Not many Nottingham-based bands and acts can boast a thirty-year longevity, but Fat Digester certainly can. The eclectic, cool and funky collective have been making audiences move and groove in awe since the 90s, and have no intention of stopping or slowing anytime soon. We had a chat with frontman Paul 'Ned' Needham all about the band’s approaches, stage shows and very exciting future plans!
So, could you tell us a bit about Fat Digester?
We are a collective of musicians and artists that like to entertain, through a mix of funk, soul, Hip-Hop, dub, jazz, Latin and almost anything else that makes you want to get up and move. We have three front people, up to six horns, keys, percussion, funky guitar, crazy drumming and the whole thing being driven by the bass. We don't really do subtle, we just want people to dance.
You’ve been active for thirty years now, with 2026 being the 25th anniversary of your debut EP, Adios?. How do you feel about your journey?
Well, we’ve never made it in commercial terms, but we have strength in our own convictions and abilities to bring people together, break down barriers and give people a good time. We’ve always got the job done no matter what the audience, and we have played dance tents, rock venues, indie clubs, dub all-nighters; it cuts through all genres. It certainly isn’t about the money, but more about the joy of performing our songs, and seeing the audience reaction. We have successfully filled venues and entertained audiences up and down the country, and further afield, playing our own music, with no record label support, for all this time.
It’s now become an extended family, that, like other families, goes through upheavals, fall-outs and periods of absolute bliss. We are now all friends for life, and this band remains strong because people want to come back and help when needed and care for each other, beyond the confines of the music.
It’s now become an extended family, that, like other families, goes through upheavals, fall-outs and periods of absolute bliss
And you're celebrating the birthday in style – could you tell us a bit about that please?
Along our journey, we’ve made many friends. Revolution Sounds and Castle Rock Brewery being just two that have stepped up and offered their support to build us a 30th Anniversary Yard Party, along with numerous bands from around the country, that have offered to play, as part of the celebrations. Please everyone hold the date, Saturday 13 June 2026, at Castle Rock Brewery, line up to be confirmed. There will be lots of surprises, such as previous band members, bringing back the sights and sounds of the 90s, a specially commissioned beer for the event and hopefully lots of silliness.
Your unique funky brand is a crowd favourite, with slots at festivals like Splendour and Beat The Streets, of which you're playing again in January! How are you feeling about Beat the Streets, as a band?
The event is unique and the crowds are always amazing, with students standing shoulder-to-shoulder with middle aged bikers and everyone in between. It's for an amazing cause and it's always fantastic to appear, as Nottingham people, at the great Rock City. We love the energy that surrounds the event and it remains a band favourite, so expect everyone to be on their A game.
Who are you excited to see play at Beat the Streets?
We love Sun & Moon – Chai's dad was in the Fats many years ago and she remains family – Archy & the Astronauts and White Town, but we also encourage you to please go and see as many artists as you can, make up your own mind as this year's event has an amazing line up overall and it's so hard to pick just a few. I know Jo is looking forward to seeing Sean Dyche interview Stuart Pearce, and may well be wearing her Forest t-shirt as a result.
What’s your favourite Nottingham venue to play?
We always love playing to huge crowds at the Riverside Festival, which is always a joy – filling The Maze on many occasions, with many more people queuing down Mansfield Road, hoping to get in – our residency at Dubble Bubble in the early naughties – closing the Rock and Reggae Festivals in mid-noughties, with people climbing the marquee poles, sweaty nights in the back room of The Bell – Castle Rock Yard Parties, we've played them all; more recently, our gigs at Peggy's Skylight, which are way more sophisticated, but equally silly. So many gigs, but obviously filling Rock City at Beat The Streets is up there.
What are your musical influences?
Well, when people join the band, I always ask them to contribute to the band's shared Spotify Playlist, which includes such artists as Donald Byrd, The Specials, Weather Report, Tower of Power, Snarky Puppy, Nina Simone, Cymande, James Brown, Talking Heads, Defunkt, and Art Blakey.
What are your non-musical influences?
Comedy is a good parallel, we love the stream of consciousness comedy of Python, the Young Ones, and people like Stewart Lee, as it verges on jazz, but the one thing that really inspires us is 'us', our family, the fact that we all have an equal share in the creative department, and are all different as people, but can all make each other laugh. All of that is ultra important to understanding how this has worked for so long.
What are your plans for the future?
It has been a difficult year for the band, as we have lost a founder member in Tim Bullock, a great loss to the Nottingham scene and music in general, and at these times it's often hard to imagine continuing, yet his recent memorial concert, which reunited some of the old band with the new, highlighted why this band is so unique! So, for the future, we are already underway with recording a new album at JT Soar, with Phil Booth, and we are still working to the notion that we haven't yet played the perfect gig, though several must have been very close.
Catch Fat Digester play at Beat the Streets on Sunday 25 January 2026.
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