Biography
The Free Rangers are a three-piece "cowbilly" band based in Canmore and Calgary, Alberta. The Free Rangers also perform as a four, five or six-piece band with additional members as required on drums, fiddle and horns, depending on client needs and budget.
Cowbilly is the name the band gives to its unique blend of rockabilly, cowboy, western swing, rock and country.
The group is Brad Bischoff (guitar, vocals), Bob Remington (mandolin, guitar, vocals) and Dylan Sadlier-Brown, Calgary's "king of the rockabilly bass."
Each member of the band has been an individual finalist in the Calgary Folk Festival songwriting competition, Bob twice for "best song of Alberta," Brad once for "best song of Alberta," and Dylan once for "best overall song."
Two Free Rangers songs were recently selected for internet radio play on MoozikooRadio.com. The band also did the theme for the Sonicbids Buzzcast podcast, Episode 2.
The band:
Bob, Dylan and Brad have a distinct "cowbilly" sound that blends their respective influences in rockabilly, classic and alt-country, playing everything from self-written material to Steve Earle, Hank Williams and Bill Monroe.
Brad Bischoff, a park warden in Banff National Park, plays guitar and sings most of the lead vocals. Some of his original material, such as his Spring of 85 and Government Cowboy, is based in part on his experiences as a park warden.
Bob Remington (http://robertremington.wordpress.com/) is a journalist, author and veteran of the western Canada acoustic scene. He played mandolin in the respected Alberta bluegrass band Grass Routes but also plays guitar and has recently been torturing his neighbours learning the fiddle. His song Bootlegger's Bride was chosen for the MoozikooRadio.com "Best of Indie" CD compilation.
Dylan Sadlier-Brown is Calgary's "king of the rockabilly bass." He plays a unique, flame-painted aluminum upright bass made by the Ford Motor Company around 1941.
Instrumentation
Bradley Bischoff Guitar and vocals
Bob Remington Electric and acoustic mandolin, guitar, vocals
Dylan Sadlier-Brown — upright bass, vocals
Discography
Cowbilly Boogie (demo )