Green Note and Blue Monday present GIRLS TO THE FRONT.
A night celebrating women in music by bringing the finest crop of rising female music artists to the forefront. Back by popular demand and after three sold-out evenings, MIRI and RoseRed bring you a fourth installment of artists who are currently making waves in the London music scene. Expect a eclectic musical feast of alternative folk, acoustic soul and Frantic Art-Pop to whet your appetite and stir your soul.
Featuring….
Hot on the heels of their last release, London art-pop three-piece Playing House return with their brand new EP, ‘Jocelyn’, released on Soft Belly Records on April 7th.
Frantic Art-Pop
“A potent introduction, sonically and graphically” – The 405
“Perfect pop nugget…concise, fragrant and deliciously endearing” – Clash Magazine
“Alt-pop trio subvert the bubblegum tendencies” – Louder Than War
“Introducing my new favourite band” – Tom Robinson, BBC Introducing
“British alt-pop with twitching fragility and freneticism” – Northern Transmissions (CAN)
“Playing House deliver a perfect pop package” – 17 Seconds
“Playful, intelligent new wave with barely a throw away line” – Peanut Butter Jelly
From a young age, Danni Nicholls was soaking up American folk, country and rock n roll music from her Grandmother’s record collection in her small home town of Bedford, UK. When she inherited her Uncle Heathcliff’s 1963 Burns London Shortscale Jazz guitar (rumoured to have belonged to Billy Fury!) aged 16, all those influences came pouring back out in the form of her own original material and has been flowing ever since.
Danni met bassist/producer Chris Donohue (The Civil Wars, Elvis Costello, Robert Plant) in London in 2011 through a mutual friend whilst Chris was in the UK playing bass with Emmylou Harris as one of her Red Dirt Boys. The pair have now made two critically acclaimed albums together with some of Nashville’s finest musicians featuring on the tracks.
Debut ‘A Little Redemption’ was released July 2013 and Americana Music Association ‘UK Album of the Year’ nominated ‘Mockingbird Lane’ was self-released in October 2015. Credits on the albums include the legendary Al Perkins on Dobro (Bob Dylan, Gram Parsons, The Rolling Stones) Steve Fishell on Pedal Steel (Willie Nelson, Linda Ronstadt) and Will Kimbrough (Jimmy Buffett, John Prine)
“My time in Music City working with these great, great musicians was a hugely inspirational and surreal experience. It forced me to raise my game and push my boundaries. I’ve come away with
two albums which I’m immensely proud of”
Armed with her trusty, ‘weathered and worn’ Tanglewood parlour guitar, Danni has been touring relentlessly far and wide, honing her craft and wooing audiences. A vibrant, spell-binding performer, she has been invited to support many artists such as Sturgill Simpson, Shakin’ Stevens, Todd Snider, Jolie Holland, Kim Richey, Jim Lauderdale, Angus and Julia Stone, Bobby Bare Jr, Mark Olsen, Nell Bryden, Tift Merrit and Diana Jones.
With performances guaranteed to melt your heart into the soles of your cowboy boots, her passionate delivery, captivating velvet voice and charmingly engaging between-song banter compel you to fall under her spell.
I absolutely love the beauty and elegance of her music – Bob Harris, BBC Radio 2! Smoky soul, folk-pop and heart-wrenching alt-country, all in a rich voice – Q Magazine! Sumptuous…a warm wry line in confessional songwriting – UNCUT! One in a million… – Maverick Music Magazine
Lucas & King write songs of simplicity and depth that pull influence from classic genres of music, from Country to 60’s Pop. They create a freshness and relevance to familiar sounds.
They champion ‘The song’ above all which you can hear in the melodic intricacies and the Honesty of the lyrics.
No frills; Unassuming, subtle and sincere.
Prepare to be challenged and positively moved as you experience the infectious creativity of Sherika Sherard. With a voice like velvet to deliver her positive outlook on life, this Singer-Songwriter never fails to warm and the hearts of Listeners.
Last year British Soul Singer Seal surprised Sherika with a visit while she was busking on the Southbank, they performed two duets and Seal went on to invite her to open for 2 of his shows on his worldwide tour. This year Sherika’s music was also chosen by Spike Lee himself to feature on his spin-off Netflix Series of “She’s Gotta Have it” to be released at the end of the year.
Sherika Sherard is a clear example of how the music industry has changed, with a strong connection to her fans and regularly performing and interacting with new ones, she has become a personality people can relate to and want to support.
Sherika says “People say I remind them of Tracy Chapman but I feel that’s mainly for obvious reasons…” She laughs, ” I’ve always loved Marvin Gaye, the way he sings while really connecting with every lyric AND reflecting on the current times in some of his songs… like Nina Simone (another influence) said, it is your duty as an Artist”
Sherika is definitely an artist to keep your eye on, known for her charming stage presence she never fails to capture her audience.
RoseRed And The Butterflies, aka Lydia Nicolaides is a prolific singer/songwriter from north London Enfield. She pens catchy lyrics and silver-tongued melodies that tell stories in a refreshing and original way. With a mixture of realism, fun, quirkiness and sadness, RoseRed’s music can move effortlessly from lightness into dark, and her style crosses a variety of genres, from Folk to Rock; from Country to Reggae. ‘Imagine Mary Poppins on acid’ playing the guitar and dancing like a pixie.
RoseRed released her eagerly awaited debut album ‘Just A Glimmer’ in 2010 an album which she wrote, recorded, produced and funded herself, in-between several years of playing the London gig circuit and which got voted and won the Fatea Magazine debut album of the year 2010 Award.
She has had two of her songs feature in two British Independent Films ‘Jesus Versus The Messiah’ and ‘Chinese Burns’. She has just released her second album New Age Drifter.
Described as the love child of Sting and Edith Piaf, British singer-songwriter MIRI blends heart and grit, distilled through a smooth, melodic pop filter.
MIRI’s latest release Sound Vibrations is her third EP, blending distinctive soft, smoky and gritty tones with thought provoking heartfelt lyrics; pop songs that speak fluent indie. ‘Electric Vibes’ has received BBC 6 Radio airplay with Tom Robinson and on Radio DIVA with Heather Peace & Rosie Wilby whilst ‘The Plight’ was played by John Kennedy on Radio X.
Three of MIRI’s songs are featured in the film “Fear Of Water” which screened at the International Women’s Film Festival in LA and has been broadcast on TV in the UK. Her track ‘Broken City’ taken from the film received radio airplay on BBC London.
MIRI co-promotes and co-hosts monthly live music night “Blue Monday” at The Boogaloo in London now in its 7th year and collaborating with award winning music venue Green Note on sold out female artist focused events called “Girls To The Front”.
Performing regularly around the UK & Europe MIRI has gained a reputation for her eclectic gigs and stage presence. Past live shows include 100 Club for The Official Bob Marley Birthday Celebration, Safe Gigs For Women at The Tooting Tram & Social, Bush Hall supporting Laura Veirs and upstairs at Ronnie Scott’s. Her European travels have led her to perform at L Fest Del Mar in Spain, Sofar Sounds in Amsterdam as well as Berlin, Ireland and Bergen.
Behind the scenes, MIRI works with the charity School Ground Sounds which provide additional opportunities for young people to enhance their musical education. She has been a guest mentor for Wired4Music’s drop in for young people aspiring to have a career in music and is on the FAC’s (Featured Artist Coalition) BEAT Board.
