The Grey Lady Music Lounge, Sunday 2nd December 2012

One time solo singer/songwriter Charlie Rivers has witnessed a truly organic growth in his music which has slowly but surely taken on a full band sound, spurred on by Steve McCormack (guitar), Steve Bassett (bass) and Ash Rushman (drums). In the space of only 16 months, The Charlie Rivers Band has morphed from the 'hear-a-pin-drop' sounds of one man and his guitar, to an uncompromising full band musical experience. 2009 saw the guys play at the "Busking Cancer" launch event alongside "Madness," and attained duo slots at Hyde Park and Wireless festival. Last year the band launched their much anticipated debut album 'Tender Chaos,' playing a host of sell out shows both in the UK and abroad including a storming headline set at the the Local & Live Music festival. Their single "Crazy" received a great deal of local radio play and recent support sets have included Newton Faulkner, Matt Berry and Toploader. The band are currently working on their follow up album, having previewed some of their new material throughout the course of 2011, set for a release in early 2012.

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Ollie Collard is a singer and guitar player from Kent, combining the lyrical prowess of Frank Turner with the feverent drive of Bruce Springsteen. Much more than your average folk artist, Ollie proudly wears his influences on his sleeve, writing passionate songs to life, love and loss. After initially starting out solo, with just an acoustic guitar for company, Ollie now plays with percussion and backing vocals from Dan Potter & Livi Middlemiss, demonstrating a remarkable talent for the anthemic. From the epic melancholy of 'To Sleep', to the roaring singalong of 'Mary and Maria', expect tales of cheap whiskey and late nights to blow your hangover away.

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Chloe Martyn is a singer songwriter from Tunbridge Wells Girls Grammar School. She has been playing at the Grey Lady since April 2010, and plays various other gigs in the local area. Chloe has been writing music for over six years now, starting back when she was ten years old.  During the past couple of years she has written the majority of her songs. Playing at the Grey Lady for the first time that April encouraged and influenced her to work on new material.. She has now finished her first album, Avoiding Further Heartbreak, and has been to the recording studio to record a three-track EP, which features The Truth Is, Lost My Pride, and Avoiding Further Heartbreak.

Music has always and will always be a big part of Chloe’s life, as she says “I feel my love and passion for music is what has enthused me to write my own.  I hope that even if music isn’t my profession, that it will always be my hobby.” 

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Men from Uncle are Andy Butler and Mark Paul Perry, who came together as friends having both spent fifteen-odd years gigging the London and UK circuits through the late 80s and into the end of the 90s, Andy with indie pop band Positive Energy of Madness and Mark  with British Rock act State of Mind.

Crossing paths having headlined and played the likes of the Marquee, Astoria and many other reputable venues with their respective bands, and through their shared love of music and a friendship born out of their joint wish to live life to the full, the friends started jamming together, finding a mutual respect for musical tastes and enjoying the experience so much that they decided to pick up the live mantle after seeing their creative talents lie dormant for more than 10 years.

Having slipped into a songwriting partnership with absolute ease, the two friends put down more than six tracks and laid down respective demos for the track in a blistering six-week period, several of those songs being played for the first time at this live showing at the Grey Lady.

Influences are almost too broad and wide to mention, both having listened to and soaked up all types and styles of music in their lives, but no doubt what will come through are some heavy rock styles mixed with a pop sensibilty, as Men from Uncle say they are always striving to find that illusive golden tune that can only come from a place described as unknown. 

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