Bio
The musical journey behind Surf The Pines began in Ireland, when Shane Leinster flipped a coin to decide whether he’d move to Los Angeles or New York City to find a more supportive music scene.
Even though Los Angeles won the toss, and Leinster lived and played music there for seven years, it’s in his now-native Seattle that he’s found his true musical home. Brand new four-piece indie rock group Surf The Pines (featuring Leinster, Bill Ibsen, Bardi Martin, and Patrick Porter) is ready to push hard, delivering energetic, power pop-rock with moments of acoustic guitar Americana, derived from lengthy musical careers.
Influences abound and with each band member's years of experience, Surf The Pines have created a sound that captures a feel and energy of bands like Cheap Trick, The Replacements, Teenage Fanclub and Big Star. The sound is big and live with raw guitars underneath melody, unforgettable choruses and three-part harmonies.
Surf The Pines released their debut single 'The Runaround' in 2017 the EP ‘Fall Apart’ release in 2018. The band kept playing shows locally either side of Covid, and then spent 2024 recording and finishing a full length album released Sept. 15 2025.
Photo by Don Farwell at Earwig Studios, Seattle.
Shows and History:
Oct 12 2025 - The Tractor Tavern w/t The Young Dubliners
Sept 18 2025 - The Sunset Record Release Party! w/t Salt Horse and Margot Adrift
August 1 2025 - The Skylark
Oct 23 2023 - Live at Darrell's Tavern w/t The Civilians and The Stellar Jays
July 5 2023 - Live at Conor Byrne!
June 15 2023 - Live at The Rabbit Box at Pike Place Market, Seattle
Dec 29 2022 - Christmas show at Conor Byrne, with Hutchie and the Oh Wells.
Dec 2 2022 - Live at The Tractor Tavern w/t The Young Dubliners.
Nov 5 2022 - Live at Darrell's Tavern w/t Mopsey, The Oh Wells
Aug 27 2022 - Live at West Seattle Street Festival (City Chamber of Commerce)
Aug 20 2022 - Live at Darrell's Tavern w/t Hutchie, Sweet Piece
June 3 2022 - Live at the Sunset Tavern!
April 22 2022 - Live at Slim's, Georgetown
March 24 2022 - BACK TO THE START - self released single is out!
COVID LOCKDOWN
March 24 2020 - IF THIS IS LOVE - self released single is out!
Aug 11 2019 - Nothing like a Summer Sunday back at The Sunset Tavern!
July 13, 14 - Bass and rythm guitar recording completed for le album
July 6 2019 - Our first Saturday night headline show at The Tractor was incredible. What a turnout, what a show!
Feb 2019 - Completed recording all drum parts for the album at Earwig Studios.
January 24 2019 - Sunset Tavern first show of 2019!
Fall 2018 - found us playing shows in South and West Seattle with Sundodger, Loveless Building and Kyro Skyro
July 11 2018 - Super excited to play The Tractor Tavern in Ballard again for an early show at 8pm, mid-summer fun-times... with Lofts and Phono Paradiso
May 2 2018 - Thrilled to be playing with Karl Blau at Darryl's Tavern on Saturday May 5th! Kristen Allen-Zito is also on the bill
Mar 30 2018 - Finished up three more songs at Don Farwell's Earwig Studios in Wallingford
Feb 23 2018 - Debut EP Fall Apart is out now on all digital outlets (CDs available at shows!)
Feb 1 2018 - Our next show is at Slim's Last Chance Saloon on Saturday Feb 24th, with Stereo Embers and STAG
Jan 28 2018 - Stoked to get our first Airplay on KEXP today!
Dec 15 2017 - Our next show is at The Tractor Tavern on Weds Jan 31! see 'shows' page
Dec 3 2017 - Single Release party/show at The Sunset Tavern in Ballard
Dec 1 2017 - Debut Single 'The Runaround' out now!!
Nov 1 2017 - The Seattle band with the Irish singer play Ballard's premier Irish Pub Connor Byrne's on Nov 16th!
Oct 15th - We play an intimate acoustic show at Cafe Musica on Saturday Oct 21st!
Aug 21 2017 - Our debut show will be at the Sunset Tavern in Ballard on Tues 16 Sept w/t Hannah Racecar and Moon Temple