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Page last updated | obsUnplugged - showcase for singers and acoustic acts 2012This page is part of the music section obsUnplugged was a series of gigs intended to showcase singers and acoustic artists from the Leicester area and further afield. The programme was held at the Musician Pub in January 2012We attended most of the shows and our reviews appear below (scroll down to see more). Summary of gig dates Reviews published Click on the date you want to read about or scroll down to browse through all reviews Tues 3rd Jan 7.15 - 11pm Details of the line up Kismet Hardy
Report by Kevin Gaughan It was cold and wintry outside but I was warm and snug inside the Musician. The venue was busy with candle-lit tables providing a perfect intimate atmosphere for an evening of quality acoustic acts. The obsUnplugged is a series of showcases run at The Musician, for the venue during the first two weeks in January. Its main aims are for the team to make considered selections for the Musician Stage at Summer Sundae. It also serves as a platform for other Festival and key support opportunities as well as well as media and management interest. Last years event secured 12 slots for the acts involved. Martha Bean, The Daydream Club, Martin Luke Brown, The Austin Francis Connection amongst others.
Mark Elliott, who had the unenviable task of starting the night's proceedings was up first. Mark's sense of humour was evident and endearing has he launched into his original material. His voice was mellow and smooth, always tuneful, with no problems in hitting the notes, with little effort, seeming quite natural. He seemed at ease with his guitar and was a pleasure to listen to. His sense of humour and confidence had no problems in encouraging the audience to participate at times.  Kismet Hardy photo © Kevin Gaughan Next up Kismet Hardy, a contemporary folk quartet from Kettering. Seeming a little cramped on the stage, they presented their original Folk songs. Kate Beresford on lead vocals and flute, lacked a little confidence which, unfortunately, showed up through her singing voice. However, there was no doubting her mastery of the flute which was featured in a number of their songs. The flute provided a welcome Celtic feel to the music and was a very welcome addition to the evenings proceedings.
The Velcro Teddybears, a four-piece from Sheffield. These guys looked a little different and sounded a little different. The music was, well, definitely their own style. Quite rapidly tempoed with plenty of jangly guitars and down to earth songs written about every day observations and situations. Chaddy, on vocals, had a distinctive, quietly gravelly voice which took me about a minute or so of the first song to properly focus in on. Once focused, I loved it. Adding oodles of character and atmosphere to the songs, it had an addictive quality that I just couldn't help but get drawn into. Most of the songs had a cheery, toe-tapping quality that was hard to resist. Like other artists tonight, Chaddy introduced each song with some background information which added depth as it provided meaning and context to the lyrics.
Following on from the Velcro Teddybears was the youngest musician of the night - Andessa Martin. At the delicate age of 15 and coming from Leicester, she perched on her chair with her guitar, but apparently, had lost her lucky plectrum earlier in the day. A dainty little thing, she didn't seem to have any confidence problems. Andessa put in a good performance and showed plenty of promise. She could develop into a promising solo artist but she was overshadowed by some of the more experienced acts performing tonight.  Michael Vickers photo © Kevin Gaughan Next on stage was Michael Vickers, following on with his 'clip on pickup' and silly, but warm, hat. The pickup provided a unique sound to Michael's guitar making the sound more compressed and like a ukulele. Again, Michael took the opportunity to tell us a little bit about his songs which gave them context and, for me, enhanced the listening experience. His humour was good and he was a pleasure to listen to.  Benn Hartmann photo © Kevin Gaughan Hot on the heels of Michael was Ben Hartmann. Again, seems like a nice chap with a great sense of humour, in a similar style to Michael but with a less individual sounding guitar. Ben played mostly his own material with a couple of covers. Which were good to listen to but as it was in a similar style to the previous artists I felt myself wanting to listen to something different. Although there's no doubting the skill and song-writing ability of Ben.
Trevor Locke writes: Normally a full electric band, Hinckley's Resin, performed tonight as a four piece acoustic group. The vocals from lead singer James Botha and guitarist Mark Roseby were well blended. This a Group of well experienced and skilled musicians who are every bit as good at their acoustic work as they are when playing with their drummer in a full electric set. The performance was laden with style and character and they delivered a superb set of original songs and covers, including Michael Jackson's Billy Jean, to which they brought their own inimitable style. A pleasing end to a really good evening of musical talent. Chris Armson Trevor Locke reports: 
Chris Armson is a well known singer and I have seen him perform many, many times before. Armed with his 'travel guitar' (a smaller instrument than most) he performed a series of his own songs and some well known covers. Delivered with a humour and professionalism, he rolled off his set of folk, blues and americana numbers with considerable aplomb. 
Mary Anne Ratcliffe delighted the audience with her beautiful singing, clear and colourful, delivering a set of highly listenable songs. With a finely tuned voice capable of delicacy and passion, the room became hushed and appreciative for her performance. A superb display of vocal ability and song writing skills, her set was as impressive as it was enthralling. Rose Island Republic was a duo tonight. I seem to remember that they are or have once been a band but on stage tonight we saw a female lead singer, Leigh Hayward and Adam King - Guitar - who joined in with some of the vocals. They delivered original songs and some covers. When they sang together the vocal layer was more listenable than when the lead singer sang on her own. Personally, I didn't warm to the lead vocals but the harmonisation from both of them was very acceptable, when it happened. Their stage presence was lack lustre but other than that it was o.k. Izzy Marie Hill is 16 and some of her youthfulness displays in her voice and performance. She sang her own songs and the quality of her writing was outstanding. Her voice will hopefully mature but a bit of vocal coaching would not go amiss. Her songs were well articulated and guitar accompaniment comfortable (as opposed to adventurous.) She is most probably at the start of a promising career. 
