Gitta de Ridder (NL)

• Discography: Come Find Me EP (2014), Feathers (2016) For Everything A Season (2018)

• Contact:

• Website: http://www.gittaderidder.com/

Anglo-Dutch singer and songwriter Gitta de Ridder sings things as they are. The simplicity of her songwriting leaving the space for her heart-filled vocals to purvey the words in their purest form. Inspired by modern folk artists such as Anais Mitchell and Iron & Wine she has been playing and releasing her songs since early 2015 which led to appearances on Dutch national TV and Radio and support from BBC introducing and several local stations in the UK.

An engaging lady who has the ability to mesmerise and draw an audience into the magical world of her songs. A world full of feeling, warmth, kindness, honesty, joy and sadness. Her folk-­pop songs with beautifully poetic but also conversational lyrics go straight to the heart and are performed on a bed of warm finger­-picked guitar topped by a voice full of character and emotion.

As well as a talented singer-songwriter Gitta also organises and promotes her great gig night 'Sound Of Songs', which is held on a quarterly basis both in London and Amsterdam

Feathers (2016)

For Everything A Season (2018)

Bryde (UK)

• Band Members: Sarah Howells

• Discography: Chocolate Factory Sessions EP (2015), EP1 (2016), EP2 (2016), Like An Island (2018)

• Contact:

• Website: http://www.brydemusic.com/

It would be far to say that without meeting Sarah almost five years ago, LCM probably would never have existed in it's current form. So we owe a great deal to Sarah and her music. It's also always a pleasure whenever Sarah joins us for one of our LCM gigs. It is a very exciting time for Sarah as she is about to release her highly anticipated solo debut album 'Like An Island' as Bryde.

Sarah was born in Pembrokeshire but is now London based. She was originally part of the excellent band Paper Aeroplanes but is now forging a solo career as a girl and an electric guitar playing fierce and fragile songs. Her music swaying from vulnerable to uncompromising within one verse and chorus. Bryde's music is honest and furiously authentic. Often compared to the likes of Daughter, Sharon Van Etten, Ben Howard & PJ Harvey, Sarah has such a distinctive vocal and the electric guitar sounds gives Bryde a different feel to her Paper Aeroplanes and EDM music.

Championed by blogs, her music so far has been described as “tender, wiry piece of tear-jerk alt-pop” (The Line of Best Fit ) and played by Huw Stephens on Radio 1, Tom Robinson on 6music, BBC Introducing in London and cited by various blogs as ‘One to Watch’.

Sarah will be releasing her debut solo album 'Like An Island' on the 13th April followed by a full UK tour including a London date at Omeara (London Bridge) on the 1st May. 

REVIEWS

“The song is a showcase of Bryde’s impressive vocal range, although her most exceptional vocal quality lies in her ashy timbre and seemingly uncalculated vibratos. It’s these perfect blemishes that imbue her music with a certain convincing vulnerability not normally present in singles from the usual pop titans.” (Earmilk)

“A female soloist gathering a lot of interest …. helping her stand-out among a great tide of very good female artists such a Lapsley.” (Never Enough Notes)

“It bends but does not break, with the insolent sorcery of Sharron Van Etten or PJ Harvey” (Les Inrocks)

Single of the week - “[Help Yourself] glides, soaring skyward through its powerful and emotive choruses, headstrong. It’s clearly cathartic, but not just aimless and explosive, it is instead guided and direct with a complete conviction in itself. A strong but raw vocal performance only enhances the earnest lyrical sentiment.” (Cultured Vultures)

“There is so much beauty in Sarah’s voice: the huskiness of Gemma Hayes, lightness of Laura Marling and sensitivity of Jeff Buckley — beauty that is hard to define, which is a big compliment.” (Fresh on the Net)

Like An Island (2018)

Katey Brooks (UK)

Discography: Proof of Life (2010), I Fought Lovers EP (2013), Revolute (2019)

Record Label: Independent

Contact:

Website:

Katey Brooks is a gorgeous singer-songwriter with a beautiful intense vocal. We are big fans of her music here at LCM, with her stunning song 'State of Mine' being one of our favourites. Born and raised in a commune setting between Bristol, London and Arizona, to hippy music-loving parents, Indie Award nominee Katey Brooks’ unique sound and style epitomizes the culturally diverse environment in which she grew up. Drawing influences from artists like Johnny Cash and Kate Bush, her voice is often compared to the likes of Joan Armatrading, and Annie Lennox, and has best been described as a voice “…to melt glaciers” (Venue Magazine).

