Bio | 20 Dollar Wedding

THE STORY

WHO WE ARE...

We are a five-piece Americana band (not a wedding band!!!).

We've played many well-respected venues and festivals in the North East with our band of gritty Americana and Bluegrass, with exciting performances.

Our influences vary from the Turnpike Troubadours, through Steve Earle, Blackberry Smoke to Jason Isbell. A typical set is an up-tempo mix of our own songs and unheard covers.

We don't play the usual live music which, as we've been told, is a welcome change.

We can vary performances from semi-acoustic, to gritty country-leaning roots rock, depending on the gig.

HOW WE EVOLVED...

Twenty Dollar Wedding progressed with musicians who've had a long history of performing live music. Our experiences have been wide and varied, all members coming from disparate bands that over many years have played typical live band standards - rock and blues classics, folk and classical performances.

We discovered, through individual, unconnected exposure, the immense range, depth, and potential that American country and country rock music delivers. United with the incredible beauty of close vocal harmony, the clean and precise instrument articulation from players with incredible musicality and wonderful storytelling through songs with great meaning.

Above all, we recognised the great potential that this genre offered by introducing it to a largely unaware UK audience, while carefully crafting our interpretation of these songs in a way that would really grab attention.

OUR SETUP...

We are totally self contained, with our own digital PA, and full In-Ear Monitor setup (we have no need for bulky amps and monitors) so can perform at any desired sound level, without taking up much space, in any size of venue. We can easily connect to in-house PAs, or project our own sound as required.

DAVID ANDERSON

Lead and harmony vocals, rhythm guitar and harmonica: While having a lifetime of musical experience, David was a late bloomer to playing live music. He was inspired by a history of UK rock and US singer songwriters, then West Coast country rock, melodic pop and alt rock. This led him, in his journey to learn guitar, to discover classic country music by his tutor - an awesome country Telecaster ‘picker’. This, alongwith his huge interest in all things Americana, started an openbook of musical exploration to blend his musical heritage into a style epitomised by Twenty Dollar Wedding’s extensive playlist and musical direction.

MICKY PINE

Lead guitar and vocals: Mick has played electric guitar since he was a teenager and knows more about Americana than most people have forgotten...

MARTIN WRIGHT

Electric fiddle, melodeon and harmony vocals: The multi-talented Martin plays fiddle and melodeon (and some other things) and knows the most notes.

SIMON FITZPATRICK

Bass, mandolin: Simon is a recent convert to the bass having originally started out playing very average guitar in rootsy Tex-Mex and folk bands in the Midlands.

Moving to the North East in the late 90s, he saw ‘Oh Brother Where Art Thou?’ bought a mandolin and joined a bluegrass band. He converted to a Fender Jazz bass in 2018 and the rest is history… He has recently taken delivery of a rather wonderful handmade guitar strap from Atmos in New Zealand.

RUSSELL MULCAHY

Drums: Russell, the newest member, plays the drums and tinkers with the sound tech. As well as the $20 Wedding rhythm stylings, he also has interests in pop, rock and indie that he mostly keeps to himself...