Area Resident - RBC Bluesfest 2019 Interview
AREA RESIDENT
Friday July 12, 2019 - 6:00 PM - Bluesville Stage
Written by Matt Francis
Area Resident playing at Orange Art Gallery - April 2018
Doug Hempstead, the man behind Ottawa’s Alt-Rock band Area Resident, seems to be a very busy guy so we’re thankful he took the time to answer a few questions about the band’s upcoming show at Bluesfest.
“I’m a traffic reporter on the radio, and I make music at home between split shifts, usually heavily influenced by two decades in journalism.”
The process must be working for him, as Area Resident has released 3 albums in the last three years, Area Resident in 2016, Delano in 2017, and Echolette in 2018, with a new single in June, and a new album Viscount following this fall. While Hempstead writes and records the band’s albums alone along with producer Jordan Zadorozny (Blinky The Star), the band has stayed busy in 2019, adding a new member, playing at the famous Blacksheep Inn in Wakefield, and rehearsing the new songs.
As Area Resident gets ready to play Bluesfest, Hempstead also has to prepare himself for getting to share a stage with one of his favourite acts.
“Well, we’re opening for one of my favourite bands of all time (Guided By Voices.) Bob Pollard and GBV are a huge musical inspiration. Sharing a venue with them is so incredibly satisfying that I’m trying not to think about it too much, less I freak myself out.”
Area Resident is playing the Bluesville Stage on Friday July 12th, from 6 to 7PM. You also might catch Hempstead around the festival checking out other local acts such as Loon Choir and Moonfruits among others.
“BlakDenim is incredible, I could watch their bass player for hours.”
For more information on what Area Resident is up to you can check them out at; @arearesident on instagram, @DougHempstead on twitter, AreaResidentMusic on Facebook, and you can stream their music on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, and more. Listen to Area Resident’s latest single “Viscount I” below.
Area Resident single Riverside from the album 'Delano' (November, 2017) Video by Matt Lemay (mattlemay.ca) Filmed October 2017 in Pembroke, Ontario. Music by Doug Hempstead & Jordon Zadorozny. Produced at Skylark Park by Jordon Zadorozny Written by Doug Hempstead arearesident.bandcamp.com