Singer/guitarist Frank Burkitt only relocated from his native Edinburgh to Wellington in 2014, and ‘Fools & Kings’ is his first album as The Frank Burkitt Band, bringing together a group of spectacular young musicians.

Heavily influenced by blues, country, bluegrass and Scottish folk, it is driven by refrains, a touch of comedy and some delightful imagery. Bringing Burkitt’s songs to life are James Geluk on double bass, Cameron ‘Dusty’ Burnell (Federal String Band) on mandolin, Krissy Jackson (Hot Diggity) on violin.

Oscar Laven adds some beautiful clarinet and trumpet, Kara Filbey on bvs, with Graeme Wooller (Into the East) adding BVs on one plus assisting with the production and mixing.

‘Fools & Kings’ was recorded at King Street Creative Studios in New Plymouth with Dave Carnahan engineering.

Big Val is a song that really begs for more explanation and Burkitt is sure to explain if pressed at a concert. In the meantime, you can laugh and dance along to the upbeat tune.

From the first track Waste of Space, a song written about a poor foolish British man, the band make it clear what they mean to do with tight vocal harmonies and a catchy bass line, before the song breaks into a hard-hitting sing-along.

Catch Burkitt’s new band live, these musicians sound like they’re itching to let loose when given the chance.