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 ...