Rusty Shackle Biography

Rusty Shackle are a Monmouthshire based folk rock band who were formed in early 2010. They are a six-piece group made up of band members Liam Collins, Mathew Barkwick, Owen Emmanuel, Ryan Williams and brothers Scott McKeon and James McKeon. Combining guitars, fiddle, banjo, bass, mandola, trumpet and percussion, Rusty Shackle are influenced by bluegrass, folk, rock, Celtic and old time blues.

Maiden four track E.P. Hounds of Justice reached the heights of #2 in the iTunes Singer Songwriter charts and tracks from this also made BBC Radio Wales' main playlist. Rusty Shackle released their debut album Wash Away These Nights in 2011. In 2012 the self-proclaimed 'dirty bluegrass folk ‘n rollers' beat off other acts to win 'Cardiff's Big Gig' competition which saw them gain a performing slot at the 2012 Olympic Torch Relay Concert in Cooper’s Field, Cardiff. This gig saw them play alongside Kids in Glass Houses, You Me at Six and Emile Sande.

During 2013 the band played at more than twenty festivals all over the UK which included Cambridge Folk Festival. They also released their second studio album The Bones which was recorded at Monnow Valley Studios. The album made it to number 13 in the I-Tunes singer/ songwriter charts.