What are The Bullfrogs?
Formed out of the Stony Stratford 350 festival by local Stony songwriters Ian Anderson and Malcolm Jones with a dream of a 13 piece country rock band where nobody could make any money. The Bullfrogs perform original, fiddle and guitar driven material with an Americana flavour, having hints of Cajun,Tex Mex, Outlaw Country and folk melody. They have played and been warmly received at most local festivals including Folk On The Green, Togfest, MK International Festival, Great Linford Waterside Festival, the Kent Country Music Show as well as performing at pubs, clubs and festivals all over the UK and in Europe. In 2017 they played at The Cropredy FFFestival. Their current line up is: Ian Anderson (Lead vocals and bass), Gemma Shirley (Fiddle and harmony vocals), Pete Cripps (Guitar, harmonica and harmony vocals), Phil Paterson (Drums) and Dave Soulsby (Guitar and mandolin). They have four albums of original material available: Beer For Breakfast, Swamp Stomp, Beyond The Blue Horizon and From Time To Time.
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Who are the Bullfrogs?
Ian Anderson
Bass and Vocals
From Linlithgow in Scotland, Ian started a long and varied career in music by playing bass in bands at school, after 4 years at Dundee Art College where he continued to play he moved to London for work where he formed The Directors as bass player and lead vocalist. They toured Germany, France and Scandinavia with residencies in Amsterdam and in London.
The Directors played many legendary London venues including Dingwalls, The Half Moon Putney, Kings Head Fulham, The Marquee and The 100 club. After moving to Milton Keynes in 1988 he started The Beneficial Blues Band and went on to co-found The Bullfrogs in 1994. He became involved with many other projects such as After The Lights, The Spreadeagles, Blue Jam, Blues From The Ouse, Close Friends, The Dylan Band and played bass with The Gaberlunzies ceilidh band. Ian has been involved in his local music scene for 30 years and was one of the founders of Stony Live, a week long local music, dance and arts festival which is still thriving. He has started and hosted open mic sessions in The Bull Hotel and The Fox and Hounds in his local town of Stony Stratford. Ian continues to annoy people with his songwriting and performing. |
Phil Paterson
Drums
I got my first kit at 16, which was a Trixon kit from Morris Plackett in Hammersmith. My Dad and I extended the shed so I could practice, this resulted in the whole street putting up a petition against me (wankers). I did my first gig when I was 18 at Haye’s Rugby club. It was a resounding success as for the first time in the history of the club they drank the place dry! I have been playing in working bands now for the past 43 years, for the last 17 of which I have been with The Bullfrogs; which I have to say is the most enjoyable band to date as I love the original music and the different styles we play.
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Gemma Shirley
Violin
Gemma has been playing fiddle with the Bullfrogs since 2006. Born and bred in Stony Stratford she studied violin and singing at Birmingham Conservatoire and now teaches both in several MK schools. She has performed regularly as a classical vocalist and provided string arrangements for several singer-songwriters. She also plays keys, fiddle and sings with folk rock outfit Tradarrr.
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Dave Soulsby
Guitar and Mandolin
Dave hails from Northumberland, which explains the way he talks and his fear of sunshine. He cut his musical teeth singing in choirs, playing guitar in folk clubs and a rock and roll band in Working Men's Clubs. After 30 years of earning a living, he quit his job in London and worked at a music venue while setting up a music business in Newport Pagnell. The shop, a franchise of folk specialists Hobgoblin Music ran for ten years till he retired in 2014. With his love of folk, blues and Americana, The Bullfrogs is a natural home for his acoustic guitar and mandolin .
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