In the middle of a day of “intense but fun rehearsals,” Die Twice called me outside the studio. They’re preparing for two tours: The Punchbag University Tour with Villanelle, and their own Perfect Tour. Composed of Oliver Bayton (vocals), Finn Lloyd (bass), Jake Coles (drums), and Billy Twamley (guitar), they started off in Exeter in 2022 and have been on a steady rise since. Die Twice are headlining the Exeter Cavern on Wednesday September 24th with Villanelle, so get your tickets here.
The band have been playing gigs around the UK for the past few months, and it’s been a while since they’ve played in Exeter. Billy said it’ll be nice to see familiar faces, especially with the constantly changing uni scene. The band agreed that they’re excited to get back into the Exeter scene.
Cavern, the much-beloved dive bar tucked away on Gandy Street, has been host to every up-and-coming band in the city. Die Twice’s first Cavern gig was in early 2022, when they were just starting out. Oliver joked that “everyone was waiting outside while we were playing because no one knew who we were.” Now with much more experience under their belt, Billy said it’ll be interesting to suss out how the Cavern’s changed in recent years. He and Jake agreed that the venue has a “cool vibe: dirty, dungeon-y, sticky, grunge-y,” and they hope the university students like to “jump around and have a boogie.”
According to Finn, the band’s “main area” is the Exeter Phoenix, which they’ve played multiple times. They’re playing the Phoenix on December 20 as part of the Perfect Tour; you can get tickets here. They love the Old Firehouse as well; they played a gig there that was “amazing” and “one of the best nights ever.” Jake cited the intimacy of the venue, saying that “even when you only have a few people in there it feels really busy.” Another local venue they like is the Barrel House in Totnes, which is just outside of Exeter and “really quirky, with such a fun feel to it.”
Die Twice have also stayed immersed in the local music scene. On the 24th, they’ll be supported by student bands HALFCUT and The PHD, who I also interviewed (read here). They’re also fans of King Louis, Poppy Show, Sid Plus One, and Francesca Brown, who also runs the Exe Gig Collective.
They’re signed with the record label FAE, who also signed Villanelle. Billy jokingly called them their “extended family,” and the band expressed how excited they are to meet them. They enjoyed Villanelle’s debut single, Hinge, and want to hear what they come out with next.
They’ve also been practicing up a storm, rehearsing old songs and preparing new material. They feel well-prepared for both tours, and Billy said they were in a long practice “just nailing it, right on the money.” Oliver and Finn began dancing in the background to punctuate this sentence with their eagerness. Though they’re clearly diligent with a strong work ethic, the band also have an infectious energy to them. They’re extremely passionate about making music and playing it live. I asked about their new material, and it is “going to be the best thing you’ve ever heard” and will “blow everyone’s socks off.” Keep an eye on their socials and sign up to their mailing list for info on that, because with their boundless enthusiasm, Die Twice will definitely deliver.
Their new material is going to be the best thing you’ve ever heard, and will blow everyone’s socks off.
The Punchbag University Tour will see them debut some of this new music, and Exeter is the first stop. It will focus on supporting grassroots venues at different universities around the UK and Ireland in September and October. Die Twice’s Perfect Tour will start on November 30 in Nottingham, and end at the Exeter Phoenix on December 20. Billy said that the Perfect Tour is going to be “a big old party and everyone should come and buy a ticket, please.”
The band had quite a few people to thank at the end of the interview, including Michael Keaton, Gary Oldman, Laura Dern, Finn’s mum, Jake’s mum, Daniel Sturge’s left toenail, and their dedicated manager, Katie Smith. Die Twice is a wonderfully exciting band full of musicians who are funny, talented, and committed to making great music. Catch them at Cavern this Wednesday if you know what’s good for you.
