The Grey Lady Music Lounge, Wednesday 5th May 2010

Jo has been performing since she was 17 years old. Originally brought up in Tunbridge Wells and now living in Canterbury, east Kent, Jo Hook is an accomplished and well respected singer/songwriter, but also an witty and engaging entertainer. Jo’s songs are delicate, touching affairs. They are thumb sketches of personal feelings, desires and emotions, drawn on a sheet acoustic folk/soft rock.

Each song is beautifully crafted complemented by lyrics that could be easily stripped of their music and presented as poems in an anthology. Jo Hook makes the heartbreaking feelings induced by love and loss sound fresh as this morning’s coffee! Her sound ranges from quirky indie rock, base folk and country pop but the underlying consensus is that it is the true to melody and the songwriting nods to the past…but the content nods to the future.

threeforagirl are Immie, Ellie and C, a three piece band from Sevenoaks in Kent. They have been writing and performing together for over a year but have been best friends for all 18 years of their lives. The three girls write and perform acoustic/folk music, favouring close experimental harmonies and hauntingly beautiful instrumentals. Among their repertoire of instruments there are guitars, violins, pianos, drums, various eclectic percussion and occasionally a tambourine called John. They have currently left school, and are concentrating on their full time musical career, playing gigs around London and the South East, as well as promoting their debut album, 'Remember to Forget', of which 10% of the sales go to the African charity Neema Crafts (www.neemacrafts.com).

Threeforagirl has been featured locally on BBC Radio Kent and Sevenoaks Vine Magazine, as well as playing at various venues in London, such as the Regal Room in Hammersmith, The Troubadour in Earl's Court and The Grand Hall of the Cobden Club in Notting Hill. More locally, they have played at the Forum in Tunbridge Wells and The Stag Theatre in Sevenoaks. Recently highly talented singer Charley Bird recorded a version of 'Silverlight' (written by Immie) for her debut album, 'Alone'. (for more info please visit www.myspace.com/charleybirdmusic)

Threeforagirl has also had the opportunity to support established folk acts, such as Edwina Hayes, who recently supported Nanci Griffith on her UK tour. They have also been selected as one of the top 5 acts of 2009 to play in the 'Best of Unplugged' showcase at The High Barn in Essex in December, in which they pick the 5 best bands of the year from their acoustic events each month.

With influences such as modern day artists; Ben Folds, Anthony & The Johnsons, Burt Bacharach and composers such as Barber and Rachmaninov, Kent based singer-songwriter Paul Dunton offers something unique! Paul’s music is best described as a captivating fusion of popular contemporary and classical. He composes and performs both instrumental pieces and songs. He is due to provide the soundtrack for an upcoming international film release. For smaller intimate shows Paul (piano/vocals) performs with along side his quartet know as the ‘Crew’. The atmospheric and ethereal live sound features Cello, violins and Flute. Paul is due to release his third album at the beautiful King Charles Martyr Church near The Pantiles in Tunbridge Wells on Friday June 11th. That concert will see both Paul giving away a free signed copy of his new album entitled ‘Escapism; to all who come and paul will be performing alongside his ‘full’ crew known as The Paul Dunton Orchestra which comprises a line up of 10 violins, 5 cellos, Flute, Guitar, Percussion and vocalist Fiona Keeler.

‘Architect Effect’ are a four piece band based in Tonbridge, Kent. The boys are all in their last year of the 6th form at the Judd School and they are aged between 17 and 18. The band have been together for a year and have been experimenting with their genre, finding that despite doing several gigs at the forum they did not feel at home with the heavier rock sound of the venue. Recently the boys have turned their attention to playing acoustic music with a much more relaxed sound to it. Writing some new songs and also altering some of their old songs to fit the acoustic genre, the band now has a number of original songs and also a selection of covers under their belts.

‘Architect Effect’ are currently in the process of recording a few of their own songs, and hope to get CDs with their music made available to people in the local area. They are also playing as many gigs as they can to increase their experience. After finishing school for the last time in June, the boys hope to focus on recording and doing as many gigs as possible at venues like The Grey Lady so that their music is heard by a wide range of people across the area. The boys have hopes of doing a small tour of Britain later this summer.