘St Jude’.

“I need to do two albums. One is enjoyable and the opposite is piano, drum machines, a bit moodier. Don’t count on any hits off that one, however I do know what is going to occur – they’ll be the hits and nobody will give a fuck concerning the ones that I believe are good. Those which can be sleepers can be cherished. But in addition, who cares? I like that concept from tonight of feeling so insignificant as a part of Glastonbury. I’m going to try to switch that to the remainder of my life.”

The band’s final launch was 2020’s acclaimed ‘Extra.Once more.Perpetually’, their sixth album.

Yesterday was closed with a stellar headline set from Arctic Monkeys, in addition to a shock set from Foo Fighters showing beneath the moniker The Churnups.

Glastonbury continues at this time with performances from Weapons N’ Roses, Lizzo, Lana Del Rey, Manic Avenue Preachers, Måneskin and extra. There may even be a variety of secret units, together with The Pretenders (with a variety of particular company) and Blossoms and Rick Astley performing a set of Smiths covers.

Try all the most recent from Glastonbury 2023 on the NME liveblog right here, and see extra information, evaluations, images, interviews and extra right here.