The Wynntown Marshals

Formed in Edinburgh in 2007, The Wynntown Marshals tip their hat to artists like The Jayhawks, Wilco, Drive By Truckers, Ryan Adams and Neil Young.
The Marshals' sound can loosely be described as 'country rock', although the power pop hooks of 'Two's Company' and the Stonesy swagger of 'You Can Have My Heart' convey the band’s love of guitars, their way with a catchy chorus and their unabashed belief in the power of rock music as a storytelling medium.
In 2008 the Marshals performed as UK tour support for the influential American singer-songwriter Chuck Prophet and performed to critical acclaim at the 2008 and 2009 Kilkenny Rhythm & Roots festivals in Ireland. The band has also supported other renowned Americana acts including Richmond Fontaine and Jason & The Scorchers.
Their debut album &Westerner& was produced by the band and Graham Deas (KT Tunstall, Super Furry Animals) at the SubStation in Fife.
Released in the UK in May 2010 the album received several excellent reviews, including 9/10 from AmericanaUK (&as good as Americana gets&) and receiving 5 stars in Maverick magazine (&quite simply stunning&).
Renowned Dutch music magazine Heaven described the record as &one of the best European Americana records ever& with the celebrated US Americana website NoDepression.com declaring the album as a strong contender for their 'debut disc of 2010'.
Chief songwriter Keith Benzie follows the storytelling tradition of the Americana genre and touches on some diverse subject matter, including the world’s only albino gorilla (&Snowflake&), 50s pin-up artists (&Gil&) and the devastation of trench warfare (&Divine Compassion&).
Pedal steel-drenched ballads (&Nelly& and &All That I Want&) serve as a counterpoint to songs like the epic, pastoral, slow burner &Thunder in the Valley& and the band’s Hammond-organ led, widescreen paean to a Greyhound trip gone bad &48 Hours&.
Throughout the album guest keys player Ali Petrie’s parts complement the excellent guitar and pedal steel interplay, and the heartfelt lyrics and vocals help the band forge a sound that is truly their own.
Following the release of &Westerner&, the Marshals were invited to record a live BBC Radio 2 session with the legendary &Whispering& Bob Harris in July, performing 3 songs in the studio - &48 Hours&, &Snowflake& and &Two's Company&.
With a forthcoming live EP, a UK tour in February 2011 alongside US bands Dolly Varden and Magnolia Summer, and shows on the continent and in Ireland in the spring, next year is looking like it's going to be a busy time for the band.
The Marshals invite you to pack your bags and get on the next bus to Wynntown - a small, homely place populated by down-to-earth, hard-working types, where a fist-fight is often followed by a bear-hug, and lost love and heartache might be only a drink away.
A few of the locals might seem a little rough around the edges, but you can be sure of a warm welcome. You never know... you might just want to stay a while.