Captain Festus McBoyle’s Travellin’ Variety Show, the self-proclaimed masters of music and mischief from New Zealand, have just released a brand new album. I have to admit, when I first heard about this group I wasn't sure what to think. I've honestly never seen another group quite like them. Now that I've taken some time to listen to their music, I have to tell you that it is SO MUCH FUN! The thematic storylines are perfectly paired with musical elements that light up your imagination. The new album, Look Wot the Cat Dragged in, is an adventure from start to finish. The characters are pure gold, the musicality is exceptional, and the humour is perfection.
Read on to hear from Captain himself as we chat about the new project, live performances, and the music making process behind this distinctive kindie group.
Your new album, Look Wot the Cat Dragged in, just dropped at the end of March! Congratulations! This is your 4th album and it's full of the "cheeky humour" and wild adventures that we've come to expect from Captain Festus McBoyle. Can you tell us about the process of making the album?
How do you keep your ideas fresh and new after releasing so many songs? This Album was a labour of Love firstly but also a huge exercise in patience. There were so many delays due to the obvious worldly events of late. The album was funded by NZ on Air which was so very helpful and it took close to three years to complete I think. I’m really proud of this one. It shows a lot of growth, It’s very diverse and it comes very much from the Heart. It was recorded at sHOWpONY Studio in Auckland. I worked with Amos Clarke on this and the last album. I’m very fortunate to have such a tight team of ‘clevers’ onboard with this project, they know who they are and I’m very grateful indeed. The ‘Captain Festus’ project essentially falls under the moniker of Pea-Knuckle Productions. That’s essentially a team of two, Larissa Lofley and Rich Manic (me). We both have many talents and strengths between us and it’s amazing how much ground you can cover when you join forces. Gareth Price is our wonderful Guitarist for all live and session work (Ebenezer Strong). I don’t write to a formula, I don’t follow trends, I simply write what comes out. A lot of ideas tend to come to me in the shower. No idea where the ideas come from, just thankful they keep on coming. I’m definitely a big fan of British comedy, I grew up in the 70s and 80s so many influences stem from that era. I’m also a big fan of Music Hall and Pantomime so that tends to come through as well I think. Really enjoyed spending more time on production with this album and I felt much more comfortable stepping outside of what we do as a live act. I wanted to capture the golden age of BBC radio but still maintain the Rock n’ Roll swagger of our live shows and I feel we definitely succeeded in doing that with this album. Your characters and music are so original and fun! You would be hard-pressed to find another group out there doing what you do. Where did the idea for your band come from? Yes we are a rather colourful bunch, definitely an odd family - not by blood but rather thrown together by a series of fortunate mishaps and a few bouts of mayhem. Essentially we’re all old hats with bands and performance and we come from Rock ‘n’ Roll and Punk backgrounds. We are definitely the more edgy side of Family entertainment and very much loved for it. More Grit Less Sugar sums us up rather nicely I think. I think for me, the concept has always been there but it has evolved hugely over the years with Larissa Lofley coming onboard. She is responsible for all costumes, make up, music videos and of course she is Miss Lucy Drawers. The current live line up of Miss Lucy, Ebenezer and The Captain have been together now for 6 years. We are three rather sensitive wee sausages and it’s taken a while for us to work each other out. It’s been a wonderful learning curve and a lot of hard work but the rewards have been massive. I think the key is that we just be ourselves and the costumes allow for total freedom without fear. We have a blast on stage and that really comes through. We bring a lot of people out of their shells with our slightly brash but playful approach. Together we are loveable rogues indeed. 
Now that you've got a brand new shiny album out in the world, do you have any plans to go on tour? What can your fans expect when coming to one of your live shows?
We made a decision quite a while ago to focus only on bigger Festivals and Theatres and we still seem to have plenty of lovely NZ gigs coming in of late so that’s exciting. We had two definite tours of China fall over when COVID hit, plus we also lost a tour of Europe with that as well. That was very hard to come back from to be honest. We had the ‘GOLDEN TICKET’ but then it got taken away. Currently we are exploring our options again in Europe with a large production company but you never really know how it will pan out. We have just produced a fully scripted Historical Theatre Show so that’s another dynamic we may travel abroad. Larissa still has two more music videos to finish thanks to NZ on Air and we are currently co-producing two massive Flood Relief Gigs in The Hawkes Bay so plenty to keep us busy. We’re self-managed so always pro-active when it comes to looking for gigs and new ventures and quite frankly I have no plan B so it’s a Pirates Life for me! Our live shows are pretty mad - Great costumes, great make up thanks to Larissa Lofley, lots of fun cheeky songs, plenty of humorous banter and stories and very interactive for both young and old. Every show is different, over 50 songs to choose from, no set list, just a beginning and an end and everything in between is totally at the Captains whim. The show flies by the seat of its pants so to speak and it transcends both age and culture with ease. We are a celebration of difference and diversity - The Punk Rockers of the Kids World – That’s us! 
My favourite songs from your new album are Bubble, and Love Song 4 Lucy. The melodies are unique, beautiful, and expertly executed. Do you have any favourites?
Thank you - Bubble is a very different kind of song for The Captain. Written during Lockdown in NZ it deals with the many new emotions kids experienced during that period. It’s a beautiful song that really managed to capture a moment in time. The most vulnerable I’ve felt releasing this song. Love Song 4 Lucy was a gift to Miss Lucy on Valentines Day. I think the overall message was that love can conquer all – smelly feet, missing teeth, bad habits, you name it – Love still goes far deeper. It was a really fun song to write and Miss Lucy loved it! My favourites would be Leaking and Breathe. Leaking is very reminiscent of me and my Mum on the phone, we’re English and we like to complain a lot. The actual events in the song are all true, the Poo Explosion was an afterthought though thankfully. Huge amount of work in that song and very pleased with it. Breathe started as a collaboration offering with two other NZ children’s music artists. I had to retract it though because I realised I had to see this one through alone. It’s about being present, being in the moment and remembering that when you breathe before you react, everything’s a lot easier. It’s a very uplifting and empowering song and I love it. Such great energy in this one. Which part of the music-making process do you enjoy more; the writing and creating phase or performing? I love performing live. More people the better for me. I’m also a perfectionist which tends to sometimes lead to disappointment at times. I have a very high expectation of both myself and others. That’s something I have to continually work on. I’m still learning to give myself a break, its ok to make mistakes -I should know this by now – Ha Ha - still got my ‘L’ Plates on though I’m afraid! I’ve learnt to enjoy the Studio a lot more in later years. I love to experiment and let songs evolve now. Basic ideas are there but I’ve learnt to be open to them growing in a different direction if they desire. I’m often impatient with new songs but you really cant force them. Knowing when to have a break and then return to them is key I feel. I’m lucky to have a small but talented pool of session people who step in and out if needed too. I try to do most of it by myself but I do know my limitations and sometimes I really suck – Ha Ha. 
When you're not pirating, what do you and your crew do for fun?
This is a great question. I love my family and I love hanging with them. We’re all pretty mad so we always have a great time. I teach drums at Schools and at my home studio. I produce a weekly Alternative family radio show called Shipwreck Sunday with my 11 year old co host, Chalkie the Cat – she is awesome - You can check out all past episodes on our website, about 60 to listen to now. It’s currently played on 9 NZ radio stations in NZ and I believe it’s also available on quite a few international platforms as well. It’s a very diverse show with something for everyone! The catch phrase is More Grit Less Sugar. I love walking, cold showers, yummy food, pots of tea and I’m also writing kids books at the moment - two finished and plenty more up my sleeve. I feel like my life is truly blessed really – I am living the dream!
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