Twangin’ on a guitar! Bangin’ on a drum!
Look out everybody ‘cause come …

Johnny and the Raindrops

Johnny and the Raindrops play rock’n’roll music for children.  They write lively and original songs that get children (and grown ups) dancing and moving, singing and grooving.  The Nottingham-based four-piece band play live at festivals, carnivals, parties, community events, schools, pubs and clubs.  Formed in 2008, they have so far recorded and released four CDs:

 ‘Ring! Ring! Say ‘Hello’ to …’, L.P.  Summer 2008
‘I’m Dreaming of a Wet Christmas’, E.P.  Winter 2008
 ‘Songs for Sherwood (and Nottingham)’, L.P.  Spring 2009
‘Let’s Make a Band’, L.P.   Summer 2009

‘Songs for Sherwood (and Nottingham)’ was produced as part of a collaborative project with the children from Haydn School in Sherwood, Nottingham, the CD being the result of a series of singing and song writing workshops and recording sessions with the children.  Funded by Nottingham city council, the project resulted in live appearances with the children at the Sherwood Festival and Haydn Road School.

Johnny and the Raindrops love playing shows.  Here is a selection of the ones we have played so far.

… plus dozens of self-organised gigs/parties in community halls, pubs and venues all over the place.

Johnny and the Raindrops have appeared twice in the studio and once in a link from the Forest Ground on John Holmes’ drive time show on BBC Radio Nottingham, live on Claire Elise’s BBC Radio Mansfield evening show and on a pod cast of Trent FM’s new music tips.

The band’s child-friendly lyrics about pirates, planets, parts of the body, aliens, mermaids, robots, teddies, rhyming, colours of the rainbow, counting and teeth are coupled to fun, fresh and funky music that is crafted and played with love and care.  Strongly influenced by the rock’n’roll of the late 1950s and early 1960s, the songs of Johnny and the Raindrops are joyous and innocent, full of stories, pictures and larger than life characters. The band’s beautifully-basic sound has been described as ‘skiffle’, however they blend the sounds of ‘50s doo wop and rhythm and blues with rock’n’roll, country, folk, blues, soul and occasionally funk and punk!

Guitarist Andy Raindrop is one of the best players in Nottingham, his lightening-fast fingers and experience in blues, country and roots music add that touch of magic to the Raindrops’ sound. 

Double bass player Darren Raindrop is an in-demand session player, contributing his bass and sax talents to the Raindrops and a number of other bands and projects. 

Singer/writer/rhythm guitarist Johnny and drummer Matt have played together for nearly ten years in successful bands.  Andy and Johnny are music lecturers by day, teaching performance and instrumental skills.  Matt deals with the music books and works in the college library.  Darren teaches guitar playing in schools and has just got his own music degree!  They all adopted the surname ‘Raindrop’ as a show of brotherhood and as homage to the Ramones.

Appealing equally to children and adults, the Raindrops are the perfect addition to any children’s or family event.  Check out the sample of songs (click ‘Sample Johnny’s music’) and videos on this site, or visit the band on MySpace (linked here under ‘Music and video samples’) or direct on www.myspace.com/johnnyraindrops, Facebook (search for ‘Johnny Raindrop’) or YouTube (for concert footage, songs and videos).

Keep on rockin’!
Johnny and the Raindrops