The Grey Lady Music Lounge, Wednesday 18th April 2012

Sounding like Fleet Foxes got into a jam session with Kasabian and Paul Weller, Burning Shapes formed playing acoustic sessions at parties around their home towns in Kent. Catching the attention of electronica producers Bombay Monkey whilst playing out under the acoustic-electronica guise Sound Sanctuary, the collaborations went on to produced a series of EPs before releasing the Dust LP in 2007 racking up critical acclaim from DJs like Nick Luscombe and Lynn Parsons and airtime on Xfm, BBC Radio and SkyTV. In the process of touring as Sound Sanctuary live drums were introduced to replace some of the sampled drum loops and the bands live sound began to evolve a whole new layer of energy. When the studio beckoned again the band decided a name change was in order to fit with the new sound they were going to lay down and Burning Shapes was born. In late 2010 the band returned to the live scene supporting Mumford & Sons and The Stranglers to 10,000 people at Triumph Live and have been gigging regularly around the south east since. Early preview tracks from the album have already been finding their way onto BBC Radio's Introducing programs and internet stations with one song picked up for the soundtrack to the £2m British feature film Lucid coming out next year. Their brand new single entitled ‘Silence Amplified’ is released on Monday 24th October and will be available through all good online digital retailers. www.burningshapes.com

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Ollie is an acoustic singer/songwriter from Tonbridge, Kent. After growing up playing in local alt-rock bands, he decided to go it alone in the summer of 2008, playing his first solo show at the Tunbridge Wells Forum in September 08. Since then he has played towns across Kent and showcases in London and Brighton too. He is also involved with the BBC Kent Introducing, having played a live session with Phil Harrison back in January of 09. Livi Middlemiss joined forces with Ollie earlier this year adding her distinct etheral tones to the live sound. Livi’s musical interest is focused around jazz, blues, reggae and soul with Bob Marley, Nina Simone and Aretha Franklin proving to be inspiring influences. Livi also has a wide interest in Folk/rock, Metal and progressive rock. Additional influences include artists such as Reuben and Frank Turner. Taking the simplistic arrangements of folk, mixing it with the direct lyrical style of alt-rock and throwing in some good ol' fashioned catchy melodies is what the music is all about!

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Zoe is a singer songwriter from Kent, currently studying English and Creative Writing at Reading University. She has been performing live for the past six years and has been writing her own material since the beginning of secondary school. In the past, Zoe has sung for Jazz Orchestras, choirs and musicals and continues to perform her solo sets in Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells. Influences include – Elbow, Tracy Chapman, Birdy, Fleetwood Mac and Sia. Zoe has also been performing while at University in music societies and local and live gigs and continues to compose her own material with a unique and affecting style.

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Giorgia Moran and Eleanor Mason (GEMM) met at secondary school in Rye. After a short while of being friends they learnt that they shared a passion for music, singing and guitar (which they were beginning to learn at the time) they had both been in the early processes of writing their own songs at the time, which they began to perform to each other for constructive criticism and harmonies.

The first song they ever performed together was after showing their music teacher Mr Chris McGeever, who then added it in last minute, to the school concert, which was on that very night.

Slowly, as their confidence was built up, and their style became more rounded, thanks to the support of their music teachers at school, friends and family, they began to gig more outside of school, around the local area: Rye, Hastings and then busking in Brighton. GEMM consists of two vocals, two guitars, all original material with harmonies, and have been described as "folk-pop".

Since the early days, they have been offered many gigs, varying from music concerts to performing at various art conventions. But have had to slow it down due to GCSE exams in their last year at school. Now that they are almost finished, they hope to start it up again, and create a larger fan-base and start gigging at different venues.

You can "like" GEMM on Facebook to hear about new recordings/gigs and other news. Both singers within the duo, also perform solo, which you can also find on facebook, by searching either of their names.

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