Holloway Arts Festival

SCARLETT IN THE WILDERNESS are an Oxford/London based Burlesque-tinged Gypsy Folk band, playing an innovative amalgamation of folk, flamenco, ska and blues, with heavy Eastern European, Balkan and Klezmer influences...and rather divine corsetry. They tell tales of decadence and deviance, from murderous tangos to merry sea shanties. And there'll be dancing...Oooooh there'll be dancing!....

The band began in May 2009 when old school friends and current university students Flora Curzon, 21, and Hannah Murphy, 21, met Joel Phillimore, 20, also a student. Classically-trained virtuoso violinist Flora from London, and accordionist, flautist and singer Hannah Murphy from Oxford worked on mixing their interest in Eastern European and Balkan music with the English and Irish folk traditions which singer-songwriter Joel Phillimore brought to the band. The trio were soon joined by Xander Wright, 19, on all things percussive, double-bassist Nicholas Pitt, 23 and klezmer saxophonist Jack Durtnall, 22. With two and three part vocal harmonies breaking down into a full-on whirling carnivalesque circus, this youthful six-piece collective offset poignant moments with instances of stomping gypsy madness.

Scarlett in the Wilderness have gone from strength to strength in the past year, releasing their first E.P., Edible but Suspicious in March 2010, which won the May 2010 Demo of the Month in Nightshift Magazine, Oxford's leading music magazine. They have played at festivals such as the Oxford Folk Festival, Arcane Festival and Alchemy Festival and have shared stages with the likes of 3 Daft Monkeys, The Rosie Taylor Project, and Piotr Jordan. For more information visit www.myspace.com/scarlettinthewilderness.

MOBIUS LOOP is a band of brothers on a mission to link all. It is a representation and symbol for 'UNITY'. A 5 Piece Band playing an inspiring genre of “Acoustic / Blues / Funk / Reggae" Music. For all peoples, all steeples, all ears. Born in ‘Preston’, now a city in the NW of England, and have recently ventured down south and beyond to expose their music further afield. The loop are now full time musicians, playing music from the heart and pushing the message of peace, love and equality. "We seek only to express what we feel, We love to inspire creativity in others. We feel we have a contribution to make towards mankind’s visions and ideals. We want recognition without adoration. We want idolisation for the sake of positive intent. We want people to understand that inclusive is far greater than exclusive. Most importantly for Mobius Loop we want to progress musically and harmoniously because that is what has brought the five of us together before any direction or purpose was proposed. We want to compromise and collaborate, contend and confuse. We seek an element of mystery for we too have disguises. Peace, Love & Unity" For more information visit www.myspace.com/mobiusloopmusic

A highly creative and energy filled troupe of musicians and performers that will take you on a journey through all the above and below the heaven and the hell.

Spanner Jazz Punks inject quality madness into an entertainment machine, merging genres and disciplines including music, dance, theatrics, and film.

Whilst on tour with French circus Archaos, Dan created the Spannerman Performance Band, combining circus performance with a high level of musicianship.

Later, having established the Dan Spanner Big Band, Dan began to collect a troupe of ne'er-do-wells who could reinvent the spirit of anarchic circus, whilst exploring a variety of musical genres.

The result is Spanner Jazz Punks, who emerged in 2007 with all the ecclecto-manic attachments.

For more information visit http://www.myspace.com/spannerjazzpunks

NEWRISING are an energetic 3-piece acoustic band based in Guildford, Surrey. Their unique sound is a vibrant blend of blues/folk/reggae with a Latino twist. Acclaimed guitarist Jay Carter formed the band in 2008 and provides not only the creative drive by writing the band’s material but also a powerful lead vocal. On Cajon and backing vocals is Adam Knight who has been playing alongside Jay in various bands over the past decade. Two became three in 2009 when Tom Weymouth completed the line up on bass guitar and backing vocals. Rich vocal harmonies and vibrant acoustic guitar mix with the grinding rhythms of the Cajon and ride on melodic bass lines. This coupled with relentlessly passionate performances make Newrising an entertaining and energetic live experience that never fails to leave an audience uplifted. Newrising have already created a buzz across the southeast and Greater London area and have frequently featured on radio stations like BBC 6 Music, BBC Southern Counties, Eagle and Delta. Their debut album ‘Awake From Slumber’ has proved popular and they plan to return to the recording studio again soon. They have appeared alongside such talent as Newton Faulkner, Martin Harley, Mungo Jerry and Geno Washington. Previous gigs include headlining Guilfest, Acoustic Stage, Halfmoon in Putney, Oxjam Festival Guildford, as well as appearances at the Summer Westival, Weyfest, the OOTO Festival, Bush Hall, the Kingston Green Fair, the Bedford Bandstand, the Wedgewood Rooms in Portsmouth and many more. Gigs planned for 2010 will showcase Newrising to a much wider audience. They have a southwest tour in April as well as numerous festival appearances including a welcome return to Guilfest on their home patch. NEWRISING can perform up to 2 hours of original material. For all enquiries, please contact James Dorset at ET Artists on 07590 531041 or email [email protected] For more information, visit www.myspace.com/newrisinguk

