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Yorkshire-based band Apollo Junction is set to repay a super nan at this year's Isle of Wight Festival as the group gets set to perform on the same bill as the likes of Jessie J and Pet Shop Boys
Apollo Junction is excited to perform yet again at this year's Isle of Wight Festival - but it's for more than just musical reasons this time around.
The Yorkshire-based band has gradually worked their way up to play on the main stage at this year's festival, a feat that sees them on the same bill as huge stars such as S Club, Jessie J, Natalie Imbruglia and Pet Shop Boys. Elsewhere on the epic June weekender, the likes of Green Day, The Prodigy and McFly will aim to wow the crowds.
But for Apollo Junction, their return is about more than just entertaining those in attendance - it's about repaying a special lady in their life. Last year, when bandmembers Jamie Williamson, Ben Hope, Matt Wilson, Sam Potter and Jonathan Thornton frantically searched for somewhere to stay after being added to the bill, they quickly discovered that there was no room at the inn (any of them!).
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Cue a super fan introducing them to an amazing nan who offered up the lads their spare room. Speaking of the unique situation, bassist Ben said: "We couldn't believe it and, honestly, expected her to change her mind, but she didn't and our IOW Festival 2023 accommodation was the best we've ever had. A nana, her brilliant family plus their dogs and then all of us sleeping on sofas, spare beds, camp beds, the lot.
"Everyday she cooked for us, we sat up late into the night chatting and sharing stories, it was an incredible weekend."
Such was the strong bond they all formed, the family, including the band's "adopted nan" surprised the guys at one of their shows in Leeds.
Speaking of the situation, nan Denise Yendley said: "We weren't sure what to expect as it's not every day you host a band but we all had a great time." She kindly added the band are always welcome to stay again.
Ahead of this year's Isle of Wight festival, singer Jamie revealed the band has sorted VIP access for the family for this year's shindig as a thank you. It's the fifth time the group will perform at the event, working their way up from the small stages to grace the biggest of them all on the Saturday evening this time around.
It's a big achievement for the group of friends who had initially got together after giving up on their individual dreams of making it in the industry and deciding to just perform together "for fun". Now, though, they've been recognised by celebrity fans such Colin Firth and Gareth Bale, who sent the band a video message to tell them he was listening to them in his car. It was a situation drummer Jonathan described as "very surreal".
Next up on the agenda for the lads is a huge summer of outdoor shows, including the Y Not Festival and Silverstone Moto GP and Jamie explained: "We're going to be supporting heroes of ours like Richard Ashcroft, and then we start recording our new album."
While the band has released three albums to date, Jamie joked that their most famous 30 seconds has come every time Match of the Day aired on the season that has just ended. "Gary Lineker talks over the top of our track Mil1ion on his pre-news introduction on every episode," the singer explained. "We always laugh that we have the most famous 30 seconds of music by a band that no one has a clue is playing on the whole of the TV each week."
Despite the jokes, Jamie was quick to point out the band's appreciation of the fans that continue to support them on their rise. "We've built a great fanbase that call themselves the AJ family," he gushed.
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