The Performers (continued).
Quicksilver (Hilary Spencer & Grant Baynham)
Hilary
Spencer (of Artisan fame) and Grant Baynham (ex-TV’s 'That's Life' and comic
song-smith to the stars) have been working together since 2002 to great
response. Quicksilver, so named as their initials equate to the chemical symbol
for mercury, are all about Hilary's fabulous voice together with Grant's
excellent guitar playing and song-writing. And the chemistry is indeed
wonderful! The material which is roughly half self-penned, includes all the
things you can imagine doing with two voices and an acoustic guitar, plus a good
few that you probably can't. Both performers are experienced pros, well known
for their on-stage repartee, so the gags flow seamlessly and are by turns
moving, funny, relaxed and occasionally jaw-dropping. Quicksilver’s second album
“Promise” is out now.
>website<
>MySpace<
Ruth Notman
Ruth
Notman, a 19 year old
local girl from Kirkby in Ashfield, has been
performing in Folk Clubs from the age of 13. Her performance combines
traditional material and unique covers together with Ruth’s own beautifully
crafted songs. In 2006 she reached the finals of the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk
Awards and since then she hasn’t looked back. With her pure and powerful voice,
quirky piano melodies and delicate guitar riffs, Ruth has toured extensively
across the UK, and her Festival and Club performances have brought her to the
attention of many new fans and fellow artists alike. Ruth has also been hard at
work in the studio recording her very highly acclaimed debut album, “Threads”.
" Fantastic, really special...I was just totally blown away."
- Kate Rusby.
"A new voice in British Folk. Notman has a fantastic voice" -
The Independent - Album of the week
"Threads is a stunning piece of work" - Mike Harding,
Kerfuffle
Kerfuffle
are one of the premier young folk acts in the UK today. Their music cannot
easily be categorised and their vibrant arrangements draw on influences from
across Europe, incorporating tunes, songs and dances. Kerfuffle perform their
music with immense vitality and style. Their highly skilled playing on
accordion, keyboards, fiddle, djembe, bagpipes, udu, cajon, bass guitar, guitar,
ukulele and Mandola, together with fine vocals and harmonies give the band a
very impressive sound. Now in their 6th year, Kerfuffle enter 2008 having played
venues as diverse as Towersey & Bromyard Festivals, Fairport's Cropredy
Convention, Radio 3’s “Late Junction” and the bar under the Royal Opera House,
Covent Garden. Their eagerly awaited 4th album "To The Ground" will be released
very soon.
>website< >MySpace<
Gareth Pearson
Gareth
Pearson is a brilliant young finger style guitarist and composer from South
Wales who has been playing guitar for only five years. In this short time Gareth
has already achieved much, including opening for Tommy Emmanuel several times,
playing at the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society Convention in Nashville, a
number of radio and TV appearances. He has also opened for Ray Davies, founder
member of The Kinks, and John Renbourn. His influences are wide, ranging from
guitarists such as Tommy Emmanuel, Chet Atkins, Merle Travis, Jerry Reed and
others but his own distinctive voice is clearly audible in his own compositions,
some of which appear on his new release “Adrenaline Rush”. Gareth’s performance
was enjoyed so much at last year’s festival, that he is one of the few artists
to be invited back in 2008.