Jarred Up Fest ‘25: An interview with… Hutch
Continuing our week of articles covering our 2025 iteration of the Jarred Up Festival, Josie Reaney interviewed Hutch, who graced our Jingle Jangle Jungle stage. Josie’s review of the whole day will be published later this week.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Brighton band Hutch, following their set for Jarred Up Festival. Hutch made their live debut in 2021 and released their first EP Smile and Wave last year. Their sound jangles with psychedelic joy. Expectedly endearing and dripping in whimsy, the Hutch live experience is one which leaves you smiling from ear to ear.
Fresh from the stage, we huddled outside in the Yorkshire cold, the band still floating from their performance. The Sheffield night felt particularly friendly, as Prichard commented that “you can’t move for lovely people around here.”
Fronted by Jack Pritchard (JP), with Dan Shepherd on guitar, Charlie Bogg on bass, Owen Bullock on drums and Fior playing a dreamy harp; the band make for a familial group with “a lot of love” between them.
Photo: Ollie Franklin
When I asked Hutch how they found their set, they responded with a grin, observing that “The Cosmic Soup was heavy”. Upon elaboration, they explained how you can get a sense of the divine when playing live. It’s an incomparable feeling that “rumbles and tumbles beneath you”. And somehow, I totally understood them and feel the analogy summarises Hutch in all their magic and joy.
When asking how the band began, JP explained “Dan and I went to school together and happened to be next door neighbours. We were playing in bands by the time we were fifteen.”
Following a move to Brighton, the band came together as the lineup we see today. In fact, it seems there’s some real self-sacrifice required, as drummer Owen recalled eating a raw onion as a process of Hutch initiation- to which he claims “I heard I wouldn’t taste it if I held my nose so I did it in the name of science- It’s not true”.
Photo: Ollie Franklin
Fior joined the band after seeing Hutch play at a small Festival, and naturally captured, had to offer the glittering potential of a harp to the mix- which builds on the sound so seamlessly.
The band can see their progress in movement, as JP gleamed “Dan and I lock eyes in rehearsal now and realise we’re reaching that sound that we’ve always dreamed about”. When asking what that sound was, I can’t say I expected a basic answer. The band did not disappoint, settling on “Twang pop/ post yacht rock with psychedelic flavours and pop sensibilities” – To which, I of course questioned their sobriety.
To contrast, there was no superfluous discussion around the bands shared inspiration: Abbey Road, The Beatles is an album that unifies them, without a doubt.
Photo: Ollie Franklin
With their ethereal nature, and tendency to wallow in a delightful whimsey, it was no surprise to hear the band feel “AI is killing creativity” but provide the perfect antithesis in their own live music, which they assure is “The best form of Hutch”. When it comes to vocalising politics, the band simply couldn’t play without chanting those two powerful words ‘Free Palestine’, which they assured was simply the right thing to do- with a platform comes social responsibility, as the band state “Our words have power”.
Of their songwriting process, Hutch admit their diligence. Magical though they are, the bands drive is impressive as they explain the process of “Scrutinising every single part of each song; it’s an intense operation and it’s vulnerable to write collaboratively in the way we do but we have a lot of trust in each other”
The band spoke, not only of the members, but the wider Hutch community that have made the frankly brilliant music possible. ‘The Radiator Centre’, a song penned about their local radiator shop, captures that perfectly, as the band explained “We reached out to the radiator centre (after releasing the song), and one evening an employee came along to our gig. Now we know the owner, and they support us in many ways. In fact, they provided a sum of money. Financially, we would not be able to go on tour if it wasn’t for them.” That heartwarming, if not slightly head scratching relationship between artists and radiator shop encapsulates the ripples of community, kindness and art that make Hutch the unique band they are. They humbly acknowledge that “it’s cool to be in a situation where we create joy for people”- and that’s exactly what they do.
Photo: Ollie Franklin
With an EP set to be released in early 2026, and even rumblings of a debut album, the band are eager to “Hit the ground running next year” – And with such strong musicianship and songs that stir up a peppered and delicious ‘cosmic soup’, I’m sure we can expect some brilliant new music for Hutch- a band who seem to emit magic and aptitude from their very fingertips.
Words: Josie Reaney
Photos: Ollie Franklin