Prash Gor is another singer I have seen several times before. He told the audience that he had "started writing six months ago" and confessed to being very nervous on stage. When he relaxes, he puts on some stunning displays of vocal ability. Tonight, he concentrated on showing what he could do as a songwriter and although a little tentative on stage, he sang well and displayed some pretty fine guitar playing, doing a lot of 'picking' on the strings, rather than just strumming. His set of vibrant songs was enthusiastically received by the audience. 
A name I had heard of, but can't remember seeing before, was that of Theo Miller. His act was outstanding. I particularly enjoyed his song Majority, about a young girl having a night out in Leicester. His performance was impressive: relaxed, confident, stylish and quite different in the way he delivered the words, not rushing but in a measured way, that really suited the kind of things he was singing about. He ably caught the mood and atmosphere of his songs, you could heard every word and the lyric writing was of a high standard. It was a lo-fi collection of songs but very listenable and his guitaring was very pleasing. A singer-songwriter of high quality. The night was not all about young artists. Andrew Buckley showed what the mature generation could do with a strongly delivered and humour-filled set of story-like songs that went down well with the audience. A seasoned performer, he held people's attention with his well articulated singing and relaxed and confident stage manner. Very enjoyable. Five lads rounded off the evening with a funky set of songs.
Joe,
Ric,
Jason,
Matt,
Marc and
Robb commanded the stage and gave us a lively and foot-taping set that was both
original and enjoyable. The Mannequins are a new band, and if they need to improve
anything in their performance, then I would say "more backing vocals".
The lead vocalist did a fine job with his stylish singing and the instruments
were spot on for their eclectic musical offering. I thought they were pretty
cool and look forward to seeing them again. Scott Adams Trevor Locke reports Another full house at the Musician and another line-up of good artists. After three nights at obsUnplugged I feel like I might have got my head round some of the key characteristics of what makes a good singer. Scott Adams was on stage first with his fellow guitarist and singer Carl Jenkins. Delivering robust vocalisations and creditable instrumental work, laced with some twangy riffs, the two singers launched the night off to a good start. In a nicely varied set they gave the audience a vibrant performance, firing up the crowd with some thumpy beats and funky rhythms. They offered some of their own songs alongside some covers, including their rendition of Coldplay's Yellow. Enjoyable. 
The Skunkboy Project, a.k.a Nathaniel from Melton Mowbray, took to the stage with his Ukelele to provide half an hour of originality and pleasurable music. Delivering his own songs in a fine, clear and well articulated voice, he proved he could do something out of the ordinary. After having drawn an enthusiastic response from the room for his Ukelele playing, he moved over to the keyboard and delivered an engaging ballad that was full of character and tantalising key changes. With songs rich in melodic atmosphere, displaying his skills in lyric writing, the young artist won the audience over. He went back to the Ukelele for his closing songs and left the stage with applause ringing around the room. Astonishing. Becky Read is a sixteen year old with some nascent skills that will see her in good stead for her future career. Also playing the Ukelele, she sat down to perform her set, which included some covers alongside songs she had written herself. Using the Ukelele as a sawn-off guitar (as opposed to what George Formby used to do with it) produced a somewhat attenuated accompaniment but she made up for this with sweet, if somewhat thin vocals. Becky's performance was confident for an artist of her age. Another young artist, Geno Lynch took to the to stage with his guitar to sing a set of songs in his clear and fairly strong voice. He sat down for his set (having forgotten to bring his shoulder strap?) and for part of the set was joined by a friend who he introduced as "The drummer from my band." Their work on the strings was mainly strumming and Geno appeared to have a book of song lyrics open in front of him, suggesting he had not yet fully learnt all his songs. It is good that young artists are getting the chance to play to fulsome audiences and share line-ups with seasoned artists. I noticed that Megan Jones introduced herself at the start of her set, as all the artists did. They had been well briefed. She used her voice effectively to project the mood and atmosphere of the songs. No strap to her guitar she sat down to play, something I noticed as being prevalent with young, female vocalists. Possibly a way of coping with nerves. Seasoned singers rarely sit down to perform; it's not considered the best way to breathe. You never see choirs sitting down. It was a fine performance and clearly quite a few people in the audience were impressed. Not many of the newbie artists were able to move outside of their comfort zone with their choice of songs. Two male guitarist, singers took to the stage to announce themselves as Fullfathom5. To be honest it was a bad set of poorly delivered songs which served only to amplify the next act.
