The Dunlop Brothers
Hamilton, Canada | Established. Jan 01, 2008 | SELF
Music
Press
“Matt and Justin Dunlop have been diligently recording 14-original tracks in Hamilton’s Catherine North Studio that display an exceptional sense of melody and storytelling”
-Graham Rockingham, The Hamilton Spectator (August 2018) - The Hamilton Spectator
The Dunlop Brothers' Old Dive Bar is from the duo's first album called, appropriately enough, Volume One.
This track wins major points for me because it impeccably paints a picture.
Storytelling is key here, and I am all about it.
- Adam Carter, CBC Radio - www.cbc.ca and CBC Radio
“…The Dunlop Brothers debut is chock full of sweet melodies and impeccably performed tunes they assembled alongside producer/engineer Mike Monson at Catherine North Studios. If you’ve seen either or both the Dunlops on the local stage, you won’t be disappointed with this collection of tunes”
-Ric Taylor, View Magazine Hamilton (Sept 2018)
Full article online (can't copy the text) - View Magazine
A long time in the works but worth the wait, two local brothers are combining innate musical talent, crafted by years of experience and training, into a debut full-length album.
Matt and Justin Dunlop form the Dunlop Brothers, a gritty rock band with jazz, blues and roots sensibilities in Hamilton.
The brothers grew up instilled with a love of great Canadian songwriters and music by their father, and watching their father and uncle perform drums and guitar respectively.
"We got to play with them and they were pretty good so we have played with good musicians off the bat," said Matt Dunlop, vocalist and guitarist, who also teaches music at the Burlington Long & McQuade. "We were introduced to music at a pretty young age."
Matt started playing drums, then guitar from the age of 11 years; vocalist/bassist/guitarist Justin was around nine years old.
"In high school, we were in different bands but we were always writing together," said Matt. "Over the years, we've stockpiled a lot of this material. Last year, we finally decided to get these ideas on record."
The aptly named album, The Dunlop Brothers Vol. 1, also features local musicians Mike Scime, Caleb Moroz, Mitch Dunlop on drums, lan Zemaitis on keyboards, Troy Dowding on trumpet, Joel Banks on double bass and Sarah Froese on violin.
"My father [Mitch Dunlop] kind of got us going so he played a couple tracks on the record," said Matt. "It was great to have him a part of it."
Writing together for years, the brothers easily created this album and have enough material for the next album.
"We play off each other's ideas," explained Matt of collaborating with his brother. "We've been playing together so long, it comes really naturally. It's comfortable. The process of making the album didn't feel hard. We worked really hard at it but things came together quite easily."
In the spirit of the album's name, the Dunlop Brothers still have more songs to record for its second volume.
"We're definitely still writing and a lot of our stuff hasn't been put on the album," noted Matt. "[This] new year, we'll record a new record and next summer, a lot of festival gigs and hopefully playing a fall tour."
For more information, visit www.thedunlopbrothers.com. - The Burlington Post and Inside Halton
Beautiful music out of Hamilton
Sounds like: straight talking storytelling - Alan Cross's A Journal of Musical Things
Discography
The Dunlop Brothers, Vol. 1
Photos
Bio
The Dunlop Brothers are a Canadian Band from Hamilton, Ontario. Featuring songwriting brothers Matt and Justin, The Dunlop Brothers have been playing and recording music together for as long as they can remember. They have just release their 14-track debut album, The Dunlop Brothers Vol. 1, recorded at Hamilton's well-respected Catherine North Studios. The album is available now on all download and streaming platforms. The brothers are available to perform live as a full band or a duo.
They have recently received airplay on Y108 (CJXY FM) Hamilton, CBC Radio 99.1FM Toronto, CFMU FM Hamilton, and CFCR FM Saskatoon. Along with print and online articles including The Hamilton Spectator, The View Magazine, The Burlington Post, and Alan Cross' A Journal of Musical Things - Music from The Inbox.
“The Dunlop Brothers’ Old Dive Bar is from the duo’s first album called, appropriately enough, Volume One. This track wins major points for me because it impeccably paints a picture. Storytelling is key here, and I am all about it”
-Adam Carter, CBC Radio (November 2018)
“…The Dunlop Brothers debut is chock full of sweet melodies and impeccably performed tunes they assembled alongside producer/engineer Mike Monson at Catherine North Studios. If you’ve seen either or both the Dunlops on the local stage, you won’t be disappointed with this collection of tunes”
-Ric Taylor, View Magazine Hamilton (Sept 2018)
“Matt and Justin Dunlop have been diligently recording 14-original tracks in Hamilton’s Catherine North Studio that display an exceptional sense of melody and storytelling”
-Graham Rockingham, The Hamilton Spectator (August 2018)
“Beautiful Music out of Hamilton…Sounds like: Straight talking storytelling”
-Larry Lootsteen/Alan Cross, A Journal of Musical Things (August 2018)
Infused with a healthy dose of the Steeltown grit that epitomizes the honest, hard-nosed, unpretentious music of the city of Hamilton, Ontario, the music created by The Dunlop Brothers contains that same spirit of independence, of quiet strength and raw authenticity as their hometown.
There is true artistry in their compositions, as both Justin and Matt Dunlop have been well schooled in a host of musical styles, and are unafraid of bending genres and creating melodies, harmonies and rhythms that are compelling and highly memorable.
The result is a melding of jazz, blues and roots music, combined with the edgy Hamilton rock sensibility that has defined many of the artists who have come out of Canada’s steel city.
“It’s been a long time coming and this project and the album that we’re working on is really important to us. All the things that we have done, all the hard work, the sacrifices and challenges that we have overcome have led us to this point and I think this attitude is reflected in our music,” said guitarist/vocalist Matt Dunlop.
“We have paid a lot of dues and now we are ready to really push the boundaries of where we are as musicians and songwriters and to take our music to the next level. We’re serious about our songs, how we interact with our audiences and continuing to work at our craft,” added vocalist/bassist/guitarist Justin.
There is a natural link between siblings, something that makes collaborations such as writing music all the more special and with a definite focus. Justin and Matt each have their own musical experiences, preferences and journeys, but since they began pooling all their talents, energy and time on The Dunlop Brothers project, the results have been more than just satisfying, they have been incredibly special.
Since pooling their artistic resources and embarking on this exciting musical venture, The Dunlop Brothers have created a reputation as a live act worthy of attention for the dynamism of their performances, the quality of their musicianship and the ability to draw in audiences with their authenticity.
Their inimitable ability as storytellers, and their easy-going charm makes them a must-see attraction on any stage.
“We put on shows that have a lot of different tones and elements to them. At times it can be like a rock show, but with the versatility and unpredictability of a jazz show. We love to be able really draw people into the performances and feed off of one another’s energy and emotion as the show goes along,” said Justin.
That vision, including continuing to write, record and perform songs that are filled with memorable instrumental and melodic hooks, words that have depth, meaning and lead to introspection, and an overall vibe that is as fun and entertaining as it is thought provoking
Band Members
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