The Korgis are a British pop band known for their hit singles, ‘If I Had You’ in 1979, and “Everybody’s Got to Learn Sometime’ in 1980. The band’s original members were singer/guitarist/keyboardist Andy Davis and singer/bassist/guitarist James Warren, both former members of 1970’s group Stackridge.
The Korgis of today feature founder member, James Warren with John Baker, additional lead vocalist from 1992. Keyboard virtuoso Nigel Hart, Al Steele on guitar from The Korgis 90’s live band, backing vocalists Born to Win and studio ace Paul Smith on drums.
The Lost Trades
The Lost Trades are a vocal harmony trio with a cool Laurel Canyon vibe. Three Wiltshire based singer songwriters (Jamie R Hawkins, Phil Cooper and Tamsin Quin) were brought together by a mutual love of modern folk and roots music, and joined forces in late 2019 for a three part harmony, modern folk adventure. With a sound that is reminiscent of the California folk scene of the late 60s/early 70s, their vocal harmonies have been described as “flawless”, “spine tingling” and “magical”.
After a global pandemic cut short their first tour after just a single sold out gig, the band retreated to their songwriting rooms to work on their debut album, “The Bird, The Book & The Barrel”. The album was released in June 2021 and was well received, spending 8 months in the Official UK Folk Albums Chart. The follow up, “Petrichor” was released in March 2023, and immediately followed suit, entering the chart at #31. A live performance involves easy interchanging of instruments, with each of the three playing guitar, bass and percussion at different points. There’s always a fun intimacy to the show, with the three engaging in comfortable repartee with each other and the audience like a group of old friends.
Rachel Hill
Rachel Hill has made herself an artist to watch for 2023.
An incredible live performer, Rachel organised her debut house concert tour of England, performing her one woman show for three weeks before closing with a sold-out London show at The Camden Chapel. The tour teased Rachel’s upcoming debut album ‘Words Left Unsaid’, from which multiple singles have already been released. Several of the singles have already received airtime from BBC Introducing, and her charity single ‘White Rabbit’ raised £500 towards aid for Ukrainian children affected by the war. Rachel is excited to announce her first international tour, spanning Northern Germany, will take place this Autumn.
With her authentic and vulnerable lyricism Rachel’s songs come alive to create entrancing performances, especially with her mastery of live vocal looping. The clarity of tone within Rachel’s higher register, gleaned from years of training as a classical soprano, allow her melodies to dance around effortlessly in a way which has been repeatedly likened to birdsong. Authentic to her roots in choral and a cappella singing, Rachel’s carefully composed harmonic soundscapes set the backdrop for her soaring vocals; a bed upon which her lyrics build to captivate the listener. The overall result is a unique style that evokes the timeless vocals of artists such as Joni Mitchell and modern voices in current indie folk playlists like Dodie and Lizzie McAlpine.
