Black Country, New Road at End of the Road Festival: "I didn’t think I’d be getting roasted onstage by Stewart Lee"

The deadpan British comic legend – who had performed at the festival earlier – began by asking the pair about their reinvention and scrapping ideas in the interest of democratic songwriting before quizzing Lewis – who plays sax and flute for the sextet – why he no longer sings.

“You’re the fan favourite, Lewis,” Lee insisted, adding in jest, “All the little kids love you.” Lewis shot back: “I didn’t think I’d be getting roasted onstage by Stewart Lee.”

Before opening the pair to questions from the rain-pummelled crowd – “to distract them from their unhappiness by giving them a sense of purpose,” as Lee put it – Hyde and Evans discussed the sonic co-contamination that took place around the Brixton Windmill scene, where Black Country, New Road came up alongside acts like Shame and black midi – whose own Geordie Greep played yesterday.

Discussing their influences – including Randy Newman (Hyde) and Fairport Convention (Evans) – Lee offered a sage piece of advice: “As soon as a group have a transparent instrument, they’re fucked,” referring to Fairport Convention's use of a pastel, see-through violin.

End of the Road Festival concludes today with headline sets from Father John Misty, John Maus, and Fabiano Palladino.