Now a well known vocal artist in Leicester, star of stage, radio and the Clock Tower, singer-songwriter John Anthony demonstrated where the bar is set for popular song in our local area. Admittedly I know his songs well and have seen him perform many times, from huge festival stages through to a bench in the city centre, but when ever and where ever Jonny performs, he delivers a set of high quality music. Starting with his guitar, he delivered one or two of his own highly memorable melodies. He then moved over to the mic to sing a song with a pre-recorded backing track he had composed himself. This had not been done before at unPlugged, although its common place at Urban music gigs. This showed another side to his skills. It was a bit like being on the X-factor but with a performance like that he would definitely have gone through to the next round. Back on the guitar he sang one of the songs he wrote during the early days of his career. If you want to watch John Anthony recording this song in the studio you can, on Youtube. A high standard of guitar playing, clear vocals and articulation, captivating lyrics, an engaging presence, memorable music and originality - I think this what we are looking for in the best acts and John Anthony scored pretty highly on all these criteria. I'm not a judge for this showcase, only a music critic but this is what I have figured out as making some acts stand out from the rest. He did one more song with backing tracks; whether writing for the acoustic guitar or composing music electronically, he is a fine artist. Seriously good. The evening came to and end with Les Hayden, a young man who has been playing in Leicester for about fifteen years. An artist with a good voice and an amazingly good standard in guitar playing , Les delivered a set of attractive and absorbing songs. Moved along with exquisite dynamics, portraying the feeling of the songs, he ticked all the boxes for musical excellence. A great way to end an interesting evening of live music. Superb. The Golden Troubadours Report by Kevin Gaughan The atmosphere tonight in the Musician was buzzing and busy, so much so, by eight o'clock it was standing room only! As the soundman was making his final tweaks, I made myself comfy in anticipation of the night's proceedings.
Kicking off the evening was Mike Kerslake, a solo artist from Leicester, armed with only his guitar. Mike played his chirpy original material with enthusiasm, using his guitar to it's full, bashing it like a drum at times and making a whole range of sounds you wouldn't normally have thought would come from a guitar. This added detail and kept the songs interesting. I really enjoyed Mike's set as it was generally cheery, his voice was a pleasure to listen to, constantly varying but never being stretched. Each song sounded totally different, too, keeping his set varied. A fine way to start the night.
The Golden Troubadours, a five piece from Nottingham, looked a little cramped on the stage but they produced a fine sound. Much more laid back, sometimes sounding a bit country as well as latin-inspired at times. An interesting mix, done very well. The Golden Troubadours felt like a professional outfit with a chilled-out sound. I enjoyed their set and it was nice to have something different following on from Mike's acoustic set.
Following on from the Golden Troubadours were the Moccasin Mile, a three piece from Leicester including keyboards. Their music was a fusion of jazz and at times reggae. The music was good to listen to with the keyboard player also performing singing duties. The workload did seem unevenly distributed, as on the left of the stage the keyboard player was also the lead singer, while to the right, a second guitarist didn't seem to have much to do most of the time and occasionally looked a little uncomfortable. They were, however, a pleasure to listen to,but have some way to go before they reach the professional standard of some of the other artists on show tonight.
After Moccasin Mile was Siobhan Mazzei armed with only her guitar and her voice, but oh what a voice, reminding me a lot of Sinead O'Connor, with piercing vocals, while playing her original material. Siobhan's voice, dramatic and mysterious, adding theatrical impact which was fantastic to experience. Seeming like a natural, Siobhan was at home on the stage and left me wanting more. A memorable performance. See Siobhan perform at the gig
Hot on the heels of Siobhan was Conversation 16, which consisted of James Lewis and his guitar from Leicester. James previously played his original material in his own band, The James Lewis Band. They made a good name for themselves and earned quite a reputation locally with their unique look and sound. The band has since gone their own ways and James is now writing and performing on his own again. As usual, James sported a 'unique', look which helped him stand out from the crowd, looking somewhat geeky but with a classic edge. Vocally, James also has a distinct style, which reminded me of his old days, which is no bad thing. Proving he is still a master at writing songs that are easy to relate to, filled with observations of every day life, one of which was about his cat, several about his fiance and another about unwanted Christmas presents. He was great to listen to and entertaining to watch.
Following on from Conversation 16 was Grace and the Magic Roots, a five piece band from Leicester. They performed their earthy style of wholesome folk music with touches of reggae and Spanish-sounding guitar. Mostly cheery and always fun to listen to. Grace has a child-like quality to her voice which adds a certain innocence to the music and is enjoyable to listen to and compliments the music well. This band provides good wholesome all-round entertainment, with five of them on the stage, there's a lot going on which is good to watch. See Grace and the Magic Roots perform at the gig
Last on for the night was the Bowbridge Band, a trio from Leicester. An easy-listening way to end the night, playing a fairly catchy set of their own material. At times, however, I felt they sounded like a pub band, lacking in body, perhaps the vocals weren't loud enough, but they seemed to lack substance. Their material was OK, though, and generally good to listen to. I really enjoyed tonights obsUnplugged at the Musician - there was a diverse range of styles keeping it interesting and some top quality acts that are now on my radar. Report by Trevor Locke
Ben Ryecroft An evening at obsUnplugged can be full of surprises. Tonight certainly was. 
