BMX Bandits

BMX Bandits were formed in by songwriter and lead vocalist Duglas T Stewart out of the ashes of The Pretty Flowers, that featured Stewart alongside Frances McKee (The Vaselines), Sean Dickson (The Soup Dragons) and Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub). The group are celebrating their 30th anniversary between Summer 2015 (the group formed Summer 1985) and Summer 2016 (the first single was released in Summer 1986) .

Their songs mix melodic qualities, humour and at times a raw and heartbreaking pathos. Stewart has written many of the group's best loved songs solo, including 'Your Class', 'The Sailor's Song' and 'Doorways' but also has collaborated with many of the other members. His most regular songwriting partners have been Francis Macdonald, Norman Blake and, more recently, David Scott of The Pearlfishers and the Bandits' original lead guitarist Jim McCulloch.

Starting with the exuberant E102 in 1986 BMX Bandits released a series of singles on Stephen's Pastels' 53rd & 3rd label, where they were label mates with The Vaselines and Beat Happening. Later they joined Creation Records, home of Teenage Fanclub, My Bloody Valentine, Primal Scream and many others. The group's most celebrated song is the autobiographical 'Serious Drugs', recorded in 1991 but not released until 1993. Oasis did their first UK tour dates supporting the Bandits as a favour from Stewart to Creation label boss Alan McGee.

Stewart split with his long term musical partner Francis Macdonald in 2005 but 2006 saw a new wave of live concert activity and the release of My Chain. Stewart's writing on the album was compared to Brian Wilson, Michel Legrand, Ennio Morricone and even Alan Bennett. The line up was expanded by the arrival of Stewart's friend David Scott and new female vocalist Rachel Allison. The follow-up, 2007's Bee Stings, was influenced by classic girl group pop plus the mellow A & M sound of the late 1960s and early 70s.
The band's most recent album release BMX Bandits In Space (Elefant Records) has been hailed as their most accomplished release so far, “a stunning, brilliant and beautiful album”. A highly acclaimed feature-length documentary called 'Serious Drugs - Duglas and the Music of BMX Bandits' was premiered in Glasgow in 2011, followed by a series of international festival screenings and an international DVD release.

The anniversary celebrations kicked off with BMX Bandits headlining The Phoenix Stage at this year's Wickerman Festival. There are plans for a new vinyl single later this year and to start recording a new album. Also there will be a series of extra-special concerts... with BMX Bandits every show is special.

The line-up of the group continues to be ever changing but the heart and soul of the group remains the same, an extended musical family led by the inimitable Duglas.

Ages: 18+