Das Contras are a Scottish collective born in The Kingdom of Fife and bred in Glasgow, comprising some of the country’s best professional musicians. They are scheduled to release their new album also titled Das Contras in June.
The independent Folk-Funk, Jazz, Rock and Reggae outfit has a burgeoning live reputation has seen them already perform at festivals across the world (including Rochester International Jazz Festival, Eden Festival, SPRAOI Festival, Glasgow Jazz & Blues Festival, Edinburgh Festival, Wickerman Festival, Big Tent Festival, Meadows Festival, Wee Tree Festival and Wizard Festival) and play across Europe and the US supporting tours by Ozomatli, Acoustic Ladyland, Terry Callier, Marlena Shaw, Candi Staton, Trombone Shorty and Rusted Root.
Led by charismatic frontman Sheriff, a singer-songwriter from Fife in Scotland; the band have grown into one of the hottest live acts on the festival circuit. On trumpet and keys, and also from Fife is Dave Webster. A composer schooled in jazz and classical, he studied trumpet and composition at Guildhall. On sax is Tony Courtney, a Leeds jazz graduate from Fife whose musical heroes include Cannonball Adderley and Lisa Simpson! Bass is taken care of by fellow Fifer Sam Firth, who played in Fife Youth Jazz Orchestra with Dave and Tony, before going on to tour heavily on the British Blues circuit.
Colin Walker is on drums. Hailing from Paisley, he has a background in Pipe Band drumming and Folk and tours the U.S. regularly with Albannach.
Another Paisley native is Andy Chisholm on lead guitar, a prodigious session guitarist whose most recent tour was throughout Europe with Thriller Live. On congas is respected percussionist Gerardo Ballesteros, from Buenos Aires, Argentina (via Paisley!), whose Latin rhythms add to their distinctive sound.
Latest recruit Ross Lothian completes the formidable horn section on trombone. Ross is also an expert accordionist with top ceilidh band Kilter.
Das Contras’ eponymous debut album will be available to download on all digital distributors from 6th June.
a live performance of the album track Reckless Phase is available at
The band play the following live dates –
Jun 4th
Meadows Festival, Edinburgh
Jun 10-12th
Eden Festival, Moffat
July 2nd-3rd
Kelburn Garden Party, Kelburn Country Park, Ayrshire
Author: World Music Central News Room
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