DAUGHTER

Some time ago I heard Daughter play live at the Troubadour Club off Earls Court - a location with a great back catalogue! Elinor, the singer and guitarist has a voice with a nice timbre - just enough to make the crowd stop yakking and listen to the melodic - and sometimes mournful songs that she writes. Supported by an additional guitarist, I think a keyboard would add some additional depth, but a pleasant  sound, all the same. Foot tapping stuff!

George Frakes

My husband heard George Frakes today and asked "Is that your Mumford and Sons?" As his two favourite singers are Paul Simon  and Bruce "Thank god you're not my Boss" Springsteen, I was staggered that M and Sons had actually made an impact on him. George plays an acoustic guitar with the skill of John Butler, with a faint supporting keyboard that I would have liked to hear more of as it added some depth. Is he going to Cambridge Folk Festival, I wonder? He would go down well.

Iron Maiden

You're quite right - not an unsigned band - I just couldn't resist the name drop! Front row seats at the O2 Arena to see what my daughter called a 'dad's band'. They were just as good as you would want them to be, with lots of running round the stage by Bruce, in between belting out some of their standard hits. I wondered why the poor drummer was almost hidden by the staging, but it didn't stop him making some great noise! Sign of the times - the audience were wearing more studs than the band! A record of the tour is due out any day now. Amazon here I come ...

tinlin

If you like folk you will enjoy these two brothers - they sing some great original songs, with memorable lyrics. In particular I like " I don't know where she's been/ I just want to know your sheets are clean" Ain't that the truth! They had an album launch not that long ago, and it has been a regular in cd player ever since. Apart from the singing, they have a novel sound created by an electric mandolin. On stage they also have support from the virtuoso drummer Jack Carrack, who adds depth with his gentle, precision drumming. On tour at the moment, so try and catch them if you can. A duet sound as good as Simon and Garfunkle. One voice clear and the other with a lilting timbre combining to produce sing-along harmonies.

straight circle

I caught these guys some weeks ago at Kings Cross getting their first disc out to the adoring public. Their music is not something to dance to - more to absorb, and enjoy three guys making some tricky time changes that would catch lesser musicians out. Made up of lead guitar, bass guitar and virtuoso drumming, they are a band to look out for if you want to see guys honing their musical skills. That drummer is so cute!!

ahab

If you like country music, you will enjoy the sounds made by ahab - three guys that write, sing and play guitars from the Chichester area. They played recently at the Chichester Inn, and the crowd enjoyed the easy-listening songs. They were joined for the night by a drummer that added depth to the sound - borrowed for the evening from a famous female country singer.