Standards and original songs in the Western swing and country rock genre, featuring Jimmy Ray Cameron (bass), Andrew London (guitar) and Wayne Mason (piano), with original drummer Evan Williams.
Originally formed on the Kapiti Coast back in 2004 The Cattlestops focussed on a country-rock and Western swing repertoire consisting mostly of original songs penned by bass player James Cameron and guitarist Andrew London. Legendary Hamilton County Bluegrass Band fiddle player Colleen Trenwith provided a signature sound which, combined with fiery lead guitarist Dave Berry and drummer Evan Williams can be heard on two albums; 2005’s “Cattlestoppin” & 2007’s “Back to Rosetta Rd”. The latter contributed significantly to the soundtrack of locally-shot feature film ‘Second Hand Wedding’ and was nominated as a finalist for Country Album of the Year. The band played Arts and Music festivals around New Zealand and was invited to the Norfolk Island Country Festival in 2007.
The Cattlestops went into recess around 2009 when Colleen moved to Tennessee to study, and later to lecture in bluegrass music at East Tennessee State University. James and Andrew continued doing the odd gig together and, late in 2015, began writing and recording again with a lineup of musicians they had been collaborating loosely with for some time. This included Wayne Mason (keys), Ross McDermott (steel guitar), Lance Philip (drums) and guitarist Nick Granville.
The new album ‘Dancing in the Rain’ shows both songwriters in pensive and occasionally nostalgic mood, with genres ranging from rural acoustic country and J.J. Cale-style ’swamp’ grooves to driving blues and country rock reminiscent of B.B King and the Allman Brothers.
