Liam Cottrell is a singer-songwriter from Kingston who will be playing at the Rose Theatre’s Culture Café as part of the Youth TakeOver night at the venue on July 3. The event kicks off the inaugural International Youth Arts Festival and Cottrell spoke to the Kingston Guardian about getting the party started.

Introduce yourself

I am Liam Cottrell – a London-based power-pop/indie singer-songwriter with a powerful voice, catchy tunes and lyrics which demand a second listen.

What do you have planned for the IYAF show at the Rose?

I plan to play a set which will be both thought-provoking and entertaining, constantly changing the atmosphere of the songs from light to dark throughout the gig. I will be ending on what has become my signature song, London Town, which I hope will get everyone singing.

Are you pleased to be part of the IYAF?

It is a pleasure to be involved with IYAF – they are doing something which should be a constant feature of any creative area by promoting young, fresh talent. My company, Our Friends Records, is putting on some acoustic afternoons as part of the festival, in the Rose Theatre Café, bringing in such talented individuals as Gavin Osborn, Richard Fuller and Katie Malco to entertain the lunchtime crowds.

What do you make of Kingston’s music scene?

It is hard to spit in Kingston without hitting a band. Although there are only a few venues to play at, not a night goes by without a live show of some kind taking place.

Sound/influences

Always hard to say but I would say my words are mostly influenced by Brand New (possibly the world’s best band) and conscious hip-hop acts such as Sage Francis and Atmosphere. My dynamic contrasts come straight from the Foo Fighters and, I am told, I’m heavily influenced by the Clash, although that is quite a lofty comparison.

When did it all start?

I came home from seeing Bon Jovi (!) one night around four years ago and stayed up all night singing the chorus to London Town in my head. I wrote it all down the next day and it kind of snowballed from there. It has taken me until now to get a gig-ready backing band together and I plan to carry on writing music and gigging for as long as I can.

Where do you play?

I am always down the Kingston Mill, playing at the open-mics. You will also find me in the Fighting Cocks every so often, which I have played countless times.

Best moment

There have been a few. I think it may well be breaking a string just before the last chorus of London Town at the Arts Theatre in Soho. I managed to convince the entire crowd to clap along with the rhythm while I finished the chorus a cappella.

Any singles/EPs/albums?

The full band demo is in the works at the moment – it should be finished by the end of the summer and will be given away free for a short period of time. Until then, my songs can be heard acoustically on my myspace.

What’sthe band’s  dream?

Get signed. Tour the world. Die face down in our own sick. Okay, not the last bit, but you get the idea...

Anything else

Check out myspace. com/liamcottrell and myspace.com/ourfriends records