When I walked into the Musician tonight, Ben Ryecroft was already on stage. His style of music was unusual. His guitar work was excellent, his voice pleasing and finely delivered but it was his style of songs that made him stand out, particularly within the cadre of male artists. His songs were delicate and ethereal, laden with atmosphere and colour, soft and mesmerising. He reminded me of the early solo performances of Joe Morrell. His intricate string playing was almost solidly picking the strings with nearly all his fingers. His voice had a fine timbre that was easy on the ear. Altogether a remarkable set of unusual works. Impressive. Band members Nayf and Danny from the band Ashes to the Fall, changed the feel of the room with a big rocky set which they delivered with a good dose of panache. The two well matched voices, backed by electric guitar and bass, resulted in a set of vibrant songs, including a cover by Rancid. Nice one 
Female singer Courtney Astley stood up for her set. Her pleasing voice delivered well articulated lyrics and she used it to good effect, bringing feeling and colour into her songs. It was not a performance strong on stage presence but it was creditable and confident. Her cover of a song from the musical Grease was an idiosyncratic rendition but she certainly made it her own. Pretty good. As I said, obsUnplugged is full of surprises; not least when the diminutive figure of 10 year old Ned Dylan appeared on stage, with a full sized acoustic guitar slung from his shoulders. The little, long-haired prodigy put on an amazing set, not just in the way he belted out his songs at the top of his voice but also in the way he commanded the audience, working the room like a professional musician. I saw him when he played at The Musician last year. He told the astonished audience that he wrote all his own songs. His high energy performance would have not been out of place on a festival stage in front of several thousand people. His song "Stop Texting Me" was performed live on the BBC's Mike Harding show and Emmy The Great once said of him: "One day we will talk about the day we met Ned!" Watch one of Ned's performances on YouTube. Remarkable. In another complete volt-face, we heard from a seasoned artist next, Si Clancy. A strong singer, he backed his vocals with energetic guitar work. In a set infused with vitality, Si demonstrated his wide vocal range and delivered a set that caught the audience up in its vigour and gutsy versatility. Excellent. Leela and the Spaceship were from Derby and the trio included a free-standing singer, Jimbob, whose voiced blended well with the backing vocals of the guitarist Josh. Tonight their drummer was absent but that did not seem to detract from a fine set of original songs, reflecting their eclectic influences that included Velvet Underground and Bombay Bicycle Club. Playing for the first time in Leicester, they delivered a soothing set of engaging indie, folk and breakbeat songs that had plenty of atmosphere. Skillfully played and well pleasing to the ear, they told the audience that they have a gig coming up later this month where they are supporting the Maccabees at a Brixton Jamm gig. Delightful. 
I had seen Loughborough band Northern Quarter before when they played on the BBC stage at the Glastonbudget Festival in 2010 (they were also there last year as well.) The stage filled up with six musicians including two guitarists, the female vocalist - Vicky Warburton - cajon box drum player, side drummer and a wide range of percussion instruments and bassist. Playing a set of their own melodic songs, the singing was satisfyingly well blended, the orchestration varied and the whole set was engaging and enjoyable. Cleverly written original acoustic music. Very enjoyable 
The night was headlined by Leicester's Dave Wyatt and his band; an artist we had seen and written about before - particularly at the Donkey in December 2010, when Kevin Gaughan reported; he wrote: ' David started his set with Silver Bird , a haunting, slow, acoustic song, which really showed off his voice. The song couldn't help but draw you in, the atmospheric tone to David's voice grabbed you and the guitar was gentle and in the background, but still tingling on your senses.' This top-notch group is a well established part of the Leicester music scene. Their set was skillfully orchestrated and the musicians fed off of each other, showing the depth of musical synergy they had amongst them. It was a magnificent performance of sumptuously enjoyable original music from a band that is at the top of its tree, within this genre. Superbly good. The Amber Herd Nottingham group Amber Herd started the evening off. The trio delivered some clear, robust vocals and enticing guitar lines to bring their folksy, cunningly orchestrated tunes alive. It was half an hour of easy listening. Pleasant. 
A seasoned singer and song writer, Steve Faulkner is one of the best acoustic solo artists with the local rock genre. We have celebrated him in these pages before and it was a delight to see him on stage once more. The zeal, passion and artistry with which he delivered his set made him stand out. For me, Steve sets the bar for male acoustic vocals and his performance tonight was no less exhilarating then the last time I saw him. Whether singing his own songs or his individualised renditions of covers, his set is always top notch. His voice has resonance and he uses it to great effect; his guitar playing is masterful and, in my view, he is one of the top male vocal performers in Leicester/shire. He ended his set with his own unique interpretation of Jackson's Billie Jean. As I have said many times before, this version is better than the original and I absolutely stand by that again now. Outstanding and masterful. 
