The Cattlestops

When Colleen Trenwith moved to the Kapiti Coast in 2004 the word got out pretty quickly on the local musician’s grapevine. With still-vivid memories from the early 1970s of Colleen’s television appearances with the iconic Hamilton County Bluegrass Band still haunting their addled fifty-something year old collective consciousness, Kapiti musicians Andrew London, James Cameron and Dave Berry tracked Colleen down to Otaki Beach, where she was gently but firmly coerced into forming The Cattlestops.

With Colleen’s impeccable bluegrass credentials, London & Cameron’s jazz leanings and Berry’s rock & blues guitar stylings, an eclectic repertoire of covers and originals was hastily compiled in order to do justice to half a dozen gigs London had enthusiastically booked for the non-existent band.

With the addition of young and attractive drummer Evan Williams, The Cattlestops rode out to do the gigs. Songs were written and recorded on two albums - Cattlestoppin’ in 2006 and Back to Rosetta Road in 2007. No less than six songs from the latter were chosen to feature in the enormously successful movie Second Hand Wedding - a natural combination, as the movie was shot on the Kapiti Coast and the songs include references to Kapiti landmarks. Despite one critic expressing discomfort at the presence of local place names in the songs, the album made the final three for the RIANZ Country Album of the Year award in 2008 and received rave reviews from other sources.

Embarrassed by the band's success, Colleen immediately fled to the USA to dodge the limelight and to study Old Time Fiddle and Appalachian Ethnomusicology at East Tennessee State University, where she studied under some of the finest bluegrass musicians in the world and helped them iron out a few 'technique' issues. Her return in May 2010 initiated a flurry of activity amongst the other Cattlestops with new songs being written. Once again for 2012, with Colleen back on "summer" break from now teaching at the esteemed ETSU, there is a flurry amongst the 'Stops and a handful of reunion gigs have been booked for June and July.

Bookings:
1. accepted before the day
2. email bluegrass(at)paradise.net.nz
3. include your name, phone contact and the number of tickets you require
4. you will receive a reply by email to confirm your booking
5. There is no booking fee for this event

Notes:
1. doors open at 7:20pm for those who have booked
2. door sales on the day, at the venue, from 7:50pm
3. seating is general admission
4. ticket includes complimentary tea and coffee
5. free parking available by or near the venue