Plans align for British India’s festival return

So it is no surprise they have decided to climb aboard the Groovin the Moo tour bus once more to make sure they come back here.

Declan Melia said the last time the band played here was part of a tour for its album Controller a few years ago.

“We played the last show of the Controller tour a few years ago the day Tony Abbott won the election and it was one of the best nights we've had,” he said.

“We played this club and had a good show but when we were having some drinks after, all four of us went in different directions and had our own night.

“When we met up the next day, we had these amazing war stories. The four of us had had really interesting nights. It was like that scene in Detroit Rock City when they split up to go and get tickets for Kiss.”

Melia said the decision to return to GTM was an easy one.

“It was just a matter of stuff aligning. It is one of the greatest and biggest touring festivals that Australia has got at the moment,” he said.

A number of major music festivals have disappeaed or downsized over the past few years, which Melia believes it happens when organisers begin to forget about audiences.

“(The music) industry is in a state of flux and it gets reflected in festivals,” he said.

“I think every festival that has gone under has failed to remember to give audiences what they want and deserve.

“It's people power at its best. If the market isn't appreciating the festival, the festival won't exist.”

One of the most impressive and important things GTM offers its audiences is a wide variety of artists.

Melia said it was obvious audiences had varied tastes in music.

“Everyone these days has a varied taste. If you have a look at the (Triple J) Hottest 100, you had King Kunta and The Rubens up there alongside dance music,” he said.

“When I was at high school your clique was kind of defined by what music you listened to but now there's a bit of everything for everyone.”

But despite music fans interest in different types of music, Melia says British India can only sound like British India.

“We sit down and try and do a song a certain way or record something a bit folky but we just end up sounding like ourselves,” he said.

“So to keep things interesting we are always magpie-ing different sounds from different bands and listening to a wide array of music.

“Even a band like Radiohead, still sounds like Radiohead no matter how bizarre they get.”

British India will play at the sold out Groovin the Moo Bendigo on April 30.