The Grey Lady Music Lounge, Wednesday 12th September 2018

My name is James McMaster, I am a 36 year old singer, guitarist and songwriter. I started playing the guitar at 14 and started the obligatory school band. We played in the local pubs and a handful of people's parties, or wherever we got the chance to play. This love of playing live continued and is to this day where I feel most comfortable.

After a few years of writing, recording and gigging I eventually got a break with a small record label. Working with the guys at this label was the beginning of what would become Protocol. This band was picked up by Polydor and we began making a record in a small village called White Parish.

We achieved chart success with original material (Top 30) and our videos were number 1 on a few popular music channels.
I have played all types of gigs from weddings to Ibiza Rocks, V fest, live Radio 2 sessions, making videos, writing and recording. I have supported big artists and bands including A-ha, New Order, Hard Fi, James Morrison, The Bravery...

So right now I play in a few bands, I teach the guitar and still love writing. I have recently had a few tracks published by KPM and used on various TV programmes.

I love music whether it's writing in a studio or playing in a covers band. 

Thanks,
   James

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Emotive songstress, Jennifer Lee Ridley passionately uses influences of a Romantic folk nature to create poignant and touching music. She has studied in depth the poetic nature of song and has a strong affinity with writers such as William Shakespeare, John Keats and William Blake. More recently she has combined these influences with her own song-writing to create more modern fusions whilst carefully retaining the purity of the lyrical content. Her dark warm vocals combined with her individual folk sound mirrors the poetic lyrics which explore the many facets of emotions.

This has had a profound effect on her own songs which she continues to develop and enhance through working with other composers, musicians and writers locally and in London. She feels strongly that collaborating is an important part of growing and building an understanding of the nature and the impact of poetry and prose on music.

She is currently working on and arranging an album which she is hopes to bring out in 2014.

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At the age of 16 I was barely getting my head around Biology revision but super-talented singer-songwriter Niamh McSmith is already starting her assault on the music industry.

Her debut Alone Again is a plaintive yet ultimately uplifting guitar ballad about wooing back a lost lover. The video follows Niamh with tumbling pre-Raphaelite curls, denim jacket and Amy Winehouse-esque eyeliner, playing her guitar around the city and eventually befriending a hunky busker.

The sweet soundtrack to young romance, Alone Again has a chorus which will wedge firmly in your head… unlike all that stuff about enzymes and photosynthesis.Niamh has just signed to London’s Downtown Artists so expect more from her – in the meantime, Alone Again is a gorgeous introduction.

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Joe is the singer-songwriter behind popular local acts “Cyrano” and “The Ackerleys”. His style combines rich vocals, poignant lyrics, catchy melody and folk/rock acoustic guitar. At the end of 2012, Joe toured with Level 42 backing Dan Clews. This included playing to full house at the Royal Albert Hall! He has just finished an album with Cyrano which will be released this year. He is also busy working on The Ackerleys first record. His solo set includes some brand new material plus a few stripped down Cyrano songs. Influences include – Elbow, The Beatles, Dawes, Jeff Buckley, Rufus Wainwright, Scott Matthews, Pearl Jam, Crowded House and Radiohead.

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