Arnie Cottrell and cohorts Colm Murphy and Tim Payne perform a powerful acoustic fusion equal parts blues/country/Americana. (Think the original line-up of Little Feat blended with Nickelcreek.) Arnie Cottrell would have it that he is walking talking proof of the old Jack of all trades adage (he plays acoustic guitar, resonator slide guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, lap steel . . .in fact anything with frets,) but he’s being too modest. He shows considerable mastery of them all. Close your eyes when he’s playing slide and it’s as if the late and outstandingly great Lowell George has returned. And Tim and Colm are no slouches themselves. Both are highly sought after session and stage musicians.
They opened for Robert Cray and his band twice last year, going down a storm both with the capacity audiences and with Robert and his band.
The musicianship of all three is sublime and when these three friends begin to play they weave a spell of pure musical magic.
Arnie Cottrell
Lou Brown
Darren Hodson
8th Aug
New Rising
Hockridge & Kilminster
Red Jackson
Bournemouth based singer-songwriter Lou Brown is making an increasing impact on the national acoustic scene. Her catalogue of self-penned material is
extensive; from catchy melodies such as 'Isn't She Amazing', 'The Old Way' and 'What Are You Singing About', to classically crafted ballads including 'These Arms' and 'Morning Light'. It isn't surprising that many of Lou's tracks are making regular appearances on the nation's download charts.
Having first picked up a guitar at age nine, Lou has now been playing and creating original material for over 20 years - and it shows. Her use of multiple capo placings (partial and regular) create unique altered tunings
that give her songs an original and quirky quality. This combined with a wonderfully husky yet clear vocal range make her music a force to be reckoned with, and one to watch out for in the coming months.
Lou has enjoyed regular airplay on popular regional radio stations such as Wave 105 FM, Original 106 FM, Forest FM and Hope FM.
Newrising is Jay Carter (guitar/vocals) and Adam Knight on vocals and cajon. Rich harmonies and grinding rhythms from this ancient peruvian percussion instrument innovatively combined with Jay’s vibrant acoustic guitar work to create the back bone of this refreshing sound. Strong colourful songs and passionate performance make them an entertaining and energetic live act.
Their debut album ’Awake from slumber’ produced by Nick Sowden (Rock track of year 2004 - British Academy of composers and songwriters) was released in May 2008.
Murray Hockridge....a unique blend of soul singer, acoustic guitarist & percussionist and a voice that can travel three octaves and more in the space of one song….from rich, warm depths to the very highest of highs reminiscent of Prince and Smokey Robinson. Since late 2007 Murray has been collaborating with Dave Kilminster, an amazing guitarist and currently Roger Waters’ right hand man when touring ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’. Murray comments: ‘we have a telepathic musical understanding that seemed to fall into place from day one. We are finding out where we can take this creative relationship literally as we perform gig to gig’.
A not to be missed, foot-stomping, Blues outfit. Red Jackson play mostly Chicago Blues, but mix in the haunting atmosphere of the Mississippi Delta, the swampy sound of New Orleans and the chugging boogie rhythms of Texas. They are not afraid to let other influences in either; latin, soul, funk, ragtime and rockabilly all make appearances. They have to be seen live to be fully appreciated. If you get the chance don’t miss them.
Alex Roberts
Holman
Alex Roberts is a songsmith whose musical compass points to each degree: Seamlessly traversing genres from baroque to blues, in a host of alternate tunings, with the occasional turn to the lap-steel or lute. Exemplified in Train To Midnight - which features on his debut album Giant Killer Session - is Roberts’ effortlessness with the guitar and truly innovative techniques.
The timeless nature of Roberts’ music provides the perfect vehicle for lyrical musings. In the fashion of the troubadour or bard Roberts crafts a mesmerising web of song. The vocal lines ebb and flow with ease around elegant and refined guitar parts and the result is an uplifting and wholesome symbiosis of the voice and guitar.
A comfortable and engaging performer he is becoming known as an act not to miss and a hard one to follow. This year’s release of By the Ley seems destined to bring Roberts’ music to the wider audience he deserves.
‘Indeed, each tune is more like a holiday and often leaves you feeling lighter and refreshed as it passes’ - Reel Sound Music
‘As soulful as Kelly Joe Phelps’ - Seth Lakeman
The songs make for beautiful soundscapes and evoke images of sun drenched wheat fields and beaches turning golden by the falling sun… one of this year’s best kept secrets’ - Steve Harvey - Acoustic - July 2007
Former Lemon Tree and band mate of Robbie Williams’ writing partner, Guy Chambers. Paul Holman sings beautiful introspective songs. Think Crowded House, Elliott Smith with more than a hint of McCartney. www.myspace.com/holmanband
At 17 Darren played guitar in a band called ‘The Moneymakers’ an outfit that played the south circuit and a handful of London dates. There was some label interest which eventually came to nothing so, disillusioned the band split in 1994. Ever since Darren has been a gigging musician playing locally in many different bands and making countless excuses as to why he doesn’t write his own stuff. “But in the last 6 months or so, (leading up to and beyond my 30th birthday) songs have kind of written themselves, so after a few gentle shoves from fellow bandmates I've started playing them around a bit.” You can hear some of them on:
Conrad Vingoe
Conrad Vingoe is a Brighton (UK) based singer and songwriter, writing what has variously been described as melancholic, euphoric and off-kilter pop. Influenced by classic singer songwriters such as Joni Mitchell and Nick Drake, his sound would be at home with recent Americana and folk scene contemporaries like Josh Rouse, Ray LaMontagne or Iron & Wine. In a currently oversubscribed genre Conrad’s compositions are fresh and intelligent, with a timeless relevance. A regular fixture on the Brighton/London scene, he plays both solo and with a band.
Martin Crowley
Emily Baker
Chrus Pugh
Solo Singer Songwriter / Guitarist who describes his music as acoustic guitar based pop for adults. “I'm not ashamed of liking a good old feel good pop song, but increasingly I'm trying to write stuff that's about real life. I think my latest song, Castle in the sand does that nicely.”
Originally from a small town in Dorset, the now Brighton based singer/songwriter is on the verge of her first mainstream CD release.
Emily never anticipated becoming an artist in her own right. The plan was to become the quintessential songwriter and producer, spending her career happily tucked away in the studio. It was only the insistence of her peers and co-writers that encouraged Emily to make the leap, explore her own voice and express her own experiences. The response, so far has been pretty outstanding. ‘I always thought that my voice was too weird. But, people seem to like the fact it’s a bit different.’
She’s been likened to that of a female version of contemporary songwriters Josh Rouse and Ryan
Adams but what really drives her is a deep seated passion for classic song writing. The Beatles, Carole King and James Taylor with a twist of the bizarre production style of the likes of Jon Brion. Basically speaking, Emily has the ability to pen the kind of tune you won’t forget. She has a fundamental understanding of great songs loaded with soul. Her sense of melody is instinctive, her lyrics hooking you in with every syllable. You cannot escape her production nor can you afford to miss her live performances. Prepare yourselves for something pretty special.
“A beautiful mix of Coldplays Chris Martin, singer/songwriter James Morrison and Mike Skinner of The Streets...a wonderful voice" Fire fm...
Chris’s debut album will hopefully be available soon. It promises to be one of the rawest, moving, CDs anyone could dream of.