Getting to Know: Alberta Folk-Punks, Old Towns
In today’s Getting to Know, we are introduced to Old Towns, an Alberta-based folk-punk collective that manages to appeal kids, drunk punks, and retirees. If you are in an up and coming band that would like to partake in a Getting to Know feature, contact editor@riffyou.com to receive the questionnaire and instructions. Thanks!
Band Name: Old Towns
Band Members: Robbie Shirriff (vocals, guitar), Andrew Nixon (guitar), Tyler Ennis (drums), and Randy Kowaluk (bass).
Years Active: 1
City of Origin: Edmonton, AB
Who are you and what do you do?
“My name is Robbie Shirriff, I sing and play guitar in Old Towns.”
In 100 words or less, tell us how your band has gotten to this point.
“As a singer/songwriter, Old Towns was a creative outlet for me to explain my hangovers. After adding additional members in order to play live shows, we realized that we didn’t suck. A demo EP and three tours later, we’re preparing for the release of a proper record, cross-Canada tour, and festival appearances.”
What is your latest release and how would you best describe it to someone who hasn’t heard your band?
“Our first and only EP, Better Years, is available online on our Bandcamp page. It holds a lot of raw expressiveness and makes you want to drink beer. Our upcoming release, Leaving Songs, is a more developed product, erring on the folk/punk side.”
When making an album, which aspect of the process do you put the most time into and why?
“I’m constantly song writing, which is a crucial aspect, considering the potential success of a record. However, we focus primarily on pre-production. When you’re paying top dollar to record, you’re really under a time crunch. We spent months working on the pre-production of our upcoming album, and were able to finish it in studio in an impressively short time.”
What is the best part about your band and why?
“Old Towns is versatile. We have played to many different demographics and are always well received. Although we get the booze flowing at a bar show, we have had a ton of fun and met some great kids at all-ages shows. Having grown up in the music scene, I try to cater to as many different people as possible when I write our music. I want everyone to enjoy it.”
What makes your band unique from the rest?
“Old Towns is unique in the fact that we can play to any audience. We love playing to a room full of drunk punks, but we’ve also 
had retirees two-stepping to our tunes at smaller gigs.”
How does your band survive the challenges of touring/gigging?
“We’ve gotten better at our tour habits. We don’t party nearly as much (although the lyrics suggest otherwise); we eat healthier; and we try to play as many shows as possible. Touring is a financial strain, so we try to avoid unnecessary days off.”
Would you rather be critically-acclaimed; rich and famous; or an under-the-radar band with a dedicated fan base?
“Ideally I want to be able to quit my job and work on Old Towns full-time. Rich and famous would be cool, but I know we’ll be hustling for years to get there. I just want to go on tour without worrying about all of the shows falling through.”
If you’d have to compare your band to another one out there, living or dead, who would it be and why?
“Our newest record sounds similar to The Gaslight Anthem. I have a totally normal adoration for Brian Fallon, and The ‘59 Sound is one of my favourite records.”
Which band/musician would you like to share many drinks with? What would you talk about?
“John K. Samson (of The Weakerthans). We would discuss our opinions of Winnipeg, and bacon-wrapped marshmallows.”
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