The Grey Lady Music Lounge, Sunday 22nd August 2010

Though all four members of Burning Shapes grew up throughout the South East, and even Canada, the band base themselves in Tunbridge Wells where guitarist/singer Toby Guy and bassist Dave Tonkinsmith met at school and started writing music together. The friends began playing out at parties, being given acoustic guitars and performing in kitchens, bedrooms and gardens, but it wasn't until Tobys' cousin Andy White joined them on drums that the band began to take shape.

During a series of London gigs under the name Sound Sanctuary they caught the attention of production duo Bombay Monkey who invited the band to record at their new studio in the Ashdown forest. Sound Sanctuarys' first EP Contact, was issued on the Lo-Tek label in July 2005, and thanks to glowing reviews, XFM airplay and national distribution by Pinnacle, the group began to build a loyal following whilst playing out at some of Londons' best acoustic venues. Their full length debut Dust, followed two years later, and with local music agent Coffee Artists now onside, Sound Sanctuary found themselves embarking on their first national tour to promote the release. In 2008 regional gigs and radio appearances across the UK led to live sets on SkyTV and an invite to perform at BBC Radio 1s Big Weekend Fringe Festival. It was at this time that a significant change in the groups line up took place. As lead guitarist Millzy exited to pursue other projects, Andy took up MPC duties and Steve Martin was recruited to step in behind the kit. On returning from tour the new line up headed back into the studio, this time with producer Joe Hirst (Bloc Party, Ian Brown, Razorlight). They emerged, early 2009, a band who had regained its virginity. A new vigour, a new artistic stride and a new name.

Burning Shapes are currently working on their debut LP. A free download is now available from their website burningshapes.com to give fans a taste of what's to come. A series of single releases accompanied by UK tours are expected from autumn 2010.

David’s earliest 6-Chord Songbook dates back to July 1994, with an inscription on the inside cover that simply reads ‘Happy Birthday darling, much love, Daddy’.

Being cool has never been David’s number one priority. 

From that point on, hurriedly purchased Squier Strat in hand, he quickly mutated into some kind of ravenous, listening thing. Age 12, he found himself gorging on every record in the house, from the Beatles to Bob Dylan to Paul Simon, and pausing momentarily to wipe his fetid brow, (usually during the Garfunkel songs), he decided to press on further into the perilous waters of folk and blues.

Alas, for many years he sailed, out in the dark, lost from view. 

Fast-forward to 2003, and David is emerging from a university toilet, ashen pale and shaking like a popcorn pan. The Squier has been replaced with a Tanglewood acoustic, and he plays a nervous set in front of a sell-out crowd of 12. 

In the following years, the quivering hands steadied, the whimpering vocals stabilized, and David set his sights firmly on songwriting. Drawing on both his early influences, as well as later maestros such as John Martyn, Martin Simpson, Richie Havens and the like, his music will calm your nerves and whisk you away.

He has pedalled his songs all over the country, from Glasgow to Oxfordshire back to the South East, where he is now recording an album, due for release at Gocstock V, Eridge Park, Tunbridge Wells, June 2010.

Lucy has been writing songs since the age of seven and her first live performance was at the age of 9. Since then Lucy has written many more using the piano as her main instrument. Lucy says “I love how the piano can create both lively and also calming accompaniment, and I have now started learning the guitar. I have always enjoyed performing on stage and started from the age of five. Now I often perform at school and have done a few local gigs in pubs. When it comes to writing I get a lot of inspiration from books that I read (A lot of my songs are about love and, as I have not yet experienced that feeling, I take it from what the characters are feeling). I love reading and sometimes the stories behind my songs come from the books I am reading. Lyrics are very important to me because I feel that they should mean more than just words on a page, so I put a lot of thought into them. When it comes to singers I enjoy listening to artists like Lily Allen because I like her lyrics, and now, thanks to some of my friends, Florence and the Machine; I find their music and their voices very unique. At the moment I am doing my GCSE’s but I don’t know what I want to do after school. I would love to have a career where I can perform and sing. So far I have performed twice at the Bell & Jorrocks pub in Frittenden which I really enjoyed and I also have a few other pub performances coming up this year, one of them will be in Maidstone. I now have a CD containing 5 of my songs, and I feel that as I get older my songs are improving”.

Originally formed as a three piece back in 2001, indie rock band, Cyrano, soon became a foursome with the addition of lead guitarist, Karl Barton. From this moment on, their sound was born. With influences from bands like Pearl Jam and Elbow, Cyrano have crafted a unique blend of thoughtfully written songs, rock guitars and Tom Yorke-esque vocals resulting in a hugely melodic sound.The band are currently in the final stages of producing their much anticipated debut Album with London based producer, Paul Castle (Eminem/Blondie). The band’s line up is, Joe Ackerley on Vocals and guitar, Matt Wilson on drums, Tim Hubbard on bass and vocals, and Karl Barton on lead guitar.