TALKING TO THE SONGBIRD …. QUEENSWAY

Queensway are a young, energetic 3 piece punk rock band hailing from Essex and London made up of Bennie on Vocals and Rhythm Guitar, Lucas on Bass and Teddy on Drums.

Queensway cite their musical influences to be far ranging and to include Joy Division, The Buzzcocks, Nirvana, The Cure, David Bowie and The Libertines.

The band were initially formed in 2018 but really started to take off when they entered and won the Basement Door Battle of Bands Competition in 2019.

Since they have gone onto tour with Eel Pie Records and they have currently been working on some new material which is due for imminent release.

The Songbird caught up with Bennie Hawkins from the band just after their latest tour for a little chat.

Hello and welcome please tell us a little bit about yourself. Who are you? what’s your role within the band and how did your band all meet/form?

Queensway are an indie punk rock band from London/Essex we firstly formed in 2019 as just a bit of fun. We won a Battle of the Band’s competition with THE BASEMENT DOOR and we haven’t really stopped from there haha!!
My name is Bennie Hawkins aka “Bennie the Guitar” and I sing, play guitar and sometimes melodica in the band.

How did you come up with your band name, is there a story behind it?

I honestly don’t know where the name come from. I used to play in a pub called The Crown in Romford and I always said if I started a band I would call it “The Crown” but some how it ended up as Queensway, I guess I kept with the royal theme though, they do say the only thing better than the Crown is the Queen don’t they ?!

Who/what are your musical influences?

I really love the band Trampolene and Buddy Holly.

What do you consider the best lyric you’ve ever written to be?

I don’t know really …..

What’s your favourite song of all time by any other band/artist and why?

Tramplene – “Storm Heaven”– it’s such a mega song, I saw it live for the first time when I saw them in Tunbridge Wells and it made me wanna be in a band.

I also love Rodriguez – “I think of you” and PULP – “Babies” always puts me in a happy mood.

What are you listening to at the moment?

The In-betweeners sound track !

Do you have any gigs planed or upcoming events you can tell us about?

We’ve just finished our first ever tour sponsored by Eel Pie Records. We’re back in February at Camden Rocks and we also have a sold out support slot at the end of the month.

We’re also really exited to announce a couple of big gigs coming up soon – so watch this space!!

What’s been the best gig you’ve played so far and what would be your dream gig to play?

We headlined the 100 Club in August last year and it was a pleasure to play there! But Since the new line up change the best gig has to be the St Moritz Club in Soho. It was so packed! The guy running it was so amusing and the crowed was just great, I think the place got wrecked but it was such a good environment!

Who would you most like to share a stage with (past or present)?

Hendrix would be great to be honest! Elton John too….. but I think we’d all argue on what to wear 😂

What’s the best thing and worst thing about being in a band?

The best thing is getting to hang out with 3 of the coolest people and meeting so many new people across the country and the worst thing is playing a great gig and then having to try go to sleep later on with all that energy and buzz still inside you.

What three words best sum you up as a band?

Young, Dumb and Broke!