Meet the musicians
Jon GommProjected into the media spotlight after a Tweeted "wow" from Stephen Fry prompted two million views of his extraordinary guitar playing on YouTube, tickets to Jon Gomm's gigs worldwide are selling quicker than his flying fingers. Even better, you can see him perform at this year's Worcester Music Festival for free. Yay! Here, we find out more about the hottest of hot things in guitardom...
Becky RoseWHILE Worcester singer and keyboard player Becky Rose epitomises elfin charm, her voice is anything but diddy.Influenced by musical theatre and one of just 40 artists from across the UK chosen for the BBC Introducing Musicians Masterclass, she blew audiences away at last year's WMF. Now heavily into recording her own electro-pop, what will she pull out of the bag at this year's festival?
Ian Passey of The Humdrum Express
AS The Humdrum Express, Ian Passey is a bespectacled observationist from Kidderminster, casting a cynical eye over exasperating times through unnervingly astute lyrics.He also wrote Worcester Woman (Foregate Me Not) for WMF 2009 as a homage to the city. One man, a few instruments and a thousand things to worry about...
Lewis Spelt BackwardsVINTAGE glamour, extreme fashion and nudity are all part and parcel of the Lewis Spelt Backwards show, so be prepared.Described as a white Grace Jones, Lewis has been performing locally for five years, smashing people's perceptions and gaining a loyal following of hardcore fans. Meet the the man behind the hotpants...
Liz Smith of DryftwoodLIZ Smith is resident girlie in Worcester folk fusion band Dryftwood, accompanied by Geoff Booth and Paul Danby on guitar, mandolin, ukele, harmonica, dulcimer and penny whistle.Rousing the Guildhall with their toe-tapping tunes at last year's Worcester Music Festival, Liz and the boys are now hoping to take this year's event by storm. Oh, and she's a mean belly dancer. Come meet her...
John Walters of Calm Like a Riot
ANYONE who's seen Calm Like a Riot will know John, the tigger-like, angst riddled rapper from south Worcester's 4th best indie and hip-hop band 2008.While he is the one shouting a lot upfront, John, brothers Dan and Pete on guitar and drummer Mick are very much a loving package, just ask their enthusiastic fans. In today's Meet the musicians, we find out what's troubling John...
Johnny ThunderWHILE he isn't a DC Comics character, our own Johnny Thunder might be considered a Worcester Music Festival superhero.As well as being one of our invaluable band promoters, he is an original Worcester singer-songwriter in his own right, his bag being pop and acoustic rock. Get to know him better in today's Meet the musicians...
Darren Clark of Columbus Giant
COLUMBUS Giant may not be local, but the infectious, acoustic folk pop outfit from New Zealand knocked the socks off audiences when they travelled up from their London base for WMF2011.Even better, they want to come back in 2012. A must-see. In today's Meet the Musicians, we catch up with singer and guitarist Darren Clark.
Autumn LilyAUTUMN Lily is a Worcester singer-songwriter influenced by Ellie Goulding, Tegan and Sara and Laura Marling, as well as rock bands such as Led Zeppelin and The Subways.In 2011, she was invited to take part in the BBC Masterclass at the famous Abbey Road studios. Find out why...
Rich ClarkeRICH is the frontman for Worcester band Rich Clarke and the Rafters, the Rafters being Dan Bramhall on drums and Luke Elliott on bass guitar.Influenced by a diverse range of artists and musicians, their forte is primarily acoustic tunes, producing exciting sounds.
Marie-Claire BerreenMARIE-Claire is a folk / country singer from Worcester, who has been performing in front of audiences since she was very young and is able to capture and convey heartfelt emotions and paint musical pictures with her melodies and lyrics.
Lea HaworthLEA is a acoustic folk rock singer and guitarist from Worcester, who made such an impression at WMF 2011, she was voted the act with the best audience reaction out of 350 bands.Her specialities include melodies about mountains, mythical beasts and copious amounts of rum, a songwriter with a vivid imagination...
Tina V of This Wicked TongueTINA V is lead singer and pianist for Worcestershire-based band This Wicked Tongue, which played at WMF 2011.As one critic described them: loud distorted guitars, awesome drumming, seismic riffs, hooks that penetrate your soul, songs that reel you in, never to escape.....and those vocals.
Steven Wattison of StuntdogSTEVE is lead singer and guitarist in Worcester-based pop / rock band Stuntdog, which played at WMF 2011.The five-piece band combines pop, punk and ska with a large dose of rock and a hint of psychedelia and prog. Think Pink Floyd meets David Bowie meets Talking Heads...
