The Denim Rips

Americana · Folk · Bluegrass · Old Time

About

Roots music, made for the streets.

The Denim Rips, 2021 promotional photograph
The Denim Rips — 2021

It's a sextet formed in Les Borges Blanques (Lleida) in early 2017, playing American roots music in the true spirit of the 1930s and 1940s string bands: old time, bluegrass and today's New Roots / Americana, with a splash of Irish folk and acoustic punkrock.

Coming from electric bands with a rock tradition, they decided to go back to their roots: a repertoire made almost entirely of their own songs, an organic, natural sound, and music back on the streets. They have no fixed rehearsal space — you might catch them rehearsing out of nowhere in some corner of rural Lleida, or busking on the busiest streets of your town.

Raw and carefree lyrics, personal and funny: stories of freedom, of characters running from their inner ghosts, or simply of dancing, toasting and forgetting their troubles with a bottle in hand.

Story

After a thousand nights of tavern jams, in spring 2019 they start playing their first serious concerts across Catalonia, playing festivals such as Reus Blues Festival, Al Ras Bluegrass, DesfolCat in Calaf, Old Rooster Music Fest, the Fira de Les Borges Blanques and the GarGar in Penelles.

In 2020 they are one of the winning bands of the Murfònic contest and receive a grant from Les Cases de la Música de Lleida. In May 2021 they enter the studio to record their first EP, “Non-Electric Revolt”, released in February 2022, co-edited and distributed by Rat Produccions, Mulisec Records, Grans Records and Folc Records, with good reviews in Ruta 66 magazine and appearances on Radio 3.

2022 is a year of non-stop touring and club gigs. After a short break in 2023, they come back strong and embark on a tour that takes them across Brittany and western France.

The Denim Rips
The Denim Rips — 2021

The six members

Six names, one shared string.

Six musicians passionate about music, and above all about American roots music.

Juan Castro

Juan Castro

Banjo

Marc Jordà

Marc Jordà

Guitar

Àlex Llimós

Àlex Llimós

Violin and second voice

Xabier Villafranca

Xabier Villafranca

Lead vocals and harmonica

Jaume Lladós

Jaume Lladós

Mandolin

Aleix Estradé

Aleix Estradé

Double bass

« No beers, no rips, no party! »