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The Grey Lady Music Lounge, Sunday 17th December 2017

Headline Act: The Ackerleys

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It is a year now since Cyrano’s Joe Ackerley teamed up with his sister Alice to form ‘The Ackerleys’ as a side line - turned major project!  Already they have a fast-growing repertoire of folk/pop tunes, some light and uplifting, some moody and soulful, but all featuring close harmony, strong chord structure and catchy melody.  Joe employs his prodigious song writing skills and his own rich baritone to complement and showcase Alice‘s striking voice.  Joe’s roots are in rock music as is well known to many of on the TW music scene, his deep seated influences an unusual mix of Pearl Jam/ Radiohead/ Elbow/Crowded House/Jeff Buckley. His sister Alice, just turned 17, provides a more contemporary vibe – Laura Marling, The Staves, Florence and the Machine, Emmy the Great, Marina & the Diamonds. The result is delightfully different - but judge for yourself. The dynamic duo has now added lead guitar and drums in the form of Steve McCormack, and Matt Wilson.

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Lucy Jarrett

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Lucy Jarrett is an accomplished and lauded singer-songwriter and recording artist, with five albums to her name.

Singing before she could talk and playing guitar by the age of 10, Lucy began her professional career in South West England in 1997 and was soon gigging her way around the UK and Europe’s Folk and Country Circuits.  Inspired by such heroes as Billy Holiday, Joni Mitchell, Bonnie Raitt, Paul McCartney, Jimi Hendrix, James Taylor, Dean Friedman, David Bowie, Paul Simon,  Elvis Costello, John Martyn, Suzanne Vega, Martin Simpson, Steeleye Span, and Alison Krauss to mention but a few.....

Lucy performs her original songs, as well as masterfully arranging traditional blues, soul, folk and any other genre of song that takes her fancy.  She performs a comprehensive and electric array of familiar and long-lost gems to engage, entertain and amuse any audience. 

Lucy has accompanied and opened for many well-known artists as diverse as The Stranglers, Julie Felix, Billie-Jo Spears, Sarah Jory, Scooter Lee and The Wurzels.  In addition to showcasing at many notable venues, Lucy has performed on network television and has been a featured artist on several major cruise liners. 

We’re excited to announce that Lucy’s second album of original songs is currently in production.

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Alex Van

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Alex van is an indie singer/songwriter with a passion for writing honest and melodic pop tunes. 

Growing up in Australia, at the age of 18 his first band ‘Noogie’ signed to Los Angeles based label Trauma Records, who had made their mark with ‘Tragic Kingdom’ by ‘No Doubt’ a few years earlier. Noogie toured and released albums in the USA and Australia, supporting acts including: Midnight Oil, Pink, Goo Goo Dolls, The Tea Party, and Garbage. 

Van has continued writing and performing on and off during his 10+ years in the UK. He called Leeds home for 8 years, before moving south in 2013, and after a period of writing songs never heard outside of his bedroom studio, he’s keen to get out and feel the buzz of playing live again.

Taking influence from a wide range of music, but being particularly inspired by artists such as: Elliott Smith; Crowded House; John Frusciante; Eels; Nirvana; Green Day; You Am I; The Vines; and Josh Rouse - Van’s aim is to, ‘connect with people, and inspire them the way music inspires me.’

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Jez Harley

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Jez Harley is a singer/songwriter who is a regular performer with both The Good Ship Band and Harley & Woods. Jez has achieved commercial and critical success as a songwriter with Scott English and as a singer/songwriter in the early 2000’s.

Jez wants to share some of the songs and sentiments that he feels are more appropriate for solo material - using just piano and voice, the work is delivered through stripped-back, intimate performances that aim to illuminate and contemplate life's most precious and delicate facets whilst inspiring the audience to respond to the material on an instinctive level.

 

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