Green Note and Blue Monday present… GIRLS TO THE FRONT # 6
A night celebrating women in music by bringing the finest crop of rising female music artists to the forefront. Back by popular demand MIRI and RoseRed bring you a fifth instalment of artists who are currently making waves in the London music scene. Expect an eclectic musical feast of alternative folk pop, Rootsy Americana, gilded harmonies, and pure rock-solid melodies to whet your appetite and stir your soul.
Featuring….
ZOE KONEZ
Dynamic indie-folk twosome Zoe Konez & drummer Will Connor create a wealth of sound with two instruments that many bands long to create with 5!
Zoe’s intimate lyrics are married with distinctive rhythmic guitar, experimental tapping, intricate finger picking and harmonic techniques, wonderfully accompanied by Will’s ‘telepathic tightness’ on drums / percussion.
They’ve taken their music throughout the UK, via numerous tours in Europe, to the sunny south east coast of Australia and back again.
“Wonderful singer, wonderful songwriter, wonderful guitarist” – Tom Robinson, BBC Radio 6 Music
“Ridiculously talented, Konez handles her guitar like she was born with it” – For Folk’s Sake
“Fabulous guitar work and intense, lyrical songs” – Acoustic Nations
MEGAN O’NEILL
Originally from Co. Kildare, Ireland Megan O’Neill is one of the UK’s most exciting Americana artists. A long-time musician and song-writer, Megan has previously lived in Nashville but now resides full time in London.
She released her debut EP ‘Coming Home’ in May 2015, reaching #1 in Irish country charts & was awarded ‘UK EP of the Year’ by public vote through W21Music. She has now released a second record (February 2017) with her new 6-piece band ‘Megan and the Common Threads’.
Megan has had her song ‘Don’t You’ featured on hit ABC TV Show Nashville, three slots at the O2 Arena London for C2C festival, a performance at JJ Abrams’ Oscar Wilde party in LA alongside Irish treasure Gavin James and Nashville Meets London Festival.
In February 2017, Megan was selected as one of the top 8 Americana songwriter’s in the UK and performed at the Americana Music Awards in London.
“Complex… with an old school country voice.” — The Irish Independent
“Seriously fresh mix of modern country and pop, with a fusion of distinctly Irish elements.” — Timeout Magazine London
JESS MORGAN
Jess Morgan is a songwriter’s songwriter. A cerebral storyteller – she takes her cue from roots music and contemporary and upfront British voices like Billy Bragg and storytellers from across the Atlantic like Shawn Colvin and Gretchen Peters.
In April 2017 Jess and her label released the album Edison Gloriette on Oxblood coloured vinyl. BBC Wales linchpin Adam Walton said on first play – “it’s a blinder.” The record was also well supported by the BBC Folk Show, BBC 6 Music.an folk music press: “Some of the most sublime tunes you are likely to hear in a long time. ****” – R2
As well as crafting songs, Jess has also made a name for herself for her hands-on approach to producing music – gaining momentum through limited edition releases, short runs and most recently her own DIY 7″ vinyl records. In a recent article The 405 called her “a true DIY artist in her element. Seriously, she does it all.”
EMMA MCGRATH
Emma McGrath is a 17 year old singer-songwriter heralding from Harpenden, North London. Writing her own material since the age of 12, Emma self released her first EP, The Judgement, in November 2014. This was followed up in December 2015 with the self released single Sit With Me, which caught the attention of key media including BBC Introducing who awarded it ‘Track Of The Week’ twice and Radio 2 where it received plays from both Dermot O’Leary and Bob Harris. Topping off a great 2015, Emma was awarded The PRS Foundation’s Lynsey de Paul prize.
Over the past 18 months Emma has been working hard building up a close network of writers who have helped to develop her craft and hone her sound. Recognising this The PRS Foundation recently awarded Emma a Women Make Music grant for the development and subsequent release of a mini album. She is now recording with several highly qualified and exciting producers including: Grammy Award winning Jimmy Hogarth, Brit School alumni Jackson and Rhiannon Mair. Scheduled for release early next year, the mini-album will be preceded by several singles, the first of which is slated for January.
ROSERED AND THE BUTTERFLIES
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.
MIRI
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.
