About

‘40 Shillings On The Drum’ are a folk-rock band from Brighton, England. Layering sweet guitar licks and fiddle kicks on top of complex keys, they bring a fresh sound to a traditional style.

‘Everyman’, the follow-up single to their storming debut and local favourite, ‘Brighton Belle’, was released worldwide to stream, and as a digital download, on Friday 16th December 2016 and available through – iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, eMusic, Deezer, Spotify and more.

The song brings The Shillings rock influences to light and was the perfect choice to record at Brighton Electric, which has just been recognised as Studio of the Year at The Pro Sounds Awards 2016 and a favoured studio by the likes of Royal Blood, Mumford and Sons and The Cure. Mixing multiple musical genres such as folk, punk, classical, metal and rock, you can nearly taste the passion and sweat poured into this stomping tune about the struggles everyday people face and the courage and determination it takes to overcome them.

After over a year’s preparation, ’40 Shillings On The Drum’ launched online in July 2016 and performed their first gig on Wednesday 27th July as part of Churchill Square’s Busk Stop event in Brighton. Attracting the largest turnout of all the acts to perform, the band subsequently went on to win the competition and recorded a song and music video in famous local studio, Brighton Electric, in September 2016 as a result. As well as the competition, the band have established themselves on the local scene with shows at The Hub, The Marwood and the prestigious Prince Albert. They also appeared at the Brightona Bike Festival (the largest motorcycle festival in Europe) and Oxjam Festival Lewes, along with interviews on national station Heart FM.

40 Shillings On The Drum are armed to the teeth with an array of songs about life, love, friendship, and getting smashed out of your brain! With a steadily growing international fanbase, a new EP coming at the beginning of summer, and some high-profile gig and festival opportunities on the cards, 2017 looks set to take the band to the next level.

Their as-yet, untitled debut album is due for release in early 2018.

‘Great recordings. Love the distortion, violin and your guitarist. You’ve got a great Brit pop style of vox too!’ Bobby Banjo, Beans On Toast

‘I love the energy on these recordings, it’s something that I think is really missing from contemporary music. There is obviously an Irish influence, but I hear shades of The Clash (at their best), Thin Lizzy, Boomtown Rats, Elvis Costello. You’ve really managed to capture the feeling that you are reflecting real people on the street.’ Mark Flannery, Engineer/Producer (U2, Black Sabbath, Depeche Mode)

‘Opener Ode To Old Reilly set the tone of a band big on musicianship and melody — and intelligent lyrics with both a meaning and enough hooks to get under the skin of even the most hardened music lover.’ The Brighton Magazine, brighton.co.uk

‘Ain’t too many acts have mixed Gaelic folk and rock successfully. Great musicianship, catchy songs, I think you deserve to do really well. I can hear it stands head and shoulders above most of the new stuff I hear.’ Alex McNamara, The Australian Pink Floyd Show (The world’s biggest selling tribute act)