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Alt-pop punk rockers RiotWeekend are set to release their long-awaited sophomore EP ‘Table4Four’ on March 27th. We caught up with the band – Holly Nunn (lead vocals and bass), Tomma Moulard (guitars), Rab McGowan (guitars), and Salvatore Bertolone (drums) – to get the lowdown on the EP, and the all-important background on RiotWeekend.
What are the origins of RiotWeekend? How long have you been playing together?
[Holly]: There have been a couple of lineup changes due to health reasons or moving away, but this lineup feels right! We’ve been together as a group for just over a year now. We all have links to Guildford and have lived there at some point in our lives. So for us, that’s home.In this concoction, you have a Frenchman, an Englishman, an Italian, and a Scotsman. We’re like the beginning of a terrible Dad joke – we just haven’t figured out the punchline yet.
What should people expect when they check the band out? How would you describe RiotWeekend?
[Rab]: Anyone who’s been to see one of our shows knows that we like to have fun and joke around on stage. We have great chemistry and love playing music together, and I think when the band on stage is having a good time, the audience feeds off of that!How did you feel performing your first gig as a band, and how was it?!
[Salvatore]: It had been over 15 years since I played live before my first show with RiotWeekend. To say I was excited would be an understatement! I was full of adrenaline and so happy to be back. It was like riding a bike, and I was home, with my new brothers and sister.
New EP ‘Table4Four’ is due for release on March 27th. What was the gestation period of the EP like? How quickly did the songs come together?
[Tomma]: This upcoming 4-track EP is a mix of some songs that have been written for years, and so were just retouched and finalised for this EP. Some others came together within a couple of hours in a writing session with the band. As for the recordings to publish, we went to Blackberry Studios in the summer of 2025 to record the songs, which were then finalised in mixing and mastering over the following 4 weeks…then came the wait to release!Tell us a little bit about the track ‘Harry’, is this one about anyone in particular?
[Holly] Harry is a complex one to explain for me – I initially wrote it to try and tell the truth on an injustice that had happened to my childhood best friend. In doing so, it began to help me process what had happened and why we’d fallen out of touch for the last few years. Whilst writing the song, I knew it needed to be more than just a tale of what had happened and how wrong it was, and I had also begun to process that I can’t actually do anything to help other than be there. So I turned to dedicating the song to ‘Harry’, and used it to make a promise that they would eventually be ok, and that I’d be there throughout. I think being there for someone who’s going through hard times is the best thing you can do, so I made it known I would be. The guys really got behind me for this song and made the riffs as powerful as I wanted the message to be, and I’m very grateful. Harry has heard the song, live and on digital, and they absolutely love it, so that makes me happy.‘Days In December’ is currently our favourite track of the four; it comes across quite personal and poignant – what’s the background on this one?
[Holly]: Firstly, thank you! I’m glad you like the song, and we’re grateful for your support. ‘Days in December’ was written a while ago about a close friend who was leaving town, and I knew I’d probably never see them again. This friend helped me to feel alive and find myself again after feeling a little lost in life, so it felt like a huge loss to see them go. However, the song didn’t quite feel powerful enough writing about a friendship, so I turned it into a love song, but kept the element of loss quite prevalent. When we recorded Days, I thought about a time when I got hurt in love, hoping that it would bring some raw emotion to the song.‘Table4Four’; excluding bandmates, who would be your ideal table for four?
[Holly]: Do Ant & Dec count as 1? My perfect Table4Four would be… Billie Joe Armstrong, Freddie Mercury, Robert Downey Jr., and Millie Bonnie Bongiovi (Millie Bobby Brown). I know that’s 4 not including me, but I’m happy to just be a fly on the wall at this point. Can Pedro Pascal and Jonathan Bailey be the waiters? [Rab]: Myself, Dave Grohl, and Ed Sheeran, so we can just talk about music and play with Lego, and then David Attenborough just to narrate the whole thing! [Salvatore]: I would say my family, but excluding them also…Dallas Green, Tom DeLonge, Will Ferrell, and Jack Black. [Tomma]: I would love to sit down and talk about music with French DJ and producer Stromae. His music is highly influential, beautifully high fidelity, and his voice is just silky smooth. Jack Black, does he even need a reason why? Frank Turner, He has a countless back catalogue of stories he hints at in his songs that just leave me with so many questions. And Jacob Collier, just to make me feel incredibly insecure about my own knowledge of music.
With regards to a similar audience, which band at the moment do you feel that RiotWeekend would be best suited to open for?
[Rab]: South Arcade, I reckon, would be a great fit! They have those similar 2000s influences and are blowing up right now! They also seem like they would be a good laugh on tour. [Tomma]: I think it would be awesome to open up for a band like As December Falls or Autumn Fires.What are your first musical memories? And what was the lightbulb moment that made you say, “I want to do that”?
[Holly]: I’ve always been a huge fan of music. My Dad was always playing me classic rock songs, and we’d have long road trips belting music at the top of our lungs. He had an old guitar that I picked up one day, and wanted to learn how to play it more than anything. My mum bought me an album by The Monkees when I was younger, and I was hooked. I was forever switching between our family’s CDs and dancing and singing on my own in the dining room. Then I discovered Green Day…wow! I was infatuated with the band and taught myself to play all of their songs on guitar, drums, and keys. My love for drumming was stronger than anything in life, and I wanted to be like Tre Cool growing up! My love for guitar and bass also grew along with it, and I’ve never looked back. I would watch Bullet in a Bible on repeat, wishing I could do that one day, and being on stage truly is the best feeling. [Salvatore]: First memories are from secondary school, when I was in a band with two of my best mates. We’d practice nearly every lunch break, every weekend, and often during holidays in my parents’ rickety garage…you know, the 1970s concrete ones. It’s difficult to say when the light bulb moment was, as there were a few. The most recent was when I hit the studio for this EP and could hear we had something special. The guys are very talented…this I knew as soon as I met them. But after hearing my parts of the recordings just fit so well…that was the moment I knew!What was the last gig that you attended as a fan?
