Interview - The Slow Readers Club on a Decade of Cavalcade and the Album That Changed Everything
- Desh Kapur
- 3 days ago
- 6 min read
The Slow Readers Club – A Decade of Cavalcade
Interview by Desh Kapur
It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years since Cavalcade first introduced the world to The Slow Readers Club’s brooding blend of synth-driven anthems and lyrical introspection. What began as a grassroots movement in Manchester’s indie scene has grown into one of the UK’s most dedicated fan communities — a testament to the band’s persistence, authenticity, and connection with their audience.
Now, as The Slow Readers Club prepare to celebrate A Decade of Cavalcade with a special anniversary tour, they’re not just revisiting a pivotal album — they’re reflecting on a decade of hard work, growth, and creative evolution. From early gigs in small Manchester venues to supporting James and now sharing stages with The Cure, the band’s journey has been one of steady, self-made success.
I caught up with the band to talk about the album that changed everything, how it feels to revisit those songs a decade later, and what fans can expect from this milestone tour — one that honours the past while looking firmly toward the future.
All Music Magazine UK:
Looking back, what do you remember most vividly about the period when Cavalcade was first released in 2015? Did you have any sense then of how pivotal it would become for the band?
The Slow Readers Club:
Back then, we were still trying to make a name for ourselves. We’d only just started playing small venues outside Manchester, winning people over fifty at a time. It felt like we were finally starting to find our voice, and you could sense that what we were doing was beginning to connect. Bloggers, online music mags, and radio were starting to take notice too, which made a massive difference.
All Music Magazine UK:
You’ve described Cavalcade as “the album that changed everything.” In what ways did it shift your career trajectory and your relationship with your audience?
The Slow Readers Club:
It wasn’t like there was a single moment where we suddenly rocketed into the stratosphere. We didn’t have any of the usual machinery around us — no manager, no agent, no label. Most of what happened came through word of mouth, and we were building a great little community online.
We had some solid radio support too — Don’t Mind was featured on Lamacq’s Roundtable, and Plant the Seed got heavily playlisted by TXFM in Ireland.
The real game-changer came when the band James tweeted about our track I Saw a Ghost. That kicked off a conversation, and before long we were offered a spot supporting them on The Girl at the End of the World tour. That was our first big break. Playing huge rooms like Brixton Academy and Manchester Arena brought us on massively as performers. After each show, we’d be on the merch stand meeting fans. That tour was the main catalyst for us stepping up to the next level and reaching an audience beyond Manchester.
All Music Magazine UK:
How does it feel to revisit and perform Cavalcade in full a decade later, especially with the band now enjoying chart success with Out Of A Dream?
The Slow Readers Club:
Rehearsals have been great, actually. It’s mad how much comes back through muscle memory. It really takes you back to those days when we were grafting and chasing the dream — not that we’ve stopped, ha!
It’s been brilliant seeing the new stuff go down well too; we never want to just trade on past glories. But celebrating this record feels right — it’s a special one for us, and for the fans too. I’d say it was most people’s first introduction to who we are.
All Music Magazine UK:
The tour is being billed as both a reflection and a celebration of what’s to come — how do you strike that balance between nostalgia and progression in your live shows?
The Slow Readers Club:
Yeah, it’s a bit of a milestone, I suppose — seven albums in now. On our usual tours we tend to mix in tracks from across all the records, but this time it’s more about experiencing one album in full. We’ll be playing some of the newer material too, but the main focus will be Cavalcade.
We’ve got a few cool things planned to make it a unique experience as well.
All Music Magazine UK:
Tracks like “Plant The Seed” and “I Saw A Ghost” are fan favourites — have your feelings about these songs evolved over the years, and do you perform them differently now?
The Slow Readers Club:
We’ve evolved a lot as performers since the album first came out, and because the songs are so well known now, there’s often a lot of singing back from the crowd — which is always an incredible feeling on stage. It really turns the whole thing into a shared, communal experience.
All Music Magazine UK:
James were instrumental early on in helping you reach a wider audience. What did that support mean to you at the time, and do you stay in touch with them now?
The Slow Readers Club:
Yeah, like I say, it was massive for us. They were incredibly supportive in so many ways — even letting us load our gear onto their trucks between shows. Saul and Jim especially would often watch from the wings and share advice about the industry and touring.
We’ve stayed in touch since then, and they were kind enough to have us support them in Portugal for a couple of arena shows a few years back. We also played a Music Feeds gig with Saul at the Apollo, which was amazing to be part of.
All Music Magazine UK:
The UK music landscape has changed a lot in the last 10 years. Where do you feel The Slow Readers Club fits in today compared to when Cavalcade first dropped?
The Slow Readers Club:
Back then, we were only really known in Manchester — but now we’ve got an audience across the UK, Ireland, Germany, and the Netherlands. People travel from all over the world to see us, and some of our fans are incredibly dedicated — from those with our lyrics tattooed on them to others who’ve been to over a hundred shows.
We’re genuinely grateful for all of it and never take it for granted.
All Music Magazine UK:
Can fans expect any surprises on this anniversary tour — perhaps reworked versions, unreleased tracks, or new arrangements?
The Slow Readers Club:
We’re looking to step things up for this tour. Something I’ve wanted to do for a long time is bring in video backdrops with big, dramatic visuals — and we’re finally making that happen, which I’m really excited about.
We’re also planning to include an acoustic section, so people can expect to hear some of the tracks in a way they’ve never heard them before.
All Music Magazine UK:
You mentioned in the tour announcement that you're reaching new heights — how has your creative process evolved since Cavalcade, and what’s next for the band beyond this tour?
The Slow Readers Club:
Out of a Dream felt like a real step up for us in a lot of ways — more ambitious arrangements, a wider sonic scope, but still grounded in solid songwriting. The lyrics weren’t too bad either, if I do say so myself, ha!
We’ve already started writing the next album and talking about where we want to take things musically. We’re in a really good place with it — I think we can push ourselves and level up again.
The big marker for next year is supporting The Cure at Wythenshawe Park in Manchester, which is absolutely huge for us. We’re massive fans, and for me and Kurt (guitar), it’s even more special because we both grew up in Wythenshawe.
All Music Magazine UK:
Finally, what message would you like to give to the fans — especially those who’ve been with you since the Cavalcade era — ahead of this celebratory tour?
The Slow Readers Club:
A huge thank you to everyone who’s supported us so far and helped spread the word. Word of mouth has played such a massive part in getting us to where we are today. We can’t wait to celebrate this album with you all.
A Decade of Cavalcade' Tour Dates
Friday 5th December 2025 Birmingham O2 Institute
Saturday 6th December 2025 - London, Islington Assembly Hall
Wednesday 10th December 2025 - Sheffield, Leadmill
Thursday 1th December 2025 Newcastle, University
Friday 12th December 2025 - Glasgow, Oran Mor
Saturday 13th December 2025 - Manchester, Academy
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