Ahead of Signature Brew bringing the beers to Handmade Festival 2019, we caught up with some of the most exciting bands on the lineup to have a quick chat about beer and music.

This time we chatted to itoldyouiwouldeatyou vocalist Joey Ashworth who gives us his hottest Handmade tips and as well as his favourite local brewery…

Hi Joey, If you were going to make a beer for your band, what kind of beer would it be and why?

Joey Ashworth, itoldyouiwouldeatyou: "In this band I have become very good at yielding on stuff where I’m not the expert, usually to Ollie or Connor. While I would probably want to go for a lightish APA type deal, I’m sure that these same people would have much more refined tastes than me. So while yeah, I like something a bit light and slightly sugary, I would probably go to the grown up beer drinkers like Ollie to actually design something people would drink."

What's the best local beer/brewery from where you're from? 

Joey: "I know it’s not that obscure, I’m a fake fan, but I grew up really near the Hog’s Back Brewery, so that was probably the first thing I drank where I actually considered where it was from. I live in South London now so I gotta rep Brockley Brewery which is just down the road. Their IPA is hard."

Who are your tips for other bands to catch at Handmade Festival and why? 

Kermes - Gotta shout out Kermes, our tour with them was one of the nicest we’ve ever done. Even the dates where there were fuck all people there were fun cos I got to watch this band every night. Definitely, 100% check them out. Also worth shouting out Anatomy here, cos Emily from Kermes is in that too!

Martha - I recently did a long form email interview with Martha and they’re the sweetest. Chances are if you’re reading this you’d go to see them anyway, but if not, obviously go. 

Futureheads - Spending time with Poppy from flirting. has ignited in me a strange fondness for this era of indie music, so I’m probably gonna go check them out. Vocal arrangements that put me to shame 

Yr Poetry - Having heard some of the messy record, I can say that this is a good year to be into Yr Poetry. Go check them out, they’re playing some new ones live that just go OFF. 

Do you request beer on your rider?

Joey: "We do! I’m not as much of a drinker as I used to be but there have been some crazy moments. The stupidest thing I ever did on stage was rocking out so hard I tore my ACL a few years ago when [art rock solo artist] Annabel Allum joined us for a track we have together. She just kept telling me I had to go hard. She’s a terrible influence and I blame her entirely for my limp… not really."

Handmade Festival takes place in Leicester on Sunday 5th May and features the likes of Metronomy, The Futureheads and more. Get tickets here.