Born of a meeting of minds and influences, Sarah Tonin is the creation of Chris Parris and Phil Wakeman, whose songwriting dynamic fuses majestic guitar lines with catchy pop sensibilities to form a delectable psych-folk bubble. It is the collaboration of the two frontmen’s introspective musings that is paramount in crafting the intricate sound and compelling lyrics of the band.

Sarah Tonin goes on to star the talents of Matt Bennie (Drums), Becky Nock (Keys) and Joe Cox (Bass), in a shared pursuit of beauty in melody. All bands members interweave their voices to provide Sarah Tonin’s trademark soaring harmonies, by turns twisted and uplifting. The Tonin paint expansive dreamscapes reminiscent of The Flaming Lips, Fleet Foxes, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Love and The Beatles.

The band have enjoyed gigging in London and featuring at festivals this year and 2010 promises more of the same, with the addition of live recordings of new material, in particular an upcoming EP.

Recent accolades include reaching the semi-finals in Emergenza, a Europe-wide search for hot new bands, and reaching the finals in Top Of The Tin, a competition that pits the best and brightest acts in Kent against each other. Sarah Tonin have also opened for The Kinks and headlined at the Grey Lady, The Trinity Arts Centre and The Forum, the three top spots for music in Tunbridge Wells. For more information visit www.myspace.com/sarahtoninuk

"I am a singer songwriter londoner with a bit of italian, japanese, french and a versatile quirky voice

I sing, play the piano write songs, record ,program bits and arrange. i like to produce and love to perform. I've done over 400 live shows (both acoustic and electric)and have collaborated on other artists albums too/ Sony Italy)

I started my musical career in Italy in 1998 , formed a band called SUNGIFT. Between 1998 and 2005 I performed over 300 gigs step by step from little clubs to supporting act for artists such as JEFF BECK',ANI DIFRANCO, BOB GELDOF, GARY MOORE, DEEP PURPLE, STEVE LUKATHER , LARRY CARLTON, VASCO ROSSI, JETHRO TULL, JOHN TRUDELL ..

I have received a few prizes; "Jury Special Prize" at "Voices of Freedom – A Song for Amnesty" "Best Female Singer" Prize at "Meeting of Independent Recording Companies" in Italy I have now moved to the UK the ultimate home of music.

Since then I have been writing and performing my music in the London music circuit, getting myself heard and seen in venues such as Borderline,The barfly, Boogaloo,The Union Chapel,The Green Note,The Monkey chews,Buffalo Bar and lots of other pubs trying to build up a fan base."

For more information go to www.myspace.com/kumikazemusic

Judges:

Harry Leckstein

Harry Leckstein is the managing director of Freeport Records and the founder of the acclaimed London Urban Collective / British Urban Collective youth music project. He is also lecturer in Music Business at City University, London.

Chris MacMeikan

Director / Music Programmer Chris MacMeikan has been with Continental Drifts since 1996 and specialises in the music side of the company. Chris has programmed stages at hundreds of events including Glastonbury, Rise festival, Lovebox and Bestival. Chris works alongside the Arts council to produce the Global local project, bringing culturally diverse arts to Local authority events.

Neil Parnell

Dj/Remixer/Producer Tronik Youth (A.K.A Neil Parnell) is currently a force to be reckoned with. Three acclaimed singles on Back-Yard (Home of Gossip, Chromeo & Ali Love) and recent remix work with Simian Mobile Disco, Rex the Dog, Shinchi Osawa, and The Filthy Dukes, has only cemented his position as one of 2010’s hottest acts. With a New E.P ‘Past Life’ out now and album imminent, he is currently in the studio working on a new side project with Rex The Dog.

Victor Redwood-Sawyerr

Victor Redwood-Sawyerr, better known as VRS is a British musician, songwriter and producer. As a songwriter and producer he works mainly within the Soul, R&B and Hip Hop genres. As a classically trained pianist and percussionist, he started his formative years as a principle percussionist for the London Schools Symphony Orchestra, Concert Orchestra, Symphonic Band and concert band as well as percussionist for west end musical King.