The Grey Lady Music Lounge, Wednesday 17th March 2010

Originally formed in 1990, The Varlies are a renowned fully fledged 5 piece rock band based in Tunbridge Wells who have written and produced three outstanding albums to date with a fourth on the way and continue to perform extensively throughout the UK and abroad. However they have also made a name for themselves with their intimate acoustic shows whereby they perform without bass and drums. Members include John Whitehorn (vocal and guitar), Kevin Amos (guitar and vocals), Gillian Arthur (vocals), Steve Mealing (bass) and Paul May Drums. The strength of the band certainly lies within their ability to deliver an amazing live performance in any situation, whether it is the full band or in the acoustic guise. With outstanding musicianship and vocal quality, their dynamic and versatile pop/rock style has a distinct quality that appeals to a wide audience and variety of tastes.

Jenny Ridley found her passion for writing and composing at the age of thirteen as a way of expressing her internal emotions. Her music is a reflection of listening to influences from the mid sixties and seventies such as Joni Mitchell and Neil Young to more modern artists such as Sarah Mclachlan and Tori Amos. Her dark warm vocals combined with her individual folk sound help to reflect her poetic lyrics, which explore the unfathomable depths of the human soul. Jennifer has played in many of the venues locally and has recently been appointed to compose a backing track for a short film, which is to be entered into both national and international film festivals.

With no love for the traditional trappings and clichés that pollute the world of acoustic music, Mechanical Sunrise is a two-piece band from the Southeast who deliver a raw, uncompromising sound. Musically, their influences range from Nick Cave and early New Model Army to Israeli trance act Infected Mushroom. Lyrically inspired by everything from universal entropy to the works of avant-garde occult writer Grant Morrison, the duo deliver an acerbic, yet playful commentary on the counterfeit culture that pervades Britain in the 21st Century. Between them, bassist Craig Burton and guitarist Ed Hammond had burnt through a flurry of bands before forming their current project, including local goth-rock legends Purity of Decadence and Stable award winning indie band Zoë From London. However, it is with the Mechanical Sunrise that the two have at last found their voice -and with an almost fetish-like obsession with the apocalypse, the only thing burning this time will be the world as it prepares for the dawn of the Mechanical Sun.

Tom McHugh was born in Birmingham's Black Country. He had a Spanish guitar when he was seven - took it to a local luthier called Mr Cooper who showed him some finger picking. Tom's first two records were Abbey Road and the soundtrack to the Jungle book: " the Beatles took me away, and I thought Balloo was great but I didn't get why Mowgli left the jungle". Tom slowly changed his playing style from classic to other forms as he listened to more Beatles albums, Todd Rundgren and Little Feat.Tom plays once-a-month gigs in London from January to April and has recently been enlisted by the Sevenoaks band "Nathan Lee and Shrunken Heads". He cites Steve Howe, Albert Lee, Helen Durden and Marc Ribot as guitar heroes; and Morgan Taylor (creator of Gustafer Yellowgold), Bobby Long and Jonathan Richmann as singer-writer influences. "I've recently discovered Bob Dylan with Love and Theft and Donald Fagan is the guy I listen to every day".