Shanghai Treason was a well hidden treasure for
me anyway. They havereleased three albumns with
their fantastic folkpunk. Here´s an interview
with the group done in midsummer 2025.
Please tell me the history of the band, when you
started and why?
-We started back in 2019 as a rag tag gang of
musicians who didn't actually know eachother but
came together through a shared love of the
celtic punk genre, we felt it was high time
there was a Yorkshire based Celtic Punk band
Please tell me a little about every member, age,
family, bands before and on the side and
something really bad about every one?
-All 5 band members are a total nightmare in
their own right, it's a small miracle we're all
still standing!
Your music is folkrock, was it the only style
you wanted to play?
-Yeah this was the vision but we like to think
we have incorporated other ideas in there, we're
all fans of modern melodic punk and I think it
shows, we have our own sound while sounding
distinctly folk rock/ celtic punk
Your name Shangai Treason doesn´t sound that you
think about folkpunk at all, what is the meaning
with the name ot is it only a name? Was there
any other names that you talked about?
-I remember we had a working title Oilfeather
for a while but we felt Shanghai Treason was
more on the nose, of course being a play on
words of the term 'High Treason' which gives
some indication of our politics
You have precisely released your third album
Sonder, how is the feeling? You sent me two
albums, how can I get your first?
-If you wish to receive the first you'll have to
send us one , "million dollors muhuhuhahaha"
ermm yeah we have got them at present but might
reprint some at somepoint. Yeah the headline
album launch tour was sytunning, we're on the
victory lap now as it's festival season
You have played with a lot of big bands in the
punkscene like Buzzcocks, Undertones, Stiff
Little Fingers and with folkbands like Ferocious
Dog and Rumjacks, is it any difference on the
public if you play with a punkband or a folkband
or is it the same type of people who comes?
-That's a good question, yeah the punk punks are
like "impress me" and we are like total marmite
with them some love us, some hate us. We've got
some of our most die hard fans playing these
tougher crowds. The party starting folk punk
grassroots festival kinda crowd however tend to
be right onboard from the off and it's a total
knees up party
I understand that you think it´s important with
politicals lyrics, is it important to get out
your opinion?
-Hell yeah, we're a political band, we like to
take our time and think about what we want to
say then say it in our songs
Who writes the lyrics?
-That would be me (Sam)
Please tell em about the following lyrics
A bullet with my name on
- This one's a story song about a guy who's on
the run when he bumps into an old friend who
turns out to be his assassin
Rattle the cage
- This one's kind of stream of consciousness but
the chorus is very much about battling with
unhealthy connections like
unhealthy relationships or drug addictions
Pallbearer
- This one's our funeral wake song, let's raise
the dead shall we
Is it really important to put out your music on
physical record or can you feel that you have
released a record if only have released it
digitally?
-Hell yeah we and our fans love physical record
releases but we feel it's good to have things be
available then not available etc so they have
some exclusivity , we do limited runs
Do you buy a lot of records yourself?
-Some of the guys do, I myself do stream I´m sad
to say
To play folkmusic in this punky style isn´t
anything new, but you do it really good? Is the
biggest purpose with your music to entertain
music and make them happy and to drink beer to
the music?
-Absolutly - we'd describe ourselves as "Cheeky
Yorkshire Flatcap Banjo Punks 'Shanghai Treason'
who will have you hopping around, spilling your
pint and smiling from ear to ear. It's
politically charged, good time, beer drinking
music that's perfect for big tops and festival
fields!"
You like beer I understand, favorite beer style
and you don´t have any thoughts of doing a
Shnghai Treason-beer?
-I love a good Pilsner, we've been offered to do
a few beer team ups by some local brewerys,
havnt quite got around to it just yet
Is there any other good bands to mention from
your homecity and band or in Great Britain?
-Sure in terms of great UK bands we'd recommend
Black Water County, The Lagan, Roughneck Riot &
Nasty Fishmonger
What do you know about Sweden as a country and
do you have any swedish bands you like?
-We love a bit of Ghost! I've been to Malmö
before but it's a country we'd like to explore
more, it would be great to come and tour there
with supporting a band in our style
I can imagine that a liveconcert with you must
be a sweaty experience, how much sweat can you
take out from your shirt after a concert?
-Put it this way, you might aswell throw away
that t-shirt haha
You will play on Rebellion soon, have you been
there before and what´s the best with Rebellion
festival? How does folkpunk is taken on this
festival?
-We do, it's our fist time at the festival, it's
gunna absolutely pop off!
Is there any other bands on the festival you
must see?
-We're looking forwqard to seeing The Baboon
Show and swedish band Millencolin, we are
playing the same day as those two
Please rank your five favorite records?
-We'd have to have some Rage Against The Machine
in there, some Rancid, some System Of A Down,
some Pogues and Dropkicks!
How is it to live in Great Britain nowadays when
you´re outside the EU and so on? Is it a lot
racism in the country?
-It's still a good place to live, when you visit
the EU it does feel more exciting out there than
it does in the UK, yes fascism is on the rise
everywhere, we have to remain vigilant of this ,
it's more important than ever to stand up for
your values.
Do you care about reviews? Which is the most
peculiar you ever had, with this band or any
other band you have been to?
-Yes and no, we usually have a good giggle at
what people say, usually because they don't have
a ton of knowledge of the genre so the fact
there is a banjo and punk music together blows
peoples mind wheras you know it's nothing new
haha
Which bands does people compare you to? Is it
frustrating that people compare bands with other
bands or is it understandable?
-We get The Rumjacks , The Pogues, Dropkick
Murphys, probably the one we get the most is
Flogging Molly which is a huge compliment as we
love them
If you could choose five bands from the past and
the history and nowadays and both dead and
living bands to have a concert together with
your band. Which five have you been chosen? Or
have already shared stage with all these bands?
-OK let's go with from the past, we'd bring back
Bob Marley obviously
Is music a good way to get out frustration and
become a nicer person outside the music?
-Yes i'd say so, I work in music for a living as
a concert promoter so when i'm not playing gigs
i'm running them, you meet loads of great people
and get to give back to the scene which feels
great.
Which is your own favoritesong among your own
songs? And which song is the people choice?
-Personally my favourite song is Pallbearer, i'd
say a fan favourite which we don't currently
play is a track called Hero's Welcome
Is it boring with interviews? Is it much
interviews? What do you prefer
Telephoneinterviews, face to face or as this one
via e-mail?
-We've done a lot of them, this has been great
as there's been some interesting questions
Futureplans for the band?
-It's festival season so we're excited to get
back in the fields andd celebrate the release of
our new album with our fans, we've got some cool
tour supports to announce for later in the year,
it's going to be a big year for sure
Futureplans for yourself?
-I'm hoping to get back out on holiday you know,
find some sun, maybe i'll hit Sweden for a city
break later in the year ey
Wisdomword?
-From our song Bones: Keep on pursuing, keep on doing you and you can't go wrong, keep on learning, forever yearning for life because we don't have long, the hourglass, moves way to fast, each days quicker than the last, the pendulum swings, the die is cast, each new moment shall soon come to pass, we'll soon be bones