Exclusive:The Fratellis on touring, Glasgow audiences and 'mind-bending' Costello Music 20th anniversary
Ahead of their TRNSMT set, the Glasgow three-piece have hinted at a possible Scottish football themed addition to their setlist.
Bursting onto the music scene back in 2006 with their debut album Costello Music, the Fratellis shot to fame with hits such as Whistle for the Choir and Chelsea Dagger.
It has been twenty years since the record was released, with the band — formed of frontman Jon Fratelli, bassist Baz Fratelli and drummer Mince Fratelli — celebrating its anniversary this year.
“Well it's quite mind-bending for a start to hear it's 20 years, you know,” says Baz Fratelli.
“We obviously know it's 20 years, but when other people say it — and some people mention the word decades at you, now we're into the two decade thing. Yeah, it's quite bizarre. But it's good. I feel like we're in a good place.”
In their early days, the Fratellis quickly went from gigs in Glasgow pubs to signing with a major record label and eventually onto winning prizes such as Best British Breakthrough Act at the 2007 BRIT Awards.
While they now have six studio albums to their name, the group first found one another by advertising for band members in Glasgow music stores.
The Fratellis found each other through adverts in Glasgow music stores
“We all put signs up to start new bands, and we all answered each other's adverts, which is quite cool,” says Baz Fratelli.
“I guess it's done online these days, but this was in the days where you stuck a bit of paper up in a music shop or a record shop, and you just tore the numbers off, sort of thing.”
He adds: “I do remember, I think I just took Jon's down, so nobody else could phone him. So I don't know if he knows that. He probably never got any other phone calls other than me, but I mean it worked. I'm quite happy with that.”
The Fratellis will be heading out on their postponed 20th anniversary tour early next year, after the initially planned dates were rescheduled due to health issues within the band.
“I think somebody has to get a pen and change the poster for that one,” Baz jokes. “Nobody seems to have noticed that yet.”
But ahead of the almost entirely sold out gigs, the bassist shared his appreciation for the support they have received over the years.
“We're very lucky to still be able to do what we do — to get the chance to do it. So, it's been a wild ride, 20 years has been fun, you know. In some ways, everything's still the same, in other ways it’s vastly different. But that's just the landscape of the music industry in general, I think.”
While audiences have largely remained the same, the challenges of touring are far different now than they were in the past, especially in terms of finances and the locations bands can visit.
“Us been able to do the job that we do, it doesn't change. We get up there and do our thing, and then thankfully people pay hard earned money to come and see us, but what's changed is just in terms of places you can go and stuff. It's changed a lot since Covid, and there's just all that side of it.”
Glasgow audiences have ‘an energy’ unlike anywhere else
However, that is far from the whole story – especially concerning fans coming to gigs.
“There's still a lot of the same faces that were there 20 years ago, which is mad. They bring the kids along now as well, and we've got younger faces in the front as well, so it’s not lost on us how cool that is.”
Already this year, the Fratellis have been playing festivals around the country including MacMoray in Elgin.
Highlighting the response from crowds, Baz shares: “We're four gigs into the sort of festival run. We're just finding our feet a wee bit, we'll see what works. Some songs might drop in and out the set and change by the time we get to the end date, but it's not just been all anniversary stuff, it's a version of the slimmed down version of the set that you know we're doing when we do our own headline shows, but the reaction has been brilliant.”
They can expect to have an even bigger response from fans when they take to the main stage at TRNSMT Festival in Glasgow later this month.
“It's brilliant, the Glasgow audiences. Everybody says it, every band says that you meet bands from all over, and they always mention Scottish audiences, Glasgow audiences, venues, bars, and all that — that there's a difference.
“And they're not lying, there is a difference, there's just a vibe and an energy that's not seen a lot of other places, you know, so it's going to be special for us.”
No World Cup song from the Fratellis — but new music could be on the way
They will play the festival on Saturday, June 20 — one day after Scotland faces Morocco at the World Cup. The Fratellis previously helped celebrate the men’s team’s 2021 Euros return with a cover of Baccara’s unofficial Scottish anthem Yes Sir, I Can Boogie.
Asked whether they had their own World Cup song on the way, the answer was a resounding no.
“There'll be no new World Cup Fratellis song, I'm afraid.”
However, Baz adds: “Depending on the result the night before, we'll probably do it again at TRNSMT on the Saturday.”
As for new music, there won’t be anything anytime soon. However, following their anniversary, Baz says they will see “where that leads”.
“We're thinking about it and making plans. I can't see there being anything this year, but next year — that's that's the plan anyway, that's the goal, because that's what allows you to keep touring and doing festivals and doing your own stuff.”
With hopes of touring elsewhere after their UK dates are over, Baz shares that the band have no collective favourite song to perform for fans.
“It's not a very good answer, but we just love playing together and locking in, you know. So it doesn't really matter what the song is. If you're having a good show and you're in that groove, it's an amazing feeling, but it's obviously nice to know that you've got Chelsea Dagger up your sleeve, too.”
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Baz reflects: “It doesn't cease to amaze us how amazing the reaction is going to be for that song and that's what you want from a band.
“You want a good song that everybody loves, so we are very lucky to have one, and possibly a couple other ones, as well.”
A modest answer from someone whose career highlights include travelling the world, playing alongside legendary acts including The Who and the Rolling Stones, and “just to still be doing it”.
“It's just an amazing feeling to go so far from home somewhere like Japan, Australia, to travel so far and see your music resonate with people the way it does in the town that you're from,” Baz says.
You can catch the Fratellis on the main stage of TRNSMT Festival on Saturday, June 20, or at the O2 Academy in February 2027.