Known for her powerful and evocative live sets, Katey has played a notable list of amazing shows including London 2012, Glastonbury Festival, WOMAD Festival, a BBC Introducing Stage headliner at Wychwood, several European Festivals, and supported a host of credible artists such as Newton Faulkner, Mercury nominee Lou Rhodes, Mike and The Mechanics, Grammy nominees Cutting Crew, and BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winner Chris Wood.

Besides her own works, Brooks’s “John Martyn-esque” (Manchester Evening News) lamenting tones have earned her features on BBC Radio 2 Children in Need album ‘Bandaged Together’, recorded at Abbey Road with artists such as Bill Wyman (Rolling Stones), Nick Mason (Pink Floyd), and Paloma Faith, as well as compilations with Ane Brun and Anais Mitchell.

Last year was fantastic with Katey being added to the Starbucks playlist worldwide and signing an endorsement deal with American guitar makers Alvarez, joining the ranks of Grammy Award winner Ani Difranco, and Joe Bonamassa. Her ‘Back to Light’ Tour in the Spring received rave reviews and write ups from Metro UK, R2: Rock ‘n’ Reel, Venue and Shakenstir Magazine.

After a summer of shows, festivals and a busy few months tucked away writing for the new album, Katey recently released a brand new EP; which has been highly praised by critics. The ‘I Fought Lovers EP’ is the follow up release to her debut album ‘Proof Of Life’ which reached No.1 in the Amazon Folk chart along with favourable press reviews and BBC Radio 1 and 6 airplay. The EP contain one of favourite songs from Katey the stunningly beautiful 'State of Mine'. The first single and title track from the EP has been featured on Dermot O’Leary’s BBC Radio 2 show, while two tracks were chosen for 6 Music’s Tom Robinson’s mixtape – – it’s haunting, ethereal sound being a great first taste of what’s to come off the second album in 2015. Katey released her debut album ‘Revolute’ in May 2019.

“Love this lady’s voice” (Joss Stone)

“Heartfelt English Gospel” (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music)

“We’d even compare it to the impact of Jeff Buckley” (Supajam)

“Blown away” (Clare Anderson Late Lounge Show (Jazz FM))

Blue Rose Code (UK)

Band Members: Ross Wilson

Discography: North Ten (2013) Julie EP (2013) Whitechapel EP (2013) Ballads Of Peckham Rye (2014) Live at SPOC (2015) Grateful EP (2015), Lo! The Bird Is On The Wing (2016), Live At The Convent (2016), The Waters Of Leith (2017) 

Contact:

Website: http://www.bluerosecode.com

One of our favourite Scottish singer-songwriters is the very excellent Edinburgh born Ross Wilson aka Blue Rose Code.  A wonderful writer of Caledonian Soul whose live performances are not to be missed. At the edge of contemporary alt-folk, Ross' music evokes a meeting of Van Morrison and a young John Martyn, both shipwrecked with a bunch of Motown records. His last album has just been released on vinyl (14th October), preceded by a double A-side single to promote the release, 'Chasing Sunlight/Rebecca'.

'...AND LO! THE BIRD IS ON THE WING' is the new album from Blue Rose Code. Previewed to a sold out theatre at 2016’s Celtic Connections, released on 4th March and supported by a UK and European tour. Recorded at Gran's House Studio in the Scottish Borders and written between the Shetland Isles and rural Dorset, '...AND LO! THE BIRD IS ON THE WING' features the finest Scottish Jazz and Folk musicians, Nashville Gospel singers, The McCrary Sisters, British music legend Danny Thompson and Hollywood A-lister, none other than Ewan McGregor.

