Andy Robbins

Andy Robbins

Andy Robbins is a UK musician and singer-songwriter from Oxfordshire. He begins writing poetry at school and has poems published in competitions from the age of 11. His interest in guitar starts at 14, when he takes up his brother’s instrument and teaches himself by studying guitar books and asking older friends to correct his mistakes.

Career

He performs as a solo artist and also plays lead guitar in Strange Vintage, an Oxford-based retro band. He also sings for Refugees of Culture and forms an acoustic band called Vanilla Street, in which he plays rhythm guitar and sings. He signs to BFS Records in 2016.

Live work and releases

Robbins is active on the Oxford music scene and plays regularly across the UK, with performances at venues including Oxford’s O2 Academy and the Jericho Tavern. He also appears at festivals including Hop Farm and Cornbury. His live work includes dates in San Francisco, California, and a tour with shows in Rotterdam and Amsterdam. After signing to BFS Records, he releases two EPs: Element Of Surprise, which presents a stripped-back voice-and-guitar sound, and Into The Night, which has a darker tone. He is also working on a third EP with the label.

Musical style and background

His musical background is shaped by listening in childhood to artists including The Beatles, The Kinks, Eagles, Pink Floyd and The Smiths. He is associated with free folk, psychedelic folk, blues and alternative rock, and is also described as moving between psych folk rock, kraut rock-infused drone rock and electronic styles. He is one of at least two people named Andy Robins/Robbins in music listings, and the person identified here is the Oxfordshire singer-songwriter.

Career highlights

One of his career highlights is supporting a show at Hop Farm Festival on the same day as Bob Dylan.