The Vans Warped Tour 2026 Interviews – South Arcade

The Vans Warped Tour 2026 Interviews – South Arcade

Warped Tour’s return to Long Beach brought a surge of nostalgia, sweat, and fresh energy — and few bands embodied that revival better than South Arcade, the UK alt‑rock/pop hybrid who’ve been rapidly building a global fanbase. Fresh off their Summer School Tour, millions of streams, and a whirlwind international schedule, the quartet — Harmony Cavelle, Harry Winks, Ollie Green, and Cody Jones — sat down with me backstage to talk new music, massive milestones, and the beautiful chaos of life on the road.

Introduce yourself and tell me what you do in South Arcade.
Ollie: I’m Ollie, and I play bass in South Arcade.

Cody: I’m Cody, and I play drums.

Harry: I’m Harry, and I play guitar.

Harmony: And I’m Harmony, and I sing.

Where are you based, and what’s your local music scene like?
Harmony: We’re all based in the UK, but we’re kind of dotted around. Ollie’s in London, Cody’s in Wales, and Harry and I are in Oxford. The scene back home leans more indie and rock. Our music definitely fits the Long Beach/LA vibe more, but we’re working on growing things in the UK too.

How has the Summer School Tour been going? Any highlights?
Cody: I love LA — huge LA fan — but honestly, go‑karting in Salt Lake was a highlight. It was sick.

Harry: Yeah, we’d been trapped on a bus for three weeks, so racing each other was the perfect way to let off steam.

Harmony: The tour’s been amazing. The crowds have been so lovely — seeing familiar faces who’ve followed the tour or come back to see us again. New York was a standout. The fire alarm went off mid‑show, so the house lights came on. It kept us on our toes. And we’ve been able to try new songs, which has been really fun.

What are you looking forward to most about Warped Tour today?
Ollie: We’ve never played anything like this. The lineup fits us so well. Harmony went to Warped in the UK, but we don’t really have an equivalent back home.

Harmony: Yeah, I went to the one at Alexandra Palace. I’m a big Warped fan — it has such a legacy. It’s amazing that it’s back. It gives bands of all sizes a chance to play, hang out, and be part of a community that’s unlike any other festival right now.

Harry: I’m actually a huge Sleeping With Sirens fan, but I think we clash with them. I’m gutted. If I can run over after our set, I will.

Let’s talk about the new songs. “Dead Meat” — what inspired it?
Harmony: “Dead Meat” came out while we were on tour with 5SOS. It’s definitely our most pop moment. It’s been interesting playing that vibe for crowds used to our heavy tunings and breakdowns. Ironically, people have been going off to it — it’s become one of the songs they react to the most. They love the catchy chorus. It’s very girly‑pop for us, but fun.

And “Superman” — tell me about that one.
Harry: “Superman” is like our version of a Limp Bizkit song. We took inspiration from Limp Bizkit‑style drums and guitars, then mixed it with a bit of Justin Timberlake in the verse. It was the first time we went all‑in on something like that. And we let Harmony go wild on the rapping. Live, it’s a special moment — one of the biggest mosh pits of the set.

Is there a new EP or album on the way?
Cody: Yeah, we’ve got an EP on the way. We’re finishing up a few tracks now. Definitely expect new stuff soon.

Harry: This will finish our trilogy of EPs. After that, we’ll start thinking about an album… which sounds terrifying.

Two of your songs are doing amazing on Spotify — “2005” at 27 million streams and “Stone Cold Summer” at 24 million. What do those numbers mean to you?
Cody: You can’t really comprehend it. It’s amazing — thank you to everyone streaming the songs — but after a certain point it’s just like… my god.

Harry: You comprehend it when you see real people at the gigs. When more people turn up — that’s when it means something. Kids in a room, rocking out. That’s what it’s all about.

You played LA before — at the Moroccan Lounge. How did that show go?
Ollie: Yeah, we did The Echo and the Moroccan Lounge back‑to‑back. The Echo was a Halloween special. Someone filmed the show on a Nintendo DS and we signed their DS afterward. That was sick.  We love playing LA. It’s such a hub of culture — music, fashion, everything. We’re hoping to come back. Not sure when or where yet, but when we do, it’ll be good.

What’s next for you after Warped Tour?
Harmony: We’re busy. We get home and have an event with Affliction — we’ve got a collab dropping tomorrow. Then we’re back in the UK for a week, then Germany, Japan, Australia… and then we finally get to write the album.

Any messages for South Arcade fans reading this now?
Cody: Get ready for the new bloody EP.

Harry: Get ready to mosh.

Harmony: Thank you for bearing with us.

Ollie: Thank you for listening to our music.

In Conclusion

South Arcade’s rise feels electric — a band sprinting toward their moment with equal parts chaos, charm, and conviction. Whether they’re racking up millions of streams, igniting mosh pits, or signing Nintendo DS consoles, they carry the spirit of Warped Tour’s legacy into a new era. With a trilogy‑closing EP on the horizon and an album waiting to be born, their momentum is undeniable. Long Beach got a taste — and the world is next.

(Interview by Ken Morton – Band Photos by Vivian Ortega of So Finch Photography – Live Photos by Jack Lue)

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