An evening of outstanding talent

Monthly new-music calendar highlight Bedford Bandstand continues it’s residency at indigO2 on 29th April with performances from the cream of talent who are hotly tipped for the top. Such a wealth of musical talent under one roof all for only a fiver – there are no excuses to miss out.

The Bedford Bandstand nights at indigO2 showcase emerging new talent as well as championing musical legends. Founder Tony Moore, says: “The Bedford Bandstand has played a very important part in the careers of KT Tunstall, James Morrison, Paolo Nutini, Imogen Heap and many more. Now everyone has the chance to see the next generation of long term recording and performing artists on an amazing stage in an incredible venue, before the rest of the world gets to hear about them.”

Dawn Kinnard
The soulful country-singing daughter of a preacher who sold her Harley to finance her first album takes to the stage of the indigO2 as part of a UK tour. A regular in the church choir, she was inspired by early blues, country and gospel and learned to play guitar at 16. Soon, she was singing with alt.country band Dusk To Dawn in and around State College and writing songs about suicide, the devil, love as drug, love of drugs, therapy and mental illness! One of them, No Different Now, is a terrific country-inflected pop tune; another is Fortune Teller which does the Billie Holiday thing better than anyone all year, complete with fairground organ!

Next, she moved from Pennsylvania to Nashville, where she was discovered by Martin Terefe, manager of KT Tunstall, James Morrison and Cat Stevens, who invited her to England to record her debut album proper for his new label Kensaltown.

Myspace.com/dawnkinnard

The Mercurymen
Gavin Wyatt, Simon Johnstone and Jinder are The Mercurymen. Simon and Gavin were taken under the wing of music maestro Mickie Most (The Sweet, The Rubettes) when they left school and were part of the last band he worked with. Jinder has been performing as a solo artist and literally plays to live averaging 240 gigs per year. When they all met at a session in late 2006 there was magic in the air.

Their guitar styles complemented each other, and their voices blended beautifully.. Crosby, Stills and Nash, colliding with The Eagles and feeling like James Morrison met Jack Johnsone who brought along Damien Rice for the ride. Recently signed to Sony they take to the road for the their first tour in the summer and have their debut album released in 2009.

Myspace.com/musicmercurymen

Sam Heard
Sam Heard is not a conventional female singer-songwriter. A songwriter since the age of 14, Sam is a classically trained pianist but a self-taught guitarist. Since leaving school Sam has travelled around the world, picking up inspiration from conversations and relationships, people and places.

Sam writes all her own material, which she performs both effortlessly and passionately, either sitting at her piano or fronting her band with her guitar. Many of Sam's songs are written in Dublin, a city she attributes with giving her a musical identity and creative independence.

Unsurprisingly her musical influences are all great singers and songwriters, from Sandy Denny (who inspired Sam's song "Sandy") to Nina Simone, Cat Stevens to David Bowie.

Her new songs and recent performances are already attracting widespread support from the public and over the coming months this 20 year old will be recording her songs to form her debut album

Myspace.com/samanthaheard

Tim Daniel
Tim Daniel knows a hit record, because for a new artist, he has already written hits for artists such as Toploader, Blue, Simon Webbe and Delta Goodrem to name just a few. He has fashioned a classic debut full of songs of substance, words of essence and tunes that are destined to become hugely familiar to anyone with an ear for melody and an emotional core. Or, as Take That mainman Gary Barlow more succinctly puts it: “an album full of hits obviously written from the heart”.

Myspace.com/timdanielmusic

Tickets are on sale now - visit Theindigo2.com for further information.

The Bedford Bandstand
Tuesday 29th April
indigO2, Millenium Way, SE10 0AX
Tickets: £5 – available online from theindigo2.com
Doors: 7pm