The Attitude Is Everything charity does great work representing disabled music fans, and are down at Glastonbury this weekend with Isabel Monteiro and Drugstore, who are performing at the charity. Find out more about their work here, and carry on ready for the interview with Isabel:
How did you get involved with the Attitude Is Everything charity?
They invited us to play at their launch party, 10 years ago.
It was a pretty special occasion, electric atmosphere, someone doing our lyrics to sign-language. One of those gigs where you kinda feel proud to be in a band.
Have you had personal experience of disability that led you to get involved?
Not from personal experience, but more to do with how we live and the kind of world we want to live in. We all wanna live in a world where music lovers and musicians who have any disability don’t need to check the listings to find out whether or not there’s gonna be suitable access, and just be able to go to gigs, have a blinding great time, like everyone else. It’s as simple as that.
Can you tell us a little about their work?
Basically they work to improve the access of Deaf and Disabled people to live music, encouraging venues, clubs and festivals across the UK to implement a Charter of Best Practice. At Glastonbury, they’ve been working to improve the access on-site, as well as recruiting Deaf and disabled volunteers to be part of the Glastonbury stewarding team. They also run a cool information tent and recruit Deaf and disabled stewards for Latitude, Reading and Leeds Festivals.
What do you think are the most pertinent issues facing disabled musicians and audience members?
The main issue still is the physical access, and how there’s still so many venues that disabled people still just can’t get to watch bands, or even get onstage to perform. That’s lazy, and inexcusable, given that improving access is often a lot easier and cheaper than you’d think. I find it shameful that we can stick a probe into Mars, but some Drugstore fan in a wheelchair, in England, on the 21st century may not be able to come and enjoy the show with us, because of lack of basic access.
Do you feel people have misconceptions about disability and how it can affect creating/appreciating music?
I think things have improved. I’d like to think so. And this is why Attitude is Everything is important, they’re out there, making real improvements that can be measured. And there is something quite unique about working with music, it just comes on, gets into your heart and it hits you hard – it transcends prejudice, and it makes us better.
What will Drugstore be doing at Glastonbury for Attitude Is Everything?
We’re gonna be bringing our little brand of attitude: we wanna have a party, have a serious good time, lose ourselves in beautiful music, be irresponsible, get drunk, sleep with strangers and fall on our feet, happy. Everyone invited.
How can other musicians/music fans get involved?
Just check the <a href=http://www.attitudeiseverything.org.uk/" target="out">Attitude is Everything website, they’re always running cool club and gig nights – there’s a huge amount of info available, just get involved.
This question is sort of answered on our news story but… Were you disappointed in Bono’s decision for U2 to pull out because of his back?
Hey, if El Bono says NO, I guess, he means it. But with all due respect, Miss Monteiro could not care less whether or not he turns up, but – here we go – one last plea:
‘Dear Mr.Bono, why don’t you just turn up in a wheelchair, theEdge with an acoustic guitar sitting by your side, drink a triple brandy, and just sing a few of your old hits, campfire style? – Now that would be a U2 gig this Drugstore would love to see.’
DRUGSTORE play ClubDada, Shangri-la zone – Saturday 26th – 15:30
and have also been invited to play the historic STRUMMERVILLE spot, for the Strummerville Foundation: SAT – 1am.
