A Cwmbran man is playing at the Isle of Wight festival tonight. Kian Ramsay, 21, a former Croesyceiliog School pupil, plays bass with The Bighead Tea Drinkers.
The four-day event attracts over 50,000 music fans to the island every year. This year, the headliners include Sting and the Stereophonics.
Cwmbran Life spoke to Kian yesterday evening. He said he was getting up at 4am today to travel down the coast from his home in Brighton to Portsmouth for the crossing to the Isle of Wight.
After leaving school, he studied at Coleg Gwent before applying for university at the BIMM Music Institute in Brighton.
He met Freddie Brindle (vocals/ rhythm guitar), Marshall Tyce (drums) and Ellie Hart (lead guitar).
Kian bumped into Freddie at an open day in 2022, and they were both looking for somewhere to live. Now the four band members live together.
Kian said: “Two years ago, we did a competition [to play at the Isle of Wight festival], we got to the semi-finals but didn’t get through. We were invited to play this time. It feels a lot more special and are really looking forward to it.
“This is our first camping festival, very exciting.”
Bighead Tea Drinkers UK tour
They did a UK tour earlier this year playing in Brighton, Bristol, Manchester, Birmingham and London.
The four band members work together on new material.
Kian said: “We all give it a go. Some of us will bring one little idea and work on it together. It’s a collaborative thing, which makes us all attached to it.
“We’ve all finished (university) now, so are cracking on with writing and recording.”
I asked Kian how his parents reacted when he told them he’d been invited to play at this huge festival.
He said: “They loved it and told their friends. They’re so proud of me.”
Watch Bighead Tea Drinkers perform ‘Hours’
📸 Photos by @aalishatakesphotos