East Sussex band Wild Horse to play Brighton festival

Brothers, Jack and Henry Baldwin, from Burwash started a band alongside drummer Ed Barnes, Burwash around twelve years ago at secondary school.

Originally, only Henry and Ed, until younger brother Jack asked to be allowed in the band.

Henry Baldwin, 27, bass guitarist, said, “I dragged my brother in, although I think it was more out of jealousy on his side. So, he begged me to join, and I let him.”

Two years ago, a new member from Heathfield, Jade Snowdon, 24, joined Wild Horse to fill out the live sound and make the band sound more in sync with their records as a violinist and keyboard player.

Wild Horse played their first gigs at The Forum in Trubridge Wells, before expanding into the Brighton scene at The Prince Albert and the Hope and Ruin.

Henry said, “The Forum in Trubridge Wells is always a pleasure to play.

"That’s quite an important venue for us and has been in the past.”

He continued that Brighton venues had a certain charm and drew a good turnout.

There is no sense of pressure when performing in East Sussex.

Henry said, “Because it’s home, it’s what we have always known, we know the culture, the people.”

The next local gig will be at Brunswick Pub in Hove on 24 May.

Wild Horse is an independent band that runs itself and has even supported Daniel Wakeford on his UK tour in 2023, including a performance at the Brighton Komedia.

Jack Baldwin, 24, lead singer and guitarist who writes the majority of the songs, recently went travelling and has brought back new material, including a new single out on 27 May and a new live song yet to be recorded at the Foodies Festival.

Henry said, “It was a pleasure to be selected and invited” to the festival.

Wild Horse had been asked to do shows across the country, but, due to scheduling, decided to perform only at Preston Park, Brighton.

East Sussex has shaped Wild Horse as individuals with their creativity.

Henry said: “Area and location do have a lot to do with the music you make.”

He said: “When you’re around that sort of energy all of the time, you know, you have to get a lot more creative, and you have to think a lot more about what you’re doing and what you’re putting out there.”

While Wild Horse have the classic rock and blue sound known to Brighton indie music, country and folk influences are starting to come into their new sound, which were previously hidden in their albums.

Foodies Festival will kick off at Preston Park on May 2 with Scouting for Girls headlining.

Wild Horse will be supporting B*witched on May 3 and finishing on May 4 with Boyzlife.

Celebrating the Foodies Festival's 21st birthday, they have expanded the programme for all ages, with family-friendly activities all weekend, 11 am to 9 pm, except for Bank Holiday Monday, which finishes at 8 pm.

The festival brings together food from MasterChef and British Bake Off contestants, a cookery school for children and the live music stage.