Of the new record, Ross says, "It's an album for music fans and musicians, a challenging record. I'm passionate about that fusion of folk and jazz and where it intersects with songwriting. Working with these musicians has been a game-changer. I may have cut my throat because there's not really a single on here but, this is the album that I've written and it's just as I wished it to be."

In the space of only a short few years and two stellar albums Ross has gone from song-writing in the obscurity of an East London flat to being celebrated by the industry and fans alike as a legacy artist whose work stands alone. As BBC Radio 3 broadcaster Mary-Anne Kennedy said recently, “Blue Rose Code is one of those rare artists whose work makes you sit up and listen”.

The Ballads Of Peckham Rye, Blue Rose Code’s second record, was nominated for the prestigious Scottish Album Of The Year Awards in 2014 and featured a roll-call of remarkable talent, including Danny Thompson, Karine Polwart, John Wetton, Aidan O’Rourke and Kathryn Williams. 

'GRATEFUL', the first single from the new album was released at the end of 2015 and was playlisted on BBC Radio Scotland for a full five weeks. Truly remarkable for an act without the backing of a label or a heavy management deal. 

Further praise has come from the most unexpected of quarters in Hollywood A-lister, Ewan McGregor. Ewan explained, “My uncle Denis Lawson, (star of Local Hero) gave me a copy of The Ballads Of Peckham Rye, it’s beautiful and I can’t stop listening to it.”

Performing live he is stunning, and this reputation led Edith Bowman to personally ask Ross to perform on the launch show of BBC At The Quay with Texas and Stornoway. Edith described Ross’ performance with a nine-piece band, including guest Karine Polwart, as “truly special and beautiful”.

Lo...The Bird Is On The Wing (2016)

The Waters Of Leith (2017)

The Black Feathers (UK)

Band members: Ray Hughes & Sian Chandler

Discography: Strangers We Meet EP (2014), Soaked To The Bone (2015), Live At The Convent (2016), Holy Water EP (2017), The Ghosts Have Eaten Well EP (2018)

Contact

Website: https://theblackfeathers.com/

The Black Feathers are an award winning duo from Gloucestershire in England. The perfectly paired voices of Sian Chandler and Ray Hughes intertwine effortlessly to create a genre defying sound, combining elements of folk, roots, Americana, and southern rock. The duo have been touring all over the UK for the past 4 years, winning over new fans of all ages everywhere they go.

They married in 2012, which also marked the beginning of their musical adventure as The Black Feathers. They designed the band logo on honeymoon and the music soon followed. This close collaboration became the backbone of The Black Feathers’ sound. Whether playing to a 1,500 strong audience at the Colston Hall in Bristol, or to 80 crammed into the Green Note in London, The Black Feathers give an intimate performance that draws the listener in to a special, strong and unique bond between two people.

They have performed at festivals all over the country, including the prestigious Cambridge Folk Festival, Stroud Folk Festival, and Maverick. They were awarded the 5 Valleys Folk Award in September of 2013, and the Folkstock Arts Foundation award for Best Live Performance in February the following year.

In May of 2014, they embarked on a 7 week tour in the US, including shows at Club Passim, Caffe Lena, the Red Clay Theatre, and a sell out show at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville.

2014 also saw the release of 'Strangers We Meet', the duo's debut 5 track EP, garnering national airplay on BBC Radio2, as well as regional play across the country and warm reviews from the music press, including The Telegraph, fRoots Magazine, and Acoustic Magazine.

With a fantastic debut album 'Soaked To the Bone' released in 2015 and multiple tours of the USA, the future is looking very bright for Ray and Sian. Watch out for new music coming this year.

Strangers We Meet EP (2014)

Soaked To The Bone (2015)

Live At The Convent (2016)

Holy Water EP (2017)

The Ghosts Have Eaten Well EP (2018)

Emily Barker (UK)

Band members: Emily Baker

Bands and collaborations: Applewood Road, Vena Portae, Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo, Marry Waterson + Emily Barker.

