Zapoppin' are an alternative band from Falmouth, Cornwall, UK. As of 2016 the group consists of Luke Richards on organ and vocals, and Matthew Collington on drums and vocals. The band have been noted for their 'black humour and obtuse lyrical themes' by Clash, and were said that they 'could be the face of a new strain of folk once everyone has recovered from their Mumford measles' by 247 Magazine.
History
Formation
Tom Sharpe and Luke 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, as well as The Introducin' Zapoppin' EP 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 to sail the Mediterranean sea.
Returning as a duo
Zapoppin' returned as the duo of Richards and Sharpe in 2011. They recorded again for Serious Types with eight tracks appearing across four double a-side singles released to accompany a tour in France and Switzerland during June. The singles were later compiled into an eight-track EP, The First Four Singles. Reviews for the compilation were generally favourable 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 and followed this with St Kreun: Songs of Land and Waterways in April 2016. Since 2016 the band have performed as a duo of Collington and Richards. They released Live At The Curse to coincide with Cassette Store Day 2017.
Instrumentation
Aside from the prominent use of the banjo, Zapoppin' have always used lesser-known and home-made instruments including harmoniums, cajóns, lagerphones, The Z-Kit and a vintage Hohner Symphonic 32 electric organ.
