GuilFest 2005. The Guildford Music Festival on 15th, 16th and 17th July 2005

About the bands
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Artist: Who Will Miss Mary
Genre: Pop
Performing: 18th July 2004 / The Uncut Aladdin's Cave Stage
Website Address: [www.whowillmissmary.com]

"… too beautiful to think about / too ugly to be fair…"

A brutal act of violence in a small dormitory town. A homeward train journey when a girl realises she's not with the man she really wants. A chance meeting with an old acquaintance that results in some hasty and drunken making-up for lost time...

These are the three subjects set to who will miss mary…?'s sublime acoustic-driven pop on their new 3-track single 'Over', described by Gareth Watkins of TNT Magazine as "a passionate, warm, edifying and uplifting debut single."

Vocalist Mary Leay and guitarist Greg Sinden first began to compose and perform their bittersweet mini-masterpieces in 1999, escaping from their native East Grinstead to play virtually every acoustic night in the country and garnering startling early praise for the EPs 'who will miss mary…?' and 'Without You'. When bassist Ian Holdaway and drummer Tim Thornton completed the line-up in 2002, followed shortly by the release of the mini-album 'Safe', the band's extraordinary mix of aching melodies, moving lyrics, haunting harmonies and powerful live-performances truly came of age.

The band gigged incessantly over the next year, from London's Borderline and Barfly to New York City's Bitter End and Mercury Lounge, taking in summer festivals the likes of Sesiwn Fawr in Wales and major events such as the London City Showcase, where The Guardian pronounced them "the highlight of the day," adding that "singer Mary Leay's range, delicacy and power would shame any Pop Idol contestant."

Having sold over 1000 copies of 'Safe', 2004 is already bursting with promise, with the new single already receiving radio airplay and summer festival dates secured.

In 2003 the BrightonCore entertainment website asked "... will WWMM? make it big?" only to be answered shortly after with "... this is one of the finest acts I have seen this year and I can't wait to see them again. The answer is definitely YES!" This is the year their prophecy may well come true.

"Beautifully subtle vocal harmonies, like Everything But The Girl, only not as depressing, and with better tunes" - Steven Poole, The Guardian

"Excellent songs… I really enjoyed listening" - Kevin Greening, XFM

"Few young bands have self-affirmation and confidence so ingrained in their music as WWMM?, and this single [Over] captures their unique ability to create powerful sweeping gestures from light strokes"
- Gareth Watkins, TNT Magazine

"Exquisite, memorable songs with the voice of an angel"
- Annie Windley, Get Rhythm Magazine