Discography: Welcome To the-low-country (2003) The Dark Road (2004) Photos.Fires.Fables. (2006) Despite the Snow (2008) Almanac (2011) Dear River (2013) Vena Portae (2014) The Toerag Sessions (2015) Applewood Road (2016) Sweet Kind Of Blue (2017)

Contact:

Website: http://www.emilybarker.com/

Our next LCM featured multi-award winning singer-songwriter is often described as one of Australia's finest exports. She is also one of our favourites. This Western Australian native from Bridgetown, has now made her home in the UK. Emily travelled to the UK in 2002 and was first based in Cambridge where she collaborated with guitarist Rob Jackson. They formed a band called 'the-low-country' which released two albums, Welcome to the-low-country (2003) and The Dark Road (2004), tracks from which enjoyed plays on John Peel's BBC radio show.. In October 2005 Emily won Country Song of the Year and Regional Song of the Year awards at the annual West Australian Music Songwriting Awards. Also in 2005, Emily started work on her debut solo album, 'Photos.Fires.Fables'., released on Emily's own label Everyone Sang. The release of this album saw the birth of The Red Clay Halo, an all-female trio of Anna Jenkins (violin, viola), Jo Silverston (cello, bass, banjo, saw) and Gill Sandell (accordion, piano, flute, guitar).Emily released three full albums with The Red Clay Halo: 'Despite the Snow' (2008), 'Almanac' (2011) and 'Dear River' (2013).

Emily is also the songwriter and performer of the theme to BBC TV’s 'Wallander' starring Kenneth Branagh. Her music is a blend of roots influences from country to English folk via 60s pop. Alongside the Wallander theme, Emily has also provided the theme music to BBC TV drama 'The Shadow Line' (which won an Ivor Novello for best TV soundtrack for series composer Martin Phipps) and has recently (in collaboration again with Martin Phipps) composed music for Daniel Barber’s The Keeping Room (Sam Worthington, Brit Marling, Hailee Steinfeld) as well as her first feature length soundtrack, for Jake Gavin’s UK road movie Hector starring Peter Mullan.

Jimmy Aldridge & Sid Goldsmith (UK)

• Artist: Jimmy Aldridge & Sid Goldsmith

• Genre: Folk

• Location: ?

• Discography: Let The Wind Blow High and Low (2014) Night Hours (2016) Many A Thousand (2018)

• Record Label: Ear Trumpet Music / Fellside Records

• Website: http://www.jimmyandsidduo.com/

• Contact: jimmyandsid@gmail.com

• Agent: Alan Bearman Music  info.abm@btinternet.com

Jimmy Aldridge & Sid Goldsmith are one of the finest duos to have emerged onto the British folk and acoustic scene in recent years. Their combination of outstanding vocal work, sensitive instrumentation, and a powerful social conscience has brought them widespread critical acclaim.

The songs themselves are always given centre stage but they are brought to life with stunning musical arrangements and vocals. There is an integrity that shines through their performances and a common thread of political struggle, resistance, and justice.

Their critically acclaimed second album 'Night Hours' was released in December 2016 on Fellside Recordings. Described as 'exhilaratingly diverse and full of impeccably crafted songs', it has cemented the duo’s reputation as two of the most exciting musicians and social commentators on the scene.

Jimmy Aldridge and Sid Goldsmith have recorded their third album in the spring and will be performing at festivals throughout the summer (including Warwick, Ely, Fire in the Mountain, Bude and Chester). The new album is due to be launched at Kings Place, in London on September 6th.

"To be a great folk singer, you have to be a great storyteller, as Jimmy Aldridge and Sid Goldsmith are clearly aware. The duo are both fine singers and multi-instrumentalists." (The Guardian)

"Making common cause between antique songs and present circumstances is one of the grails of modern folk, one this young duo pull off impressively...Rousing stuff." (The Observer)