Stay Up Late
Last week, Hijinx and Wales Millennium Centre brought the second Undod / Unity Festival to Cardiff in association with Touch Trust, Disability Arts Cymru, Community Music Wales and Mencap Cymru.
A celebration of arts entertainment created by all to be enjoyed by all, a mix of events took place throughout the week, from top-quality shows to free workshops, debates and other performances.
The event culminated on Sunday night in Cardiff University Students' Union with a set from the awesome Brighton punk outfit, Heavy Load, who were also in town to promote their Stay Up Late campaign which highlights the need for people in care to be able to enjoy a late night out regardless of care workers' curfews.
Comprising of five geezers with a natural flair for performance, Heavy Load have been together for 12 years and are unique in their mixed learning and physical abilities. Not that this should be dwelled on, but the release of a documentary film about them has brought with it a fresh wave of fans.
Two young Cardiff People First members managed to pin down drummer Michael White and bassist Paul Richards pre-gig to find out what the fuss is all about.
Cardiff People First: Have you had a good response to the Stay Up Late campaign?
Heavy Load: We've had loads of people get in touch with us from all around the country asking how they can get involved with it through leaflets and posters and promotion. What we haven't had is many people saying they disagree with it, but there must be because it's still an issue. We want to try and upset those people.
CPF: My mother disagrees with it!
HL: Oh dear! That's mums for you; my mum's like that. What do you think?
CPF: It's good to stay up late!
HL: To be honest, if staff find it too difficult then maybe they're in the wrong job. You're being paid to go with someone to a gig or club. That's not the worst job in the world. If I don't want to work in the outdoors, I wouldn't become a gardener. I'm not sure why some people do support work. There can be this peculiar relationship where people are asking permission to do too much stuff in their life when it should be the other way around.
CPF: Has the campaign changed things for people with disabilities?
HL: There are lots of things that have been happening. We know of gigs and club nights in Brighton where lots of people come - still lots of people leave, but more stay. We know of people who have gone to their partnership boards around the country and asked for changes to be made. Some councils are doing things about that. There is still lots of work to be done.
CPF: What can we do to help?
HL: Talk to the people who support you and tell them that you want to stay up late and ask them to help you do that and come to some sort of agreement. We can send you leaflets and posters, and you can help by making a noise about it.
CPF: What sort of bands do you like and have inspired you?
HL: Michael Jackson, Iron Maiden, Britney Spears, Def Leppard, Wizzard, Sweet, Slade, The Who, Pixies, all sorts really.
CPF: Do you like Meatloaf?
HL: No.
CPF: What's your favourite song?
HL: That we do? Three of them: Is Bruce Forsyth Dead?, Farty Animals and The Clash's I Fought The Law. We have these conversations about old celebrities and whether they're dead or not so we wrote the Bruce Forsyth song about it. It's got Jimmy Saville and Cilla Black in it as well. We usually write songs about what [vocalist] Simon is talking about. As for other people's songs, something like The Who's My Genaration is up there.
CPF: We know you do Can't Get You Out Of My Head, but do you do any other Kylie songs?
HL: We don't. Have you got any suggestions?
CPF: I Should Be So Lucky.
HL: Simon would be into that. He's also desperate for us to do a Jason Donovan song. Simon loves Jason Donovan!
CPF: Would you like Kylie to come to one of your gigs?
HL: Yes, we would!
CPF: Has fame gone to your head?
HL: [Michael] Yes it has. I always wanted to be an actor, but this is important in being a man. It makes me proud, happy and all that. [Paul] I did something really sad, I was in HMV Oxford Street and I went and looked at the DVDs and the Heavy Load film was there! Hopefully it hasn't gone to my head but that was amusing.
CPF: How many gigs have you played?
HL: Blimey! All over the country: East Sussex, London, Cardiff! I reckon we must have done over 100. We do about ten a year. One of the things we keep meaning to do is pick one at random and play it as our 100th gig and throw a party.
CPF: How many festivals have you played?
HL: Wychwood in Cheltenham we played twice, but this Saturday we're playing Glastonbury, in the Shangri-la area. Club Attitude have a slot in Club Dada and we're there in the afternoon. Little bit nervous, but it's going to be an experience.
CPF: Is that the stage Lady GaGa is playing on?
HL: No, she's somewhere else. Bruce Springsteen is also playing so we're going to see him. We like him and his track Born In The USA.
CPF: What was your favourite festival moment?
HL: At Wychwood we got a load of beachballs with Stay Up Late written on them and went round all the tents saying there was going to be a beachball fight in the beer tent - it's in the film - and the second year we went back and we had a much bigger crowd. Beer was flying everywhere... it was carnage. We met The Levellers there too. I suppose we should say here at Undodd is our favourite though!
LINKS :: Heavy Load :: Stay Up Late :: Cardiff People First :: Heavy Load The Movie