[Rab]: It’s been a while, but I think it was Limp Bizkit and Pendulum at Gunnersbury Park. [Holly]: As a fan, the last gig I went to was Neck Deep. It was their last show (Brixton) of their 10 Year Anniversary Tour for their album Life’s Not Out to Get You. Boston Manor supported them, and both bands were amazing as always! We then saw Bowling For Soup (as fans and friends) on their huge Wembley show – They rocked it! [Salvatore]: All Time Low January 2026. [Tomma]: In early December, I went to see Everything Everything on the 10th anniversary tour of their Album “Get to Heaven”.What current social issues are you particularly passionate about?
[Holly]: We’re not going to say too much on it. We obviously all have our own opinions and views, and we know right from wrong, but we’re not a political band. You may be able to find some messages in our songs, but our main goal is to make music that people enjoy, and to enjoy making music. We all share the same values that everyone should be treated kindly and with respect, and we know that’s not happening everywhere in the world at the moment, which breaks our hearts. With regards to social passion, we’re one of the friendliest and most inclusive bands you’ll ever meet. We love our fans/supporters, and we’ll never take ourselves too seriously on stage. So come and say hi!What frustrates you about the music business?
[Salvatore]: The general state of the underground live scene. There are some great promoters/venues out there who give new artists a chance and don’t expect much from you. However, there are too many who simply book the venue and lineup, create a poster, and do no promotion, expecting us artists to do everything. We’ve had shows where zero promotion was done, the lineup put together the week of the show, or even just poor organisation where timings are even changed on the day.How much of a concern is AI in music?
[Tomma]: A concern? I think like AI’s impact in all industries It’ll likely shake things up, but I think music is safe from it. Although yes, it’s entirely possible that good-sounding, easy listening AI-generated music can be made…I think people will forever crave the human element in all arts.The album that you have in your album collection/Spotify playlist that would surprise most people?
[Holly]: Honestly? Probably a couple of albums from The High Kings. They’re an Irish Folk band who I adore – I’ve even taken my Mum to see them. Only the people who truly know me know that I trundle around my hometown listening to The High Kings on sunny spring days! Honestly, give ‘Chasing Rainbows’ a listen – it’s pure happiness! [Rab]: I’ve got a workout remix compilation of classic rock songs. It’s proper cheesy stuff that I can imagine being played in a spin class with some motivational guy shouting at you. Surprising given I don’t work out haha! [Salvatore]: LMFAO – Sorry For Party Rocking. The guys won’t have known I have that until now! Haha! [Tomma]: James Blunt’s “Back to Bedlam” will always have a place in my heart.
Everybody is a fan of something. Who or what are you a fan of?
[Holly]: The Lord of the Rings. Anything and everything The Lord of the Rings, especially my dog, Frodo Waggins – had to get him in there somewhere! Went to the cinema recently for the 25th anniversary showings! [Salvatore]: I’m probably the biggest ALEXISONFIRE fan in the world, but aside from music, I enjoy football and am a big AC Milan fan. Forza Italia! [Tomma]: I’m a fan of Star Wars, Marvel, and DC Comics (and their film franchises, of course). I enjoy all types of games: Board, Card & Video.And for Rab: the next Celtic manager will be…
[Rab]: I’d love to see Martin O’Neill stay for 5 more years, but I don’t think it’s going to happen! Out of the names linked, I’d say Roberto Martinez and keep Shaun Maloney on as assistant.What new music have you been enjoying recently?
[Holly]: I’m really enjoying Taylor Acorn’s new album. Some of the tracks are really relatable, and it’s catchy and powerful as always. I’m also enjoying Cooper Alan and Jordan Davies’ new stuff – excuse the genre flip. I’ve heard the new RiotWeekend stuff’s alright, too! [Tomma]: I’m really big into a lot of new stuff on the metal scene that have pop influences like Sleep Token, Bring Me the Horizon, and Bad Omens, as well as Architects. I’m an album listener, so I do tend to listen to a bunch of different things all year round, but do tend to stick on LPs one at a time. [Rab]: I was listening to Lowlives’ new cover the other day, and so have been playing their album in the car a lot recently. [Salvatore]: Thrice and Motion City Soundtrack have recently had great album releases. Brings me back to my childhood.What does 2026 hold for RiotWeekend
[Holly]: Just you wait and see… [Salvatore]: I don’t know nothin’, I didn’t see nothin’, and I’m sure as hell ain’t sayin’ nothin’. [Tomma]: I can neither confirm nor deny a thing. [Rab]: You’ll just have to follow us and find out…How active are you on social media, and where can people connect with you?
[Holly]: We’re SUPER active on social media. As well as 3 other chatty band members, we have an Italian drummer who can’t ever stop talking, so you’ll always get a response! You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Our handle is: itsriotweekendRiotWeekend ‘Table4Four’ (March 27 release) is available for digital download/signed CD pre-order direct from the band here: https://riotweekend.bandcamp.com/
All images credit: Tom Elliot Studio Thirteen Media.
