The red hot blues band, conjuring the spirit of prohibition America. Real 1920s drum kits, slapped double bass, metal resonator guitars from the 1930s and three voices—making old sounds in a new way.
From bars and pubs, to outdoor festivals. From vintage events, to big white weddings.
Leeds City Stompers were conceived out of love for old community string bands with the ability to play at any event.
Leeds City Stompers play 40+ private events and weddings a year, as well as many public shows and festivals. Since 2011, these have included supporting Steven Seagal at The O2 Academy Leeds, Beauvais Blues Festival in France, Scarborough Blues Festival, Tour De France, Tour De Yorkshire, Leeds International Beer Festival, Tramlines Sheffield and have headlined the acoustic stage at Colne Blues Festival two years in a row (Europe's Largest Blues Festival).
Leeds City Stompers play the vintage blues, ragtime, swing and folk music that was popular in America in the 1920s through 1950s, but with the energy and feel of modern rock and roll music. The band swaps instruments and all three members sing lead, but essentially is a trio of guitar, double bass and drums or washboard. Christopher Fox is on guitar, double bass and vocals, Martyn Roper is on double bass, guitar and vocals and Jack Amblin plays the drums, washboard and does vocals too.
The band is set up to be like a traditional 1920s community string band, able to play any occasion by having a huge repertoire of songs in many styles and picking the right stuff as the night goes on. Be it a raucous set of well known songs at a wedding that gets the dance floor full, a seated show to a listening audience in a theatre or blues club, or a completely acoustic performance in a small space or on the street.
Chance meetings in New Orleans, Instagram encounters and old friends.
The band formed in 2011 with Martyn and blues guitar genius David Broad. The two had a loose connection on the Leeds folk scene, but after bumping into each other in New Orleans in 2006 they came back with plans to work together. Martyn joined The Lovesick Cowboys with David and in time the two formed Leeds City Stompers. They played all over the UK including The Rockabilly Riot, they supported Hollywood star Steven Segal and played shows with BBC favourites and Pokey LaFarge touring partners Rob Heron and the Teapad Orchestra. Sadly in 2013 David announced that he wanted to concentrate on solo music and songwriting.
Around this time a chap called Dave Hick had popped up on Instagram. Martyn brought him in, along with Jack Amblin on drums to keep the band and it’s name alive. This lineup’s first gig was headlining the acoustic stage at The Great Rhythm and Blues Festival, Colne. This led to many events including around 40 weddings in one year, Beauvais Blues Festival in France and being the closing band at Scarborough Blues Festival.
In 2015 Dave Hick announced that he was leaving for London. Martyn's old friend, Tom Attah, had already offered to join so seemed the natural choice. Rehearsals started with Tom in July 2015 and quickly this lineup was booked as the New Years Eve band for The Wardrobe—one of Leeds’ finest music venues. Sadly the mixture of Tom's PhD, lecturing at two prominent universities and his own gigging schedule meant that he became much too busy.
Pre-1950's blues and jazz specialist Christopher Fox joined the band in March 2016. With Christopher, we are looking forward to continuing the past successes of Leeds City Stompers and cementing it's reputation even further.
Learn a little bit more about each Stomper.
Christopher is a professional guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. First entering a recording studio at age 12 and a stage at age 11, Fox is a seasoned and travelled writer and musician. As his pseudonym, and now one man band Kindest of Thieves, Chris pans roots music and pairs this with his unique treatment and songwriting. 2015 saw Kindest of Thieves support roots musicians Curtis Eller, The Devil Makes Three, Son of Dave and Willie Watson to name a few. Possessed by American Traditional Music, Folk, Rag Time and Early Jazz, Fox’s style recalls the old time vibes of New Orleans with a twist.
A full time musician since 2011, Martyn has played over a thousand gigs since his first in 1994. Originally a bass guitarist, he now plays guitar and banjo as a vintage blues solo artist and in The Washboard Resonators duo with Jack Amblin. He also plays double bass with the songwriter, Yadig Records artist, UK festival and BBC Radio favourite Serious Sam Barrett. With other bands, Martyn has played in Japan at Fuji Rock Festival and recorded with rock band Gentlemans Pistols. He's played New York and Sweden, with folk and roots band, The Old Time String Band and played in originals and cover bands across the UK, in every conceivable venue type and size.
Jack Amblin started playing drums at the age of 10 and obtained his 1st Class Honours Degree at Leeds College of Music in 2013. In 2012 Jack performed on a Radio 2 Big Band broadcast with Jazz Show host Clare Teal, and since then has played with artists including: Olly Murs, Sir Tim Rice, Gregory Porter, and Pee Wee Elis (James Browns’ saxophonist). By 2015 Jack had played in over 15 different orchestra pits for major theatre shows and was busy recording personalised drum tracks for clients all over the world from his home studio. He is also a vintage drum collector, mostly comprising of Ludwig drum kits. His biggest inspirations are his first teacher Peter James, Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich. Schooled in many different styles, like rock, pop, funk and jazz, Jack specialises in vintage music—particularly swing, rock n roll, blues and big band.
To see the full list of upcoming shows, please click "Show All Dates".
A collection of photographs and videos.
Able to provide their own full PA, Leeds City Stompers are equipped and ready to play a variety of venues and events.
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