Yawning Gulf is music written, recorded and produced by UK/Canadian based musician and field recordist Jack Ryder.

NEW ALBUM 'RESTORATION TRAGEDY' out now on CD and double vinyl LP and available from http://www.attilathestockbroker.com/merch.php
Barnstormer 1649 aim to do with early music & punk what the Pogues did with Irish music & punk - but with a strong historical and political message.  Leader, poet and multi-instrumentalist Attila the Stockbroker, describes their sound as ‘Roundhead Renaissancecore and Baroque ‘n’ Roll’.

Attila has always loved early music and plays a lot of the instruments – crumhorn, cornemuse, shawm, bombarde and five different recorders as well as violin, viola , mandola and mandocello. A lifelong socialist and activist, he has always been fascinated by the radical movements which exploded at the end of the English Civil War and the execution of Charles 1 - radicals who can be described as the first English socialists. And his songs are inspired both musically and lyrically by the events of that tumultuous time. So instruments and ideas fit together: they are from the same period.

The songs are mostly based around the time at the end of the war, after the King was beheaded and, in the words of a ballad of the time, the world turned upside down. Previously marginal ideas of social justice and equality spread across the land. Barnstormer’s songs are about the Diggers, the Levellers, the Ranters and their leader Abiezer Coppe, the radical factions of the New Model Army and their confrontation with Cromwell’s grandees. There is an epic piece about the narrow escape of Charles 11 after the Battle of Worcester in 1651 in a coal boat which sailed from the spot where Attila has fished all his life  in Shoreham Port, 400 yards from his front door.  (If he’d been caught, we’d probably be spending more money on the NHS now instead of the Royal Family!)There are some earlier references to Wat Tyler and the Peasants’ Revolt as well.

And all with an eye on what‘s happening now, which is essential. Attila has written a couple of very modern early music songs too. One’s about a visionary with a beard and the initials JC!

History is mainly presented as the story of kings, queens and nobles but real history is about us and our battles for justice. As our country becomes more and more divided along class and generational lines, and the extremes of wealth and poverty become even more sharply defined, we can learn a lot from the events of the past.

Although their politics are similar, there’s one very important difference between Barnstormer and the Roundheads though. Some Roundheads, apparently, thought drinking beer, dancing and having fun was evil. Attila and Barnstormer think it should be obligatory.

BARNSTORMER are
M.M.McGHEE – drums
COOKIE – bass, backing vocals
JASON PEGG – guitar, backing vocals
TIM O’TAY - recorders
ATTILA – vocals, mandola, mandocello, violin, viola, recorders, crumhorn, cornemuse, shawm

Paul McCartney's official Soundcloud page. 

Someone once said about Matt...

‘big melodies and candid lyrics’
‘Weezer meets the Beatles’
‘Full of infectious energy and hooks’

Short Bio…

MATT COOPER, a singer songwriter from West Sussex & the frontman of the alt-rock band STANMORE, wears his heart on his sleeve. Now in his mid 40’s, Matt writes original catchy pop/rock songs with big melodies & candid lyrics. 

If you’ve got the time Bio…. 

A fan of power pop bands like Weezer, Fountains of Wayne and Cheap Trick, Matt Cooper, a singer songwriter in his mid 40’s, likes to write catchy pop/rock songs that people can sing or hum a long to, and hopefully relate to. Matt wears his heart on his sleeve.

Now living in Bersted (between Chichester & Bognor Regis) Matt has enjoyed some pretty cool experiences during his career in music. Brought up listening to the sounds of The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Tom Waits and The Rolling Stones it was the 80’s new wave rock band The Cars that he remembers playing air guitar to first. 

To kick start his musical journey, in his teens, Matt enjoyed touring the UK, The East Coast of USA and Europe in various bands, in various roles (bassist, drummer etc) before, in his early twenties, he joined a couple of popular Brighton based bands.

Matt’s first bite of the cherry was when playing drums for art rockers Coin-Op (signing to the well known indie label Fierce Panda) where he was caught up in the whirlwind of tour busses, Radio 1, MTV, academy tours and festivals in USA, Spain and Sweden. 

After leaving Coin-Op Matt found his confidence to go solo, armed with a set of heartfelt pop/rock songs with candid lyrics. Getting bored of playing alone, recruiting good friends made on his musically journey, 
Leader was formed and within a year the band were eating sushi and playing to audiences across Japan. 

Then... Matt took a break. 

Stepping out of the spotlight, Matt moved to Australia in 2008, but still stayed involved in music by managing musicians and running a small record label. 

Returning to England in 2013, Matt took another break from music (to bring up his two children) before in late 2018, he was coaxed back into playing again which lead to a return to performing solo at various local open mic nights and venues in the south coast.

In early 2020,  after opening for one of his favourite bands, just as he was getting started again, our new foe COVID-19 reared it’s ugly head. 

Lockdown gave Matt a chance to write and finish some songs (after nearly 10 years of writers block) and now, fully vaccinated, he is ready to play again either solo or with his new power-pop band STANMORE.

Check out Stanmore in Instagram @stanmoreband

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