The Stomp’n Ramblers present: Kick’n Stones An album shaped by distance, reconnection, and a shared love of blues tradition.
“Kick’n Stones” marks a defining moment for The Stomp’n Ramblers, the duo formed by Owen Mancell and Ryan Stone after years of playing together in The Blind Pilots. The project took root in the quiet uncertainty that followed the pandemic. Owen was based on Sydney’s Northern Beaches and Ryan was living near Brunswick Heads, so early ideas travelled through app messages and voice notes. The back and forth sparked a renewed sense of purpose that carried into their writing.
The pair tested new songs in small breweries and bars where the response encouraged them to expand the work into a full-length record. Eleven tracks emerged from an initial batch of twenty. Most of the album was recorded at Damien Gerard Studios, with further sessions at The Factory Studio in Mona Vale. The final mixes by Russell Pilling helped shape the warm and grounded character of the record.
Owen’s rough yet steady vocal tone pairs naturally with Ryan’s expressive harmonica playing. Their influences range from Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee to RL Burnside, and the album leans into these roots without feeling trapped by them. “Kick’n Stones” reflects two musicians reconnecting with each other and with the blues tradition they share.
