The Grey Lady Music Lounge, Wednesday 4th August 2010

Originally formed in 1990, The Varlies are a renowned fully fledged 5 piece rock band based in Tunbridge Wells who have written and produced three outstanding albums to date with a fourth on the way and continue to perform extensively throughout the UK and abroad. However they have also made a name for themselves with their intimate acoustic shows whereby they perform without bass and drums. Members include John Whitehorn (vocal and guitar), Kevin Amos (guitar and vocals), Gillian Arthur (vocals), Steve Mealing (bass) and Paul May Drums. The strength of the band certainly lies within their ability to deliver an amazing live performance in any situation, whether it is the full band or in the acoustic guise. With outstanding musicianship and vocal quality, their dynamic and versatile pop/rock style has a distinct quality that appeals to a wide audience and variety of tastes.

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WakeUpTom is the stage name of local singer-songwriter Tom Joseph Walker. Over the last year Tom has been busy writing and recording, and has recently been joined by fellow local musicians Henry Willard, on double-bass, and Tom Heasman, on drums and percussion. Says Walker of the new trio: 'I'd just finished recording some demos in London, and was introduced to Tom and Henry by mutual friends. None of us had met before so I invited the guys round to my place for a jam and we instantly hit it off. It's great to have two wonderfully talented guys as your mates to bounce ideas off and bring your songs to life, whereas before I just had to imagine what the other instruments might sound like! It really opens up a whole new world of possibilities to how you write and how you perform your songs live. Having the opportunity to rework some of your earlier material with a band and try out some new songs is really exciting. We can't wait to start gigging together!'

Tom picked up his first guitar aged ten and hasn't put it down since (or stopped buying them). 'I started off playing acoustic and then bought my first electric when I was fifteen. I'd love to say that I grew up listening to all the old classics but actually my dad mostly played 80's soft rock like Journey and Bon Jovi, which was great, but I've only recently started listening to Clapton, Stevie Wonder, SRV, Nick Drake, etc. I also don't think there's anything wrong in being influenced by contemporary artists like James Morrison, Newton Faulkner, or Mr Blobby…I love modern acoustic players like Andy McKee, and folk singers like Kate Rusby. With the electric guitar I'm more interested in musicians like Clapton, who can actually write good songs and not just shred solos.'

Tom sums up his approach to music: 'Of course, like all singer-songwriters, you want your music to connect with people. But my main aim is that you feel better after listening to one of our songs than you did beforehand, or, simply to put a smile on your face.'

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Sevenoaks based singer/songwriter Geoff Easeman is an accomplished vocalist and guitarist who has explored various musical genres both in bands and a solo performer. He has established himself as one of the most charismatic soloists at The Grey Lady shows in addition to enjoying a hugely sucessful debut at Paul's ‘Ship Theatre' showcase in Sevenoaks at the end of last year. Geoff was formerly with local eclectic blues/country band ‘The Magd' who themselves were a popular headline act at the Grey Lady shows. The band amicabally dispanded at the end of 2007 leading Geoff to focus on his Solo acoustic gigs in the meantime. Geoff's distinct style is higlighted his nimble and inticate finger work on the steel spring guitar influenced by genres such as Folk, Country, Ragtime & Blues.

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Nick has featured in numerous bands over the years and is focusing now on his solo reputation as a producer and artist in his own right. Although Nick gigs sparsely, he is very active within the industry writing and producing for other local and global artists. His own record label and studio ‘Nooley Written Music’ has been setup to provide a platform for all genres of music to be recognised. Nick enjoys his one man shows as they allow him to express his true self. His melodic contemporary folk/rock vocals support his unique acoustic guitar playing style. With his very expressive and interestingly diverse nimble finger work, Nick delivers a distinct pure tone that effortlessly draws the listener in.

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