The Grey Lady Music Lounge, Wednesday 9th June 2010

Singersongwriter Bella Mckendree, formerly known as Annabel Durnford, has been writing and performing for 3 years. Bella’s musical style is acoustic and soulful. Bella’s influences are Jeff Buckley, Joni Mitchell, Einaudi, Cat Stevens, Elliott Smith, Joan Baez, Tracy Chapman, Alicia Keys and Bon Iver. Bella brings her experiences and memories into her songs. Her recent headline performance at The Grey Lady was described by Paul as ‘truly breathtaking’ Volunteering in East Africa 2 years ago provides Bella with much inspiration and energy to compose. Having been to Cardiff University to read music and dropped out Bella is now going to Brighton Institute of Modern Music.

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Tunbridge Wells-based singer/songwriter Markus Holler has been playing music since he was 10 years old. Having played in bands since the age of 14 in recent times Markus has performed solo. These days, however, he is gradually building a circle of musician friends and it is with these players that Markus performs more often. Playing guitar is Chris Gussman and playing drums is Andrew Morley. Influences include "Tom Petty, Dylan, The Allman Brothers, Drive By Truckers and about a million others". There is no shortage of inspiration as Markus spends his daytime dealing in - and listening to - rare vinyl records. Markus, Andrew and Chris have each played live and recorded for many years and hope to perform together much in future.

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Ollie gave his first public performance as a Cub Scout aged 8. The only way was up. Equally at home with piano or guitar he has been performing covers in his distinctive vocal style for a number of years. Having spent the last year or so writing his own material he is keen to get out there and try it out on the unsuspecting public. His music is influenced by artists such as John Mayer, Bruce Hornsby and Jason Mraz.

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Well I guess there are a fair number of strings to my bow; I have a PhD in English Literature, teach at Goldsmiths College in London, and, together with my husband, run Prospect Arts, a film production company that takes me

all over the world from Ethiopia to Thailand to Brazil. I also love doing pilates, cooking risotto, and sewing on Liberty patches. All these feed into my singing and songwriting, which are my absolute passion and joy. I have been singing for as long as I can remember, and writing songs has been a creative outlet for many experiences and emotions even though I am an ill-disciplined perfectionist constantly striving to improve. I find myself writing a lot about love and friendship, and about what it means to have hope. I am inspired by all types of music, but have a real soft spot for folksters like Joni Mitchell, Shawn Colvin, Brooke Waggoner, Gillian Welch, Lisa Hannigan, and Mindy Smith and gents like Bob Dylan, The Blue Nile, Foy Vance, Mumford and Sons, and Iain Archer. I often write and perform with my husband Tim, who is a true creative tour de force. We are sometimes joined by other friends, who graciously add their amazing musicianship to our sound.

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