THE BOOTS

For almost ten years now, The Boots have been known in Finland as a hard-hitting combination of rootsy R & B and rockabilly, but they do have a gentler and more pop-oriented side, as revealed by their brand new single In The Marketplace on Rockadillo Records. The single went straight to the RadioMafia (Finnish Broadcasting Company's national rock channel) play list to pave the way for the forthcoming album, due to be out in April. The band has been working on the new album for almost two years and it is certain to take them to new heights in popularity and international acclaim.

The Boots were originally a tough trio led by Jarmo J. Heikkinen on guitar and vocals. Ever since making his first national impact in the Seventies with The Ramblers, Finland's answer to Dr. Feelgood, Jarmo has been known as one of the best guitar players in Northern Finland. Originally a bass player, Jarmo moved to lead guitar in The Rambles and cemented his reputation with two stints in the illustrious band of Kauko Röyhkä, the irreverent rock poet. Before forming The Boots he also recorded with blues legend Champion Jack Dupree and with Finnish punk pioneer Pelle Miljoona.

1987 saw Jarmo finally doing his own thing with The Boots. Aided by his kid brother Petri Heikkinen (formerly of One O'Clock Hump) on slappin' bass and Raimo Raappana on funky drums, Jarmo has proved to be a fine writer of punchy tunes. Someone once said that Jarmo is the only guy in Finland that can be compared to Tony Joe White, because of the catchiness and friendliness of his songs. His music is organic and rootsy but with a twist.

After proving their worth with two albums on Euros Records, The Boots took their sweet time with their third, but making sure that freshness was maintained. The latest long player, Turn To Tree on Rockadillo, surprised some Boots fans with its mellow strings and gentle melodies when it was released in 1994.

In October 1994 The Boots started to play live with a new 7-piece line-up featuring additional musicians from the Turn To Tree -sessions: female vocalist Satu Pohja, violinist Pirkko Kontkanen plus Tommi Laine on slide guitar and Arto Piispanen on keyboards. In January 1995 The Boots played a major festival in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and in March they played their first Canadian shows in Toronto. However, most of the year was spent working on the forthcoming album. The three-track single In The Markeplace is already released, and we strongly recommend that you check it out.

        DISCOGRAPHY

• Alligator River (Euros SIN-1054) 1989
  Wonderland Train | Got To get Out | Hobo Bill's Last Ride | House Is Haunded | Jungle Thing | Alligator River | Dinosaur Walk | Soul Man | I'm Burning | Larry | Silver Queen | Stuck In A Swamp

• Funky Road (Euros SINCD-1068) 1991
  Keep Hurry | Dance Like Fools | Stay Home | I Can't | Funky Road | I'm So Lazy | Get Down | Baby You Go Crazy (About My Style) | One Night | I'm Burning | Alligator River | Silver Queen | Dinosaur Walk

• Turn To Tree (Rockadillo Records ZENCD 2039) 1994
  
  Train Keep A-Rollin' | Strangers | Sailor | Touch Your Heart | Hey You Zombie | Fool One's Song | Hot Summer Day | In The Cowshed | Turn To Tree | Detachment / I'm Here

• In The Marketplace / Ballroom / Dreamworld (CDS, Rockadillo Records ZENSICD 1037, 2/1996)

• Marketplace (CD, Rockadillo Records ZENCD 2048, 1996)
  Moonchild | In The Marketplace | Come Along | The Night | Ballroom | I Made A Song | Ann Ngee | Wide Open Road | Watching The Land | Dreamworld | Beyond

• Joutomies (CD, Rockadillo Records ZENCD 2062, 1999)
  
  
  Kaksi laivaa | Kiitos kaikesta | Cecilia | Pienestä iloittiin | Bye bye crazy maailma | Joutomies| Paratiisiin | Jukebox Sandra | Sätkynukke | Valoa odotan