return to main menu [return]
Artist: Claire Toomey
Genre: Rock singer/songwriter
Performing: 17th July 2004 / The Andertons LiveClub Stage
Website Address: [www.clairetoomey.com]
When you encounter promising newcomer Claire Toomey performing some of her compelling self-penned songs, the sweet aroma of something big about to happen fills the air. The singer-songwriter from Croydon has been honing her musical talent since she was barely out of nappies and as she conjures Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow and Alanis Morisette, you could almost swear she had already fully navigated a lifetime of heartbreak, rejection, hardship and all the other elements of the hard-knocks school. But this youngster has hardly even finished navigating her teens.
A series of live performances that repeatedly underpinned Claire's ability to grab and takeover diverse audiences, has resulted in an invitation to appear at GuilFest on Saturday July 17. She will be playing a 30 minute set of her own songs on the Live Club Stage backed up by her own band. This follows several months of building a sizeable following playing at various acoustic venues in and around London, including the Cobden Club, the Gate at Notting Hill, the Sound Bar and 12 Bar, along with a number of gigs at the Bedford in Balham. She's also played such prestigious venues as London's Borderline and the Soul Café in Maidstone.
Last December Claire played a live session for Dave Cash (former BBC Radio One dj) on BBC Radio Kent. That resulted in wider acclaim, including a feature in the March 2004 edition of Maverick magazine. The fresh-faced 17-year-old certainly has enviable pipes for her young age. Anybody with one good ear can hear the potential of this all-important avoid-one-hit-wonder-status performer. Her voice, a soft sound containing an old soul, is impressively complicated, bringing attitude, sonic maturity and barroom grit to her songs.
A great songwriter can write words and music that transcend any genre, and Claire's poignant lyrics and strong melodies are perfect evidence. It is part of her gift: The capacity to write succinct, intelligent songs devoid of genre, fads or fancies. Though she has set her sights on international acclaim, Claire has her feet firmly on the ground. Quiet and somewhat reserved she is not one to talk endlessly about herself, preferring to let her music do that.
Though she has been singing and writing songs since she was ten years old, and is proficient on guitar and bass, it was only a short time ago that she first got up in front of an audience to perform some of her songs at a Croydon folk club. She completed her GCSEs last year and began her A-level courses, but left school after a few months because she wanted to concentrate on her music and take it as far as it can possibly go.
"I see no reason why it shouldn't all go to plan." she says, although she may be a quiet person, on stage is when you really get an insight into what Claire Toomey is all about: Her thoughts, feelings and experiences.
She is already attracting attention from record companies and during the last few weeks has been working with producer Steve Lyon in a London recording studio. Taking it one step at a time, is slowly but surely paying off for the talented Claire Toomey. It's a good feeling to know that one day soon the whole, wide world might get into her music.
Alan Cackett
Ediror
Maverick Magazine
May 2004
...................................................................
The GuilFest Festival - All Rights Reserved
[Privacy Policy], [Text Only Version], [Site Map]
