Weston front man Colin Batchelor talks about The Jamestown Brothers as their debut EP piques interest on the music scene.

It’s been 18 months in the making, but, for The Jamestown Brothers, it’s been worth the wait.

Five self-penned songs and months of rehearsals have resulted in the release of the band’s debut EP, Singing for Our Supper.

“Soul stirring” and “foot-stomping blues and folk” are some of the comments that appear on the rave online reviews growing daily, along with: “Fantastic band, highly recommended, great for any occasion where you want people up and dancing” and “brilliantly written lyrics and vocal hooks”.

The Resident talked to lead vocalist Colin Batchelor about the band’s beginnings and its hopes for the future.

How did it all begin?

“Keith, who’s also from Weston, and I used to play as an acoustic duo, but, about two and a half years ago, we decided we wanted to do something more original.

“We knew we could write songs, so we decided to start a band to perform our original sounds. We began writing, and the result was a mix of folk, country and blues, with lyrics that mine the rich history and social tapestry of Great Britain and Ireland.

“With influences from the likes of Dylan, Cash, Springsteen and Petty, I guess I’d describe our music as written with passion, catchy, toe-tapping, harmonious storytelling.”

Why an eight-piece?

“We didn’t plan to form an eight-piece band, we just grew until we encompassed a unique line-up of guitars, banjos, piano, bass, drums, fiddle, recorder and trombone.”

Tell us about your debut EP.

“It’s five self-penned tracks recorded in Weston – I Ride Alone, Lie Lie Lie, Singing for Our Supper, Take Your Medicine and Everybody Take a Drink. They tell tales of highwaymen, travelling troubadours, industrial heritage and even the Irish potato famine.

“You can listen to a preview of the EP on our Facebook page and website or download them from Spotify and iTunes.”

So what’s next for The Jamestown Brothers?

“We’ve just finished our first video from the EP, and we are gigging across the South West and will be playing at the Bristol Balloon and Keynsham Festivals in July.

“We will definitely be back in Weston at the Brit Bar on August 15, but we are in talks with a couple of other venues in Weston at the moment, so we may be back before that. “We’ll be writing more tracks, too, with a view to a new release out towards the end of the year. But, for now, we just want people to enjoy Singing for Our Supper, and we want to enjoy performing to our appreciative audiences.”