I’ve always had a musical interest from an early age both listening and wanting to play, which lead me to learn how to play guitar at the age of 13 and formed a band as the lead singer. Stemming from there I have been a session musician and in a number of bands, ‘Drag City’ & ‘Baby Valentine’, touring around Britain. However I took a break to raise my son who is also a musician. More recently I’ve started performing again, playing around the acoustic and open mic circuit.
The Grey Lady Music Lounge, Sunday 6th March 2016
This is a past event.
Headline Act: Sean de Burca
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Sean de Burca is a percussive acoustic guitarist from Kent. By the time he had been playing guitar for just 7 years, he had already been named as one of the top 30 greatest acoustic guitarists under the age of 30 worldwide by Acoustic Guitar Magazine, alongside Ed Sheeran, Newton Faulkner and more. Sean has also been featured as Acoustic Magazine’s ‘Next Big Thing’. On his latest CD, Mechanism, an experimental album combining various playing styles and genres, Sean has also featured his bass guitar, drums and electric guitar playing alongside his original solo acoustic compositions.
“From harmonics to percussive slapping to agile fretboard dancing, this southpaw knows a thing or two about getting the most sound possible out of his guitar. On his three full-length releases on Bandcamp, the self-taught guitarist shows he isn’t afraid of taking risks.”
Acoustic Guitar Magazine 2014
Michael Wood
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Michael Wood is a singer, songwriter and an acoustic musician.
Michael grew up listening to the likes of the ‘The Who,’ ‘The Jam’ and everything 'mod' and began his own musical career as the second half of a band called ‘Mod Scene’ when he was just 16.
Michael went on to become the lead Singer/Guitarist in an Indie rock band known as ‘The Sessions.’ Michael penned a number of songs for the band and they recorded their own album-‘The Demise of Mike’ in 2011. The band played a UK tour in 2010, before going their separate ways in late 2011.
These days Michael is concentrating on his solo career and already has a solo album under his belt-‘Long Time Coming (2009)’. Michael has recently written his second album, which he will be recording later this summer.
Michael writes all of his own material and his style of music is Indie with a real emphasis on the Acoustic Guitar. Michael cites his own musical influences to be Ocean Colour Scene, The Smiths and Paul Weller.
Theresa Draper
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Martin Stenning (of The Floodgates)
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Soundwave - "You - a warm bluesy tune with enough scope to get you through any day of the week."
Backseat Mafia - "A simply great, uplifting and easy to listen to band."
Originally starting out as a folk duo at the beginning of 2013, The Floodgates is the brainchild of 17 year old singer/lead guitarist Martin Stenning, and bassist Tim Fullbrook. "We just dabbled with the idea of playing together. We started with YouTube cover videos of Mumford & Sons in the garden and...ran with it." A year on, their success has become much more than an idea. Now teamed with Alex Wane on percussion as well as session players Sander Priston and Eden Fish on keys, the band has begun a new sound entirely. Combining folk and blues, it’s easy to hear their influences – Mumford & Sons, Paolo Nutini and Tom Odell. But it’s far more intriguing to hear their own, fresh approach. While they have the blessing of youth on their side - only being 17 years old and still tackling their A Levels - there is also a maturity to their sound that fits together perfectly, making it clear these boys stand out of the herd.
A few hours busking in London caught them enough attention to be personally invited along to Heavyweight boxing champion, David Haye’s gym to play at an open day, and they haven’t looked back since. In just one year, they have gone from their YouTube videos to headlining shows around the country, releasing their debut EP 'God Knows', helming a vastly growing online presence and planning a small Summer 2015 Tour, showing that in the upcoming months; The Floodgates are one to watch.
New Single 'You' out now. Available to download on iTunes and stream on Spotify.
Paul Dunton & Guests is presented in association with Audio Sorcery. Brand design and background photograph by Sam Nesbitt.
Website by Depth of Focus Ltd. Other photos © Michael Houghton and respective owners.
The rest © 2009-2013 Paul Dunton.
Website by Depth of Focus Ltd. Other photos © Michael Houghton and respective owners.
The rest © 2009-2013 Paul Dunton.