He was followed by another celebrated star of the acoustic vocals scene, Lisa DeVille. Her gorgeous voice and exquisite guitaring was accompanied, tonight, by her long time fellow artist Melanie Lawrence, on the violin. It was half an hour of sheer delight. Lisa has a golden voice which she used to great effect; a singer of particular quality, her songs and her performance of them were spell-binding. She is a celebrated song-writer and this was eminently obvious in the works she presented from the stage tonight. She told the audience that she is about to record a set of new EPs and many of the songs she performed were new to her considerable repertoire. Superb and enchanting. Another female vocalist who has made a name for herself is Nancy Dawkins. Her set of original songs and covers clearly made a hit with the audience. With a finely tuned voice, she sang songs that were eminently listenable. I agree with Dean Jackson when he said "....her writing craft is phenomenal." Her debut single came to the attention of Radio 2s Steve Lamacq; based on tonight's performance it is easy to see why she is being acclaimed as one of our top local female vocal artists. Whether singing passages that are soft and delicate or vibrant and inspiring, she ably evokes the mood and spirit of her songs. She displays all the hallmarks of talent and ability that one would look for in a rising acoustic artist. She has a single released by Pink Box Records. Magnificent. As they used to say ... and now for something completely different. Carlos Stein brought his idiosyncratic entertainment to the stage with a set of songs that were edgy and amusing, mixing a remarkable cocktail of electro, blues, post-punk, rock and alternative music styles. With lyrics reflecting an often cynical sense of humour, he clearly held the audience in thrall and left the stage, at the end of his set, to enthusiastic applause. Almost a one-man-band he used sample loops, harmonica and guitar to back his songs (he calls it his "surrogate band.") Standing somewhere between beat poet and comedic singer, he presents an act that grows on you. You can see Carlos Stein's performance at the Musician on YouTube. Remarkable. I cannot remember seeing Max Wheatley before. He had assembled a large posse of fans to support his set of fairly vibrant rocky songs which he delivered with a fulsome voice that carried well to the back of the room. His set comprised mainly his own original songs plus a couple of covers. Not necessarily the most original of artists, he put on a creditable performance. Having completed his set, he and his followers left the venue. Some artists appearing at unPlugged can be called unique and David Parkin is definitely one of them. Performing tracks from his Clinical Depression album, you couldn't say it was an uplifting experience. The audience sat, hushed and attentive, as he unwound his slow and attenuated pieces, accompanying himself on the keyboard. He explained the background to his long piece, a musical narrative about playing scrabble with his mother, in a style that can best be called spoken song. A bit of an off the wall act, he nevertheless had the audience spellbound. Unusual but moving and with moments of ironic humour. 
After an evening of eclectic musical experiences, what better
way to end than with the delightful trio Egg Ladies. The group's
two singers had well harmonised voices and the songs they delivered were easy
to listen to. It was a soothing and engaging set of well rounded tunes, delivered
by skillful artists. Wedesday 11th January Names with links go to their pages on Facebook Kristy Gallacher Artsin did not attend this event but we are seeking comments from people who did. Nuala Bennett-Wilford The duo that was A Story Begins got the night off to a good start. The two guitarists delivered a set of enjoyable songs with their well synchronised playing and harmonised voices. Their collection of folksy original songs was amplified with an engaging cover of a number by The Levellers. These two experienced musicians gave the audience a well rounded and enticing set; a quality performance. 
Hi and Lo were Dave and Nick. Dave sang and played the guitar, while Nick sang, played drums, a banjo, a harmonica, tambourine and electric guitar with tremolo effects. Their set of americana and nu-country tunes featured two well harmonised voices and a lot of effective instrumentation. This unusual duo delivered a 'Simon and Garfunkle-esq' set of original songs that was engaging and convincing. Excellent. Female vocalist Tiggy White was accompanied on stage by guitarist LIbby. Tiggy opened with her own rendition of Bob Marley's No Woman No Cry, in which she began to unravel her style with a resounding and clear voice and a performance style that had a fair amount of character. A pleasing performance delivered with panache. 
The gorgeous voice of Kiera Lawson filled the room with vocal atmosphere. Backed with skillfully picked guitar work, the singer stood up and delivered a mesmerisingly beautiful set of songs. Her voice had a fine resonance and range and she used it as a finely tuned instrument for her set of original songs in which she demonstrated song-writing ability of some distinction. Superb. Standing at the microphone, Nuala Bennett-Wilford's strong vocals were presented with a fair dose of vibrancy. To her original songs she added a creditable rendition of Otis Reading's 'sitting on the dock of the bay'. A performance filled with passion that drew the audience in, Nuala added yet another fine performance to the evening. Impressive. The first band of the evening - The Abrahams - was a five piece ensemble from Kettering. Two well blended vocalists presented a vibrant set of songs, backed by well instrumented and tight playing playing from guitars and, in some songs, a mandolin. To their collection of own tunes they added their stomping pirate song and rounded off their set with a particularly resounding piece. Very enjoyable. Refuge is a very special band. We have covered their work several times before and know that they are involved in working in the Mental Health field. Tonight they demonstrated just what a quality set of musical artists they are. Well written songs, sumptuous orchestration, Pete's mellifluous vocals and lyrics that have an unusual depth, all added up to a superb musical experience. This quality band delivered a set of songs rich in mood and atmosphere that had cunning dynamics. They ended their set to a highly enthusiastic response from the audience who had received half an hour of delightful music. See our review of Open Minds album by Refuge. Magnificent. 
