As December Falls are a gem of the UK alternative scene. Hailing from Nottingham, they have risen-up through the locals ranks to become a renowned name of heavy music on the national stage. Their new album, Everything’s On Fire But I’m Fine, is an honest and heartfelt look into their lives. To talk all about the new record, their upcoming homecoming at Rock City and what Nottingham means to them, frontwoman Bethany Curtis and lead guitarist Ande Hunter joined us over Zoom…
First of all, what does the Nottingham music scene mean to you as a band?
Ande: We grew up in Nottingham, didn’t we?
Bethany: Obviously you and Timmy (Francis, bassist) have been playing in the music scene a lot longer than I have been.
A: It’s very different now than the music scene that I remember when I was in college, for sure.
B: Even when I first joined As December Falls, I think it’s changed.
A: Yeah, massively - so many venues have closed down, it’s getting harder and harder… but there’s still some great bands in Nottingham still going.
We are now in a situation where we don’t play Nottingham as much as we used to, so I don’t think we’re as connected to the local scene as we once were, but back in the day we were playing things like Macmillan Festival where 90% of it was Nottingham bands. Most of our friends were all playing in bands and doing something musical. Me and Timmy, I think the first time we ever met was down at The Maze on Mansfield Road - we jammed and we played shows together. Then when he was putting together As December Falls, he hit me up and you also were cutting your teeth singing covers, weren’t you?
B: Yeah, singing covers in pubs [laughs].
What’s the story of the latest record and what does it mean to you as a band?
B: I think for us, this album really is a statement as to where we are currently. Everyone will see us for the short time when we’re on stage and be like “Oh my god that must be insane, they must have the best lives, they must be just living their dream…” - when actually we’re doing that and yes, that’s incredible… but we’re also coming off stage and we’re trying to learn how to do VAT returns, we’re trying to figure out how to ship 5,000 vinyl albums to a million different countries.
It’s this idea that everything is on fire around us all the time because we’re still independent, still self-managed, we’re doing everything ourselves and we’re having to learn so many new skills along the way. So, it does sort of feel like we’re drowning and it does feel like we’re surrounded by fire, but the love and the passion that we have for As December Falls - this project, this music - it makes everything 100% worth it. It’s why we went with Everything’s On Fire But I’m Fine (as the album title) as we just thought it was a nice way of putting a pin in this point in our careers.
A: It’s going great - but it’s tough! [laughs]
B: We’re doing some of the coolest things we’ve ever done - we’ve played Download, we’ve done the main stage at Slam Dunk, we’re now headlining Rock City…
A: The last albums both charted. It’s been a wild ride but you know, we’re doing our first headline tour at the end of the year where we’re in our bus as a headliner, which means we’re sorting everything out - but like, logistically, it’s a nightmare.
B: It’s crazy!
A: Me and the tour manager are having a phone call every day when a new problem arises.
It’s this idea that everything is on fire around us all the time because we’re still independent, still self-managed, we’re doing everything ourselves and we’re having to learn so many new skills along the way
You mentioned there you play Rock City for a huge homecoming headline in November as part of the album cycle tour - how are you feeling about it?
A: So excited!
B: It’s crazy, isn’t it? So, when this show got announced, we were a bit sceptical…
A: The last time we played Nottingham was 2022 or 2023 for a headline. We played Rescue Rooms and sold it out quite easily. At that point our booking agent, who came to the show, took us outside and said: “The next time you headline Nottingham, you’ll be playing Rock City” - and we just laughed, didn’t we?
B: I remember that my eyes rolled so far to the back of my head! I was like “No we won’t, let’s not be silly here!” Then when this tour got announced, he was like “I’m putting Rock City in!” The tickets went on sale, and he rang me in the evening and said “You would have already sold out Rescue Rooms by now”. Then he rang me on the Monday after the tickets went on sale and he said “You would have sold out Rescue Rooms three times by now” - and I was like “Oh, so it’s going well then?” So yeah, it’s really exciting - it’s going to be our biggest show that we’ve ever headlined, Rock City.
A: It’s also got the personal attachment. We grew up seeing bands at Rock City. My second ever show, I was fourteen, I went to see Panic! At The Disco. I’ve seen so many of my favourite bands there - Enter Shikari, Taking Back Sunday, The Darkness - so many amazing bands!
B: It’s weird, sort of knowing that you’re now at that same level as them. It’s a very weird predicament to be in because I remember when I was fourteen and I went to go see Enter Shikari and all of my favourite bands there.
A: Guns ‘n’ Roses played there back in the day! There are so many of my heroes that I know that played that venue, it’s just nuts to think that we’re now playing there. So yeah, it’s going to be a very, very special one for us!
As December Falls will play Rock City on Saturday 1 November 2025. Their new album Everything’s On Fire, But I’m Fine is out now.
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