The Cattlestops began in 2004 when Hamilton County Bluegrass Band violinist Colleen Trenwith moved to Otaki and was bullied by Andrew into joining a non-existent country band. Bass player James Cameron (ex-Velox Brothers), guitarist Dave Berry and drummer Evan Williams were hastily recruited and a couple of rehearsals were promising. Andrew & James tended towards the Western swing genre and offered original songs. These were recored and released alongside some covers on the album ‘Cattlestoppin’ in 2006 and it’s follow-up ‘Back to Rosetta Road’ in 2007, which was nominated for a Tui award. Colleen left NZ to study in Tennessee in 2007 and although the band stumbled on for a while, everyone eventually went their different ways.
James revived the name with a new line up in 2016; of Andrew London (guitar), James Cameron (bass), Lance Philip (drums), Wayne Mason (keys) and Ross McDerrmott (steel guitar). Occasionally we were joined by guitarist Nick Granville. A new album of all-original material, ‘Dance in the Rain’ was released August 2016.
The Cattlestops and music from ‘Back to Rosetta Rd’ featured in the movie ‘Second Hand Wedding’.