Photo Credit: Press

Throughout March, NINE BELOW ZERO members Dennis Greaves and Mark Feltham embarked on a stripped back acoustic tour in support of their double album ‘Denmark’. The blues band have been around since the late 70’s, having performed at numerous iconic venues and festivals over the years, and releasing over 20 albums. Dennis and Mark decided to go back in time to rework a host of old songs, as well as bring new ones to light. We sat down with Dennis to chat about the tour, the album and some of his gig highlights.

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How did the ‘Denmark’ album come about?

Dennis: 25 years ago I formed my own record company, that was because we couldn’t get the deals we had in the past. It gives you the freedom to have control of everything. During lockdown, I found loads and loads of tapes from recordings I have done over the years, but they were all on different formats. Some were on Betamax, two inch tapes, digital audio tapes, video cassettes and I took them to a guy to get them all put on a hard drive. It came to me that an acoustic collective album would work, because when we have been doing the duo shows, people have been asking for essentially what they have seen live.

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What has the reception been like on the album and the tour?

Dennis: Really positive. There are 26 tracks with it being a double album, so it tells a story. We started the tour in Glasgow and the Scottish have a feel for acoustic and folk music so they know how to conduct themselves and listen to it. Mark is one of the finest harmonic players in the world, having performed with so many artists like Tom Jones, Rory Gallagher and Oasis, and it gives him a real spotlight during these shows which he deserves.

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Do you feel the harmonica is an underappreciated instrument?

Dennis: Our old bass player Brian used to call it a novelty instrument. It is quite astonishing what you can do with it. The instrument was picked up by African slaves and played as entertainment, and I love the history of where it came from. You can put it in your pocket too, which is great.

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What was the reason you decided to add new songs to this album?

Dennis: It makes it interesting. The listeners are getting new versions of songs so why not give them something new too? One song is about Brexit, one song is about my Uncles playing the harmonica when I was growing up.

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What is the structure like when writing new material?

Dennis: The best format for me is a lyric or subject matter. Sometimes I will have a riff hanging around, and then I essentially close the box, then years later someone else will open that box and then the creativity flies. I find if you have your subject matter, that is a really nice way and it comes quicker.

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How do you prepare when you are about to go on the road?

Dennis: We do a week’s pre-production. We were using UB40’s studio up in Coventry, and we rehearse for five days, locked in that zone. Mark and I can just do it around my house, which is really cool. Sometimes I don’t have a set list when we go on tour. I have a master set list and I look out in to the audience and get a feel of the atmosphere, then I will pull something out that we might not have played in years. It changes things up and doesn’t make it feel corporate. We never had a hit, so nobody is really waiting for that one big song. Sometimes you will get someone ask for a particular song, and we will play that off the cuff. It makes the punters feel more part of the show.

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What are three shows that stand out to you across the last 40+ years?

Dennis: Reading Festival 1979. We came out in mod suits and we had beer cans and sharpened coins thrown at us. As soon as we started playing, they all loved it and we were invited back the next year too. The first Hammersmith Odeon is another one. We got asked to do Glastonbury a few years ago and I put together an eight piece band. We rearranged a load of our old songs with brass and keyboards and it was really special. There has been some really amazing and special nights.

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You are touring once again with Dr Feelgood later in the year. How excited are you to be performing together live again?

Dennis: The tour we did last year was really successful, so we decided to do it again. That’s more for the fans and punters really. We do an hour each and it’s a real in your face RnB performance.

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What are rider essentials?

Dennis: Towels and water. I have gone for the Mike Tyson entrance. I have seen bands lose it when they don’t have the sandwiches cut a certain way. All that is nonsense really, so for us its towels and water. It’s not being boring, it’s being sensible.

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What other plans do you have for 2024 that is outside of touring?

Dennis: I have found a lot of material, so I am going to be doing about five albums in the next five years. There will be a blues album, a soul album; I’ve got lots of projects to finish.

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A huge thank you to Dennis for taking the time out of his evening to chat with us. NINE BELOW ZERO will be touring the UK throughout the winter of 2024. See the poster below for all the dates.

‘Denmark’ is available to purchase on 2CD HERE.