The finale of the evening saw singer Chris Ostler take to the stage. An artist with a fair amount of presence, he sat down to sing but that did not detract from the brilliance of his strong and superbly articulated vocals. His original songs included my favourite from his first album Teenage Love Song (Lemon Squeezy). This guy really knows how to sing. Last year he enthralled audiences, from the massive festival crowds of his Glastonbudget appearances through to small groups in local venues, but he always puts on a consistently high standard of performance. His fine voice is deployed with consummate skill. Backed with guitar playing of a high standard, his set of popular melodies were engaging and highly enjoyable. Marvelous. Ryan Dunn 
Another night of top quality live music at the Musician. The show was started by the unusual act - an acapella quintet - The Simpletones. Five guys with fine voices singing without instruments. With a set of beautifully harmonised voices, this group was the only one of its kind during the whole programme and they went down well with the large audience. Their vivacious song list include a rendition of the theme song from the Ghostbusters film and their version of Sting's Englishman in New York. Their range of tightly executed vocal registers and the presence of some well experienced vocalists in the group (including Glassfoot's lead singer Nick Shepherd) gave them a most ear-pleasing sound. Dressed in their white shirts and gray waistcoats, they looked like a well organised bunch. Very entertaining. From Ashby de la Zouch, the quartet of acoustic artists The Hot Frolics featured a lead singer with a strong and clear voice and vibrant delivery backed by guitar, bass and drums. Their set of well played melodic songs, including original tunes and some covers, was delivered with energy and with well matched backing vocals from the guitarist; it was a solidly good set of songs. Excellent. Soloist Chris Warner sat down to sing but that in no way detracted from his rich, powerful voice and energetic delivery. A well established local artist, his set was presented with a considerable level of passion and resonance, backed by versatile guitar work. An accomplished song writer, Chris has supported acts such as Steve Earle, Macy Gray and Jose Gonzalez. Letting rip with a couple of strongly stompy numbers, he easily commanded the large and somewhat noisy audience. A well balanced set with lashings of presence. Marvelous. Two artists from Nottingham followed. Bowman and Hull played with two guitars (one electric) and sang a set of folksy rhythm and blues songs that fitted well into the evening. Chris Hull and Jade Bowman showed themselves to be accomplished musicians and their performance was greeted with enthusiasm by the audience. Enjoyable. 
The duo called Beware the Bear - Thea de Gallier (vocals) and Alastair Ballentyne (guitar) - put on a good set of original songs reflecting their folk, pop and rock influences. Thea delivered clear and well articulated vocals and presented herself as a perky and stylish entertainer. Enjoyable Solo singer Natalie Squance brought her sweet vocals and quality guitar playing to a rather rowdy atmosphere. A set of softly engaging and smoothly ear-pleasing songs allowed her to stand out as a singer of quality. Exquisite 
Ryan Dunn brought a large contingent of fans with him. Better known as the lead singer of the rock band The Tennysons, Ryan performed a lively set with his acoustic guitar. The local lad is often celebrated as a prodigious song writer and his set gave a representative cross section of his musical talent. Delivering his songs with verve and a confident performance, he was well received in the room. Entertaining. Find out more about The Tennysons The running order was somewhat peculiar tonight as we went from a high voltage rock act to another lo fi set of sounds from singer Fran Taylor and her guitarist. Pleasing vocals backed with nicely instrumented guitar lines produced a set of atmospheric songs. A good performance from an established artist. Very good. 
The night closed with a group that delivered a set of very original songs. One Suspicious Monkey are not your run of the mill act; what they do is decidedly different but also very entertaining. Georgio Maroder strikes a particularly provocative pose on the stage and followed the lead of James (countswagula) Scott-Howes by walking round the audience and standing on the tables to deliver his songs. Originality, energy and creativity marked them out, their tunes echoing flamenco and celtic vibes at certain points. Chris Swirls made hay on the djembe drum to add zest to the 'power folk' set. Often amusing and always engaging, it was a splendid finale to tonight's show. Remarkable. Read more about One Suspicious Monkey Mark Wynn Report by Kevin Gaughan It was another busy, candle-lit obsUnplugged night. Freezing outside, but I was lovely and cosy in the Musician. Unfortunately, this was to be the last show before the grand finale on the 27th of January.
Kicking off the nights proceedings, Fay Brotherhood and Lee Burns from Leicester, sported an interesting look, with Fay wearing, what looked like rabbit fur boots with feathers in her boots and hair. Their music was great to listen to, the subject matter ranging from local legends (Black Alice) to pagan monuments. Fay has a wonderful, slightly warbly, but very easy to listen to voice. The style was folk and sounded quite Celtic at times. Lee played a guitar and a fiddle both of which complimented Fay's voice perfectly. Fay and Lee make a good pair, they look good together, too with an earthy country look. Great way to start the show, and set the bar high, I thought.
Next up was Mark Wynn, a young lad from York who had spent most of the day trying to get to the Musician on public transport - wonder if he had a plan to get back home after the gig late on a Sunday night - never seems to work for me! Mark was an entertaining lad, telling us stories about his songs and how they originated; for example, one was about how he thinks he's turning into his dad. Mark was good from an entertainment point of view, his style was less singing and more talking, in a Billy Bragg kind of way. I enjoyed this, though, as it made it easy to hear the lyrics and focus on the story within. His chat between songs helped the audience warm to him. Some of his songs had adult humour which added to the entertainment value. Mark did a great job of singing his stories and keeping the crowd entertained. I liked his style.
Following on from Mark was Thomas Elliott, also a young lad, but this time from Leicester. Armed with only his guitar. Now this lad's voice had a distinctive edge to it. It had an operatic quality. I found it took a bit of getting used to, which was unfortunate because I think this caused him to loose a good chunk of the audience who started to chat amongst themselves. Having got used to his unusual sound, I found that, especially with a couple of songs, his voice went really well and considerably enhanced the listening experience making it an asset. On the down side, however, a couple of times it seemed as though he hadn't rehearsed enough and a couple of notes seemed to be a struggle for his voice. Also, we had to pause for a bit while he found out which song to sing next from his 'phone, which showed a total lack of professionalism and made we wonder how serious he was taking this competition. However, I do think Thomas has potential if he can write more material that was meant for his voice and he could do well in his niche market.
