Nothing But Thieves are one of the highlights of the strong Community Festival lineup - a new all-day festival which celebrates breaking British music - and we catch up with them ahead of the anticipated Finsbury Park event.

The five-piece alternative rock group are readying to kick off their year of live dates with some intimate shows this May as a nod to the venues they started out in.

The underplay shows sees the group perform at London's Dingwalls on May 24 as well as York, Carlisle and Cardiff before festivals sets across Europe.

Lead vocalist Conor Mason tells us: "We're getting to work now.

"It's a week of shows where we started out. After the album's release in September we'll be touring the world - although I can't say which order until it all gets sorted out."

And with a new album 'Broken Machine' due for release on September 8 fans will be tentatively waiting to see if the new songs will be showcased this summer.

However the band don't want to give too much away as Conor says: "We're not giving them all away, only a couple of songs for everyone to enjoy."

The latest single 'Amsterdam' is the first taste of their upcoming second LP, a track with a dark theme and haunting video to match.

Although the title is an obvious reference to the city, the lyrics as Conor tell us: "It's about being trapped and the frustration of doing the same mundane things over and over.

"You know like seeing people on their phones and watching them through a screen!"

The lyrical content contrasts the inspiration behind naming the track 'Amsterdam', which is the place the group found solace from the mundane.

Conor adds: "We collectively found peace in Amsterdam. We always enjoyed going that's where the idea came from, there's also a break in the song where we can 'get away'.

"It's quite a simple song really, it was an easy first choice to pick."

'Amsterdam' is the first single to be taken from Nothing But Thieves' second LP

The song managed six million streams in just days and has been picked up by radio stations in the UK, US and Australia.

However their second album launch might not have been so successful because 'Amsterdam' wasn't always considered as the first release.

As Conor says: "I championed it - not to blow my own trumpet but I believed it, it reminds me of 'Monkey Wrench' the way it hits you on the head.

"I said 'it has to be the first single' and the reaction has been really good and everyone's glad I pushed for it."

Conor notes playing FestiBall just days after the song's release was when they realised its instant success, he says: "It was the first time we played it and people were already singing along and going crazy for it. It was a really good vibe."

It's good news then that the follow up to their 250,000 selling debut album already matches up, and the creation of the 'difficult second album' seemed easier compared to the first for Nothing But Thieves

As Conor tells us: "It was really frustrating. We didn't know who we were, we didn't know what we wanted and the recording lasted a year.

"From touring the last three years we're older and wiser, which helped us be more switched on and it [the second album] was done in six weeks."

This time they worked with producer Mike Crossey who's collaborated with The 1975 and Foals and as Conor describes him: "He's insane, we got magic! He knows what we like."

On their sound Conor says: "We never tried to do one sound or write a rock song, we very much write what we want. Everyone has got such a broad music taste.

"We just did what came naturally to us and it's all over the place, no two songs sound the same."

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Meanwhile their support slots for the likes of Muse and Arcade Fire helped the group make a name for themselves on the live circuit and pick up a strong following along the way.

After their own sold out UK tours and major festival appearances, this year sees them climb up festival bills including Y Not?, Truck and Community.

Conor tells us: "It's a good experience being top of the bill, we've never done that before.

"It's crept up on us. We made a name for ourselves playing acoustics tents and now to be on the main stage is really good."

The first ever Community Festival takes place on July 1 in Finsbury and it's a one-day event with a strong focus on new music.

Nothing But Thieves are on the lineup with The Hunna, Fickle Friends and Redfaces alongside more established acts Slaves, The Wombats and Catfish and the Bottlemen.

This impressive British lineup sees Conor and the band in good company, he says: "It's great, we're well excited, we like being in a lineup with lots of good breaking British acts.

"I went to see Royal Blood and Tame Impala in Finsbury Park and it was a great environment!"

Nothing But Thieves are performing at Community Festival on July 1, tickets are priced at £40.30 and available from Ticketmaster here.

The festival will take place in Finsbury Park and also features Catfish and the Bottlemen, Slaves and The Wombats.

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