The Grey Lady Music Lounge, Wednesday 7th December 2011

Sarah Tonin has undergone some changes over the past year with front man Chris Parris’ song writing becoming darker, heavier and more surreal than before, taking the listener to a realm of foreboding, intense emotion and unpredictability, that dives furiously into messages of love, loss, insanity, addictions and the confusion and wonders of life.
Marcus Chapman has now joined the band adding beautiful, classical jazz inspired piano and other sounds to bring out more depth and colour in the songs. The group goes on to star Jim Kerry on Drums and Josh Campbell on bass giving the music a stomping rhythm section while Steve Brook rocks out on electric guitar.

Recently Sarah Tonin has supported The Kinks, Dodgy and The Wilko Johnson Band and are now emerging as one of the most original sounding psychedelic rock outfits of the underground scene. Their long awaited, brand new album 'Spinning Chaos' will be released in the spring.

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When Colours Collide is a band with their own particular style of melodic pop.

Hannah has been singing since the age of five, in everything from charity concerts and theatrical shows to a pop group that toured the country for two years. She began song writing at the age of 15 but it wasn’t until she teamed up with song-writing partner Luke, after meeting in a previous band, that everything came together. Luke’s catchy, harmonic rhythms and ‘twinkle fingers’ are the perfect accompaniment to Hannah’s beautiful, melodic vocals. Add Paul, with his Satriani guitar roots and fantastic technique, into the mix and you’ve got a fascinating combination that everyone describes as really different. One thing’s for certain, their sound will get your feet tapping.

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Guy says "I have been playing the guitar for about six or seven years now. When I started I was taught by the incomparable Paul Cheese for a couple of years but otherwise am largely self taught. Last year I studied music at West Kent College for a while but I left because. Well, it's difficult to explain. It's a good department and I was learning. I guess there's just something about school that gets under my skin.

For years I have been plagued by the phrase 'bedroom guitarist' and it's frankly accurate. My experiences of playing live amount to a few jam nights, a couple of school gigs and I once busked on the steps of the Sacre Coeur. I made €16 but unfortunately in Paris that's just about enough for two pints of beer and not enough for a hostel bed . About the point when I quit school which was February of this year I started writing songs. Not millions of the things but I think there are a couple of pretty interesting ones amongst them.

I suppose one of the things that really accelerated my development as a musician was when someone introduced me to Grace by Jeff Buckley (also the rest of his catalogue). Since that point everything I have done musically has had at least a hint of Buckleyesque flavour to it if it isn't just a straight rip off. My earlier influences do shine through, though: Led Zeppelin, Steely Dan, Rodrigo y Gabriela, for example, as well as some things that I have discovered since then. I recently got hold of Getz Gilberto and a some of my songs have a distinctly Bossa Nova flavour.

Needless to say my aim at the moment is to get used to playing live, something which does rather terrify me, and to increase my profile. I'm also working on getting a band (or maybe two bands) together and doing some recording."

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With a song already on the charts, no less in the top 100 on itunes Finland and recent grand prize winner of MTV’s “Steal The Spotlight”, Melinda Ortner is well on her way in the music world. She has three recent song placements in the feature films, I Hate Valentine’s Day by Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding) and American Pie 7: Book Of Love, She’s written for Chevrolet, and recently licensed a song to Glen Ballard’s young new artist also working with Desmond Child and The Jonas Brothers.

In August, she opened for Joe Jonas, Miguel and Cobra Starship at the pre-VMA's House Of Blues. 

Melinda was chosen as one of 15 songwriters of the year for ASCAP’s Johnny Mercer Project. She got to perform at Kate Hudson’s Christmas Party last year and was voted “Best of Sundance Music” also performing at SXSW. She was invited to perform the ESPN Dinner Party and several film premieres. Melinda is in the middle of a 4 month Europe tour and debut album launch.

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