Kai and Safina were different in that they played mostly popular covers from artists like Amy Winehouse and Adele. Safina sang and Kai played acoustic guitar. It's unusual in the obsUnplugged competition for a band to play so many covers, I presume that's because they've only recently started performing together. Not being a fan of covers bands, these guys were exceptional. Kai played his guitar perfectly and Safina's voice was quite remarkable. To start with, her nerves showed and only occasionally her voice sparkled. At which point I just wanted her to give it some welly. However, as her confidence grew, she did give it more strength and sounded fantastic. Unusually for me, I enjoyed the covers as much as the originals. Kai and Safina had their own sound and added an acoustic dimension to their covers which was all great and the crowd loved them, too. I really hope to see more of these two.
Next on stage was Joel Wildgoose, an accomplished guitarist from Leicester who has played in some local bands and is now enjoying a solo career. He proudly announced that he'll be playing with Joan Armatrading when she's on tour in September. This man has no problems with confidence and comes across on stage as being a genuine, down to earth chap, as he described each song. Joel has a wonderful voice, sounding higher pitched, full of emotion, not being afraid to stretch it at times, making the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. As Joel pointed out, he's going through a lucky period at the moment - with that voice, I reckon it'll be a lucky year for him. I look forward to seeing more from Joel.
Green Fortune were a six piece group from Nottingham, taking up the entire stage with some interesting looking instruments - one of which was a tall black electronic cello thing that looked like it had been on a really successful diet! There was a lot going on on the stage which provided plenty of visual entertainment. Good use was made of the harmonica in a number of songs and the harmonies between the two ladie's voices was good. The musical style was generally folk and easy to listen to. Occasionally the vocals seemed a bit out of tune, probably due to nerves, but overall an enjoyable set.
Lost in the Fire was next, who, until today were called the Meri Everitt band, a four piece from Leicester. They played acoustic versions of their normally more rock songs. The first thing that struck me was the look, it was uncoordinated, all dressed completely differently and looking like they were from separate bands. However, the sound was a completely different kettle o' fish. I loved it. It titillated my alternative senses reminding me of bands like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Music with attitude, and the last song was for over 18s only with plenty of expletives! I enjoyed their acoustic set but would love to see them perform their regular material and preferably looking like they're all members of the same band! Lost in the Fire, video from the performance 
Paddywax, a five piece band from Leicester who had a distinctly earthy look about them. They presented us with their folk/country music but this time they also had a didgeridoo which complimented their music well. The flute was a good addition, too. The music was upbeat with reasonably good midrange female vocals, although the female singer did seem to struggle, at times, when pushed. Good use was also made of the harmonica.
Last on for the night was Dan Wright, with the Davenport band, from Leicester. They brought with them a larger than average keyboard and Dan had a bass drum for his right foot, tambourine for his left foot, guitar for his hands and a microphone for his mouth - god only knows how he can play all those, presumably, at the same time. Dan seemed like a nice chap, wishing his mum a happy birthday and making humorous remarks about his aunt, who was in the audience. His humour and chat was entertaining but his simultaneous, multi-limb instrument playing ability was very impressive and seemed faultless. The music was good, engaging the crowd, and catchy, the lyrics being about Dan's observations in every day life. Good singing voice, too, with memorable riffs which left me humming them on the way home. The vocal harmonies were great to hear adding depth to the songs. Dan Wright and the Davenport band, I thought, have potential. Friday 27th January Trevor Locke reports, with photos by Harjinder Ohbi and Kevan Gaughan The full line-up of performers at the Finale: Leo Stannard A full-house, a sense of excitement and a night of top class music. The finale of the obsUnplugged showcase gigs season saw a full line-up of top notch artists take to the stage at the Musician. It was standing room only as the fans and musicos piled in to socialise and support their favourite acts.  Leon Stanndard photo © Harjinder Ohbi Leo Stannard started the night in fine style. Hailing from near Melton Mowbray, the young singer and songwriter seated himself on the riser and made melodious music with dexterous guitar work and his well projected voice, as he delighted the crowd with a set of listenable songs. His vocals had a slightly gravelly texture, ala Dave Grohl, and were delivered with energy and commitment. A fine performance. Watch Leo Stannard at the Musician 
Siobhan Mazzie photo © Kevin Gaughan Siobhan Mazzei took to the stage once again to repeat her memorable performance from her earlier show. Her opening song Rejection got her time off to a good start. Delivering excellent string playing and a distinctive vocal line, she gave a strong performance. An artist who is enjoying a growing reputation, Siobhan has gained new admirers from the shows here. A vocalist of high quality, her well articulated songs were delivered with passion and vitality. In Second Best, she demonstrated her ability to deliver well constructed phrases and subtle lyrics. A performer of distinction, this was a highly excellent set. Watch Siobhan Mazzei at the Musician Video by Kevin Gaughan  Prash Gor photo © Harjinder Ohbi Prash Gor showed that large audiences could be captured by his luxuriant vocal tones and engaging songs. Although new to Leicester's acoustic scene, Prash has shown his determination to establish his presence and has won several followers along the way. His original songs were conveyed with vitality and he showed that he could make effective use of his voice. Securing a warm reception from the audience, Prash drew them into his act as he talked to them between the songs. Whilst not a strong stage presence (he suffers from nerves, he told me) his recent live appearances have seen him mature into a more relaxed performer. Standing at the mic, he plied the ears of those in front of him with subtle vocal intonations and evocative moods, attracting an enthusiastic response from the crowd.  