Zapoppin'

Formation

Sharpe and Richards met in 2005 while studying at University College Falmouth. The band formed in January 2007 and played their first official show supporting Alex Neilson’s and David Keenan’s free jazz duo Tight Meat. The following October Zapoppin’ self-released their debut album, Z 1.

Samuel Brettingham joins

In 2008 Zapoppin' enlisted Samuel Brettingham on the cajón and lagerphone. The following year they recorded and self-released their second album, Parma Violence (the track "Hoisted" was the first by the band to receive radio airplay), as well as The Introducin’ Zapoppin’ EP in order to promote themselves on their first European tour across Germany and The Netherlands. One review for the Zapoppin’ live show during this period published by Stranger noted the band’s ‘wake-up-the-dead energy’ and having ‘enough discords and attitude to fill all the cracks in the walls.’

Antiquarian Party Ballads For Dames, the band’s label debut for Serious Types, was released the following October. The ‘mutoid music...fierce banjo and demented harmonium’ as described by Jam earned the record a place as one of their "Jam Favourites of 2010," while a four-star review from 247 Magazine compared its sounds to ‘an excitable Blyth Power had they used banjo and harmonium instead of crunchy guitars.’ The track "Oops, you’re a racist" received airplay on London-based Resonance FM, most notably as part of their last broadcast of the year, "New Year’s Eve: A Natural Selection – the pick of 2010."

Samuel Brettingham left the band shortly after the album’s release in order to sail the Mediterranean sea.

Returning as a duo

Zapoppin’ returned as the duo of Richards (now on 'Z-Kit') and Sharpe (playing harmonium as well as banjo) in 2011. They recorded again for Serious Types with eight tracks appearing across four double a-side singles released (primarily digitally) to accompany a tour in France and Switzerland during June. The singles were later compiled into an eight-track EP (further expanded with extra tracks in March 2012), The First Four Singles. Reviews for the compilation were generally favourable (receiving four stars from 247 Magazine) and often focussed on the band's surreal nature, with Dave Dryden of The Final Skin writing 'If Zapoppin’ were an animal, they’d be a featherless emu or a whelk-sized tapir, the kind of previously undiscovered species that finds itself on the front page of New Scientist or the National Geographic.'

In October 2011, Zapoppin' recorded a live session for Resonance FM and announced that their next release would be a collaboration with London-based electronic musician, Jaxson Payne. The Another Pearly Wotnot / Tears split 7" EP was released during January 2012 in association with Damnsonic and Koept.

2013 onwards

In 2013, Matthew Collington joined Zapoppin' as their principle drummer. They released the Ugly Musick album in November.

Instrumentation

Aside from the prominent use of the banjo, Zapoppin’ have always used lesser-known instruments.

The Pearl River harmonium has been integral to the Zapoppin’ sound since the band’s beginnings. Essentially a miniature pump organ, sound is generated by pumping the pedals with the feet. The band have also used harmoniums made by Estey and Price & Sons.

Samuel Brettingham brought the rhythmic sounds of the cajón to Zapoppin’ in 2008. The instrument is played by sitting atop its box-like structure and striking the front with the hands.

The lagerphone is made up of a long staff of wood adorned with bottle caps and attached to a heavy boot which is then stomped and/or struck with a smaller wooden stick.

The Z-Kit, as played by Luke Richards, was made up of a homemade stomp-box, snare drum, cymbal and bell. It was played using plastic and metal brushes.

Albums

EPs

Singles

Split releases and collaborations

Compilation appearances