The Grey Lady Music Lounge, Sunday 2nd May 2010

Described by Neil Sedaka as “Beautiful”, Sam de la Haye is a London based singer/songwriter whose blues-inspired, soaring vocals and intelligent lyrics, combined with neat piano-driven tunes, have gained the attention of heavyweight musicians like guitarist Steve Cropper. Her ability to not only evoke emotive response, but also thoroughly entertain, has wooed crowds on tours of America and Ireland as easily as it has in local London venues.

Sam's distinctive sound budded during her childhood in Jersey C.I., flourished into her BA in contemporary music, and blossomed into her two year stint at the prestigious BRIT school. This fertile ground has produced an artist whose impressive technical proficiency is matched and balanced by the organic nature of her talent.

Late last year, Ray Davies asked Sam to perform the role of singing narrator in a children’s play commissioned by Grazdale Arts for The Great British Festival. Working closely with Ray until the performance at The South Bank inspired him to select her to support Guillemots for Royal Festival Hall Meltdown Festival. De la Haye also appeared as a special guest along side Eddie Reader and Robyn Hitchcock for the Kast Off Kinks performance at the Purcell Room. Sam is an innate musician. Her work as a piano/vocalist for some of London’s top hotels includes the newly opened Savoy and the Dorchester Hotel.

Fresh off the press, her album takes in a multitude of influences ranging from the Fleetwood Mac blues era to Kate Bush, and on to more contemporary artists like Eva Cassidy, Adele and Tori Amos. 

Influences: Carol King, Tori Amos, Kings of Leon, Snow Patrol, Kate Bush, Beverly Craven, Kate Walsh, Imogen Heap,

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Laveer, (vrb) - to beat against the wind.

“That’s what the dictionary says it means”, explains the band, “it's like we see ourselves as sailors, sailing into the wind and riding the waves against all adversity.... that or something like that. Would you like another biscuit?”

Laveer are four tea-spilling musicians who favour acoustic instruments and like playing songs together. Their music has been called, among other things, compelling and melodic. They like to play live and have recorded one album called “Fingermouth” (available cdbaby, amazon, itunes etc). They are working on some new recordings which will be available later in the year.

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Barry J McCormack is a musician based in Tunbridge Wells Kent England.The musical style is feel good with an upbeat tempo.He normally plays in a funky rock style with the rock band Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells however tonight he will make a rare performance playing solo. He normally composes all of his songs on the acoustic so tonight is the first chance to hear them just as they were composed. Barry was also the lead singer with the Fabulous Hoolie Moolies which were a popular band on the local circuit.He has been described as "vibrant charismatic and flamboyant character playing a pulsating funky rhythm with a bluesey tilt" With thought provoking and humorous lyrics and strong guitar emphasis his set will get your foot tapping. Barry has also played to great applause at the Cambridge folk festival supporting Joan Baez, Bert Jansch and Davey Graham. The last time he played the grey lady, they were literally dancing in the aisles!

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I am now 18 and about to finish school and I have been gigging for almost 4 years. I began writing songs when was just eight, but hopefully my songwriting has greatly improved since then! Generally I have a very acoustic sound as it’s just my voice and the piano; I like keeping things simple as I want my songs to be about the words and what I’m singing about. I can’t really say that one particular artist inspires me but I love listening to singers such as Eva Cassidy, Birdy and Ed Sheeran. When it comes to writing a song I don’t have a plan, normally a song will begin with me singing a random tune in the shower before running downstairs and finishing up on the piano.

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