Music
Press
"Country pop touched by the hand of God ... sun-drenched pop music loaded with gorgeous harmonies. 7/10" - Americana UK website, www.americana-uk.com
"Obvious is an energetic Scots-pop gem." - Crooked Rain website, www.crookedrain.co.uk
"Dropkick have managed to craft an album that should appeal equally to Converse-wearing indie kids and Ryan Adams’ alt-country faithful. 4/5" - Is This Music? magazine
"It's rare to find an opening act that so well compliments the headliners. Dropkick were that act; a Scottish group with a dynamic combination of ballsy country twang, wry lyrics and luscious pop harmonies. 4/5" - CMU Music Network
"Harmony-driven alt-country power-pop ... from the bouncealong beats and sunny harmonies to the wee flourishes of the banjo or mandolin." - The Daily Record newspaper
"Dropkick's album made us smile once more. In fact, more than once ... Their talent as songwriters is perhaps their greatest asset. If you like intelligent pop music with a country feel, then you will enjoy this album. We certainly did. 4/5" - BluesBunny website, www.bluesbunny.com
"Multitasking Andrew Taylor behind the drums: take your eyes of him for a moment and he would pick up another instrument. I truly cannot recall seeing a drummer play the banjo at the same time." - BluesBunny website, www.bluesbunny.com
"Dropkick are very good. Scotland's finest alt-country power-pop band." - BBC Radio Scotland DJ
"Catchy alt-countrified pop music that sticks in the mind." - Americana UK website, www.americana-uk.com
"It incorporates everything you need for a feel good, laid back Christmas song and with good lyrics along with fitting harmonies, it left me feeling rather warm and mushy inside." - Live Music Direct website, www.livemusicdirect.co.uk
Discography
Dropkick have released 5 albums and 1 single on their own Taylored Records label:
Dropkick (April 2001 album).
Album 25 (March 2004 album).
Music To Watch Sheep By (July 2005 album).
Writing To Santa (Dec 2005 download only single).
Obvious (July 2006 album).
Writing To Santa (new version) (Dec 2006 download only single).
Turning Circles (April 2007 album)
Albums can be bought via their website from £5 each including postage to anywhere in the world or can be downloaded from most legal download sites including iTunes and Napster.
Dropkick's songs are played regularly on several Scottish radio stations including Radio Scotland, XFM Scotland, Moray Firth Radio, Loch Broom FM, Deveron FM, and Heartland FM. Over 50 internet radio stations and podcasts around the world also play their songs. These include tartanpodcast, The Miller Tells Her Tale, Bandtrax, Alt-country NL radio, Three From Leith and Radio Speljamr.
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Dropkick is a Scottish band/duo who play catchy, countrified pop music with great harmonies, melodies that will stick in your head forever and a even a banjo-playing drummer. Their music has been compared to the likes of Teenage Fanclub, Buddy Holly, The Jayhawks, The Lemonheads, The Proclaimers, The Byrds, The Beatles, The Everly Brothers, Bare-Naked Ladies and even Billy Connolly. They were formed at school in a small town in Angus in 1995 by drummer/singer Andrew Taylor, guitarist Alastair Taylor (brothers) and bassist Ian Grier. At this time the band played original punk-pop songs but over the years, Dropkick's sound has gradually evolved from its punky origins into a much more mature alt-country style, yet without losing any of the punchy simplicity and immediacy of the songs.
The Taylor brothers have played with a variety of different musicians over the past decade including Martin Black (guitar) and Craig Hendry (drums). Founding member Ian Grier also had several lengthy spells in the band, most recently playing guitar and mandolin from September 2005 to August 2006. The current line-up is completed by cousin Stuart Low and half-brother Roy W. Taylor.
Between them, the Taylor brothers have written over 500 songs and most of these have been recorded in some form or other. They have released 5 home produced albums on their own Taylored Records label. The latest Dropkick album “Turning Circles” shows off their songwiting skills and multi-instrumental talents to the full.
2006 was by far Dropkick's busiest year. The band played over 50 gigs, including a 10 date tour round Scotland in July, 2 dates at the Tartan Heart Festival Fringe in August, support slots at the T on the Fringe (Aug) and Tigerfest (May) festivals in Edinburgh, a 7 date tour of Central Scotland in October and a festive mini-tour of the Scottish Highlands in December.
2007 saw the release of the band's 5th album in April and this was followed with a successful 7 date tour all round Scotland, including gigs in St Andrews, Perth and Inverness.
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