Megan Jones photo © Kevin Gaughan Megan Jones (17) sat down to perform, making it impossible for those at the back of the crowd to see her. This lost her some impact. Happily the Musician's impressive PA system carried her voice and guitar backing out to the throng. Her nice voice benefited her sustained vocal phrasing and she included at least one cover in her set of folksy songs. Whilst she is an experienced performer (she used to be in a band) she struggled to catch the mood of the large audience. Her style is best suited to more intimate settings. Nevertheless, a fine performance and quite listenable. Watch Megan Jones at the Musician Video by Kevin Gaughan  Bellawave photo © Kevin Gaughan Bellawave were the first group of the evening. They impressed many of the musicians in the room, judging from the comments I got from them. The vocals were good and the backline of guitar, bass and hand drums provided a quality backing to the vibrant and enjoyable tunes. The lead singer was backed by two well harmonised voices from the string players, delivering a strong vocal layer. Altogether an enchanting set. Watch Bellaware at the Musician Video by Kevin Gaughan  Skunk Boy Project © Kevin Gaughan The Skunk Boy Project, Melton Mowbray artist Nathaniel, impressed the audience at his previous performance and he consolidated this with another enjoyable set of unsual and original songs. Standing out from the rest stylistically, he showed that he could be a master of the different. Standing with his ukulele, he used his fine voice to deliver poetic lyrics with lashings of panache. This time he used only his ukulele and this added a minimalist background to his singing. A gifted song writer, he came across as an exciting new addition to the acoustic scene. Watch The Skunk Boy Project at the Musician Video by Kevin Gaughan  Mary Anne Ratcliffe © Kevin Gaughan Mary Anne Ratcliffe capped her previous appearance with another mesmerising set. She used her exhilarating voice to deliver a stunning performance which really grabbed the audience. she deploys her voice with consummate skill, giving her captivated fans a set that was listenable and exciting. Superb. Mary Anne Ratcliffe sings at the Musician Video by Kevin Gaughan  Conversation 16 photo © Kevin Gaughan Conversation 16 is the stage name of the well known artist James Lewis (24). Better known as the leader of the James Lewis Band, winners of the Original Bands Showcase of 2010, James seems to have gone back to his solo roots. He uses a distinctive vocal style in which he whispers or almost expirates some of his vocal phrases. Although unusual, this style of singing has been used before by modern singers. Backing his songs with cracking guitar work, James delivered his set of own songs with style and vigour. It was an excellent performance. Watch Conversation 16 at the Musician Video by Kevin Gaughan  The Simpletones © Kevin Gaughan The Simpletones are a quintet of a-capella singers, an unusual act (for Leicester/shire) they went down a storm at their first appearance at obsUnplugged. Using a slightly different set from last time, they wow'd the crowd again with their finely harmonised voices and ear-pleasing songs. Their inclusion in the show was very agreeable, pushing the boundaries of the acoustic experience - an innovation. Many are hoping to see this group more often on the local music scene because they add something very enjoyable to its already manifest vibrancy. A musical treat of vocal artistry. Watch The Simpletones at the Musician Video by Kevin Gaughan  Mark Elliot photo © Kevin Gaughan Mark Elliott is a singer and song writer of outstanding ability. However difficult it can be to play a set late on in an evening, Mark caught the crowd and won their acclaim and engagement, not just at the end of his set but during it. Trying out a new technique of backing his songs with live samples, he demonstrated skill in this demanding approach. Singing into one microphone, he created what sounded like a complete choral backing, over which he delivered a fine piece of jazzy vocals. A superb performance, the young singer pulled off a musical coup de grâce. Whether simply singing his own songs with just a guitar or engaging the audience to join in with a song, he worked the room with consummate skill. Watch Mark Elliott at the Musician Video by Kevin Gaughan 
Theo Miller © Kevin Gaughan Theo Miller gave us a very pleasing experience with his fine clear voice, that carried to the back of the hall, and scintillating guitar work. Able to deliver both subtly and energy, Theo showed both dexterity and passion in his songs. I was pleased to hear Majority again. A song about teenagers on a night out, the lyrics were both witty and insightful. His voice had the quality of fine porcelain - beautifully articulated and smoothly delivered. A gifted artist and song writer, I can see him going far in his musical career.  Refuge © Kevin Gaughan Refuge topped the night off in style. The five piece band gave us a set of superb songs, revealing both their skill at writing music and their expertise in performing it. It was easy to see how well these musicians work together, playing as a team, a well oiled and synchronised collection of artists that feed off each other and produce magnificent music. It was marvelous and I can think of no better way to complete not just an evening of top quality music but a season that has done Leicester proud, confirming its reputation as a city of musical excellence. Watch refuge at the Musician Video by Kevin Gaughan Other pages you might like: List of all Leicester/shire singers A web site about how to sing well (personal singing guide)
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