AMY WADGE + EDWINA  HAYES + ROSALIE DEIGHTON    

Hummingbird all have their own solo careers, but have met on the festival circuit in the UK over the last five years.

They decided in late 2005 that there was safety in numbers, and so formed a band. Emmylou Harris plays a Gibson ‘Hummingbird’ guitar, hence the name.

This is not a collection of doe eyed teenagers, whose mother sent them to a stage school and are now looking to marry a footballer. These are three professional musicians, who make a living, almost, from music as well as doing a multitude of other jobs (dog walking, working in a crouton factory, barmaid etc etc).. Anything that needs to be done, to get a collection of battered Japanese cars to the next gig. They have amassed 9 record deals, 11 lawyer and 14 managers between them. They could right the “Beginners guide to the music biz” if someone thought it would sell and if they could find a manager, lawyer, publisher and agent.

They teamed up with the ‘Mighty Vibration’ production team in January 2006, who have just produced the number one album for Sandi Thom and made their debut album ’They Don’t Make Mirrors Like They Used To’.

Somewhere between Kirsty MaColl and a female Crosby Stills and Nash. This is a collection of 12 songs that really do show that a combined thirty years on the road, means practice makes perfect and believing Richard Thompson to be a sex symbol is no shame

AMY WADGE

We had the great pleasure to promote Amy earlier this year for a gig at the Cluny. This is what we said about the gig ...

Every now and then you get that extra special night and this was one of them. As Amy Wadge was doing her sound check, Dave the Cluny manager said he had just had a phone call from the support band to say they were running late.

What support band?

Neither we nor Amy were aware of a support so it was quite a surprise when Mary Lee's Corvette walked through the door. It seems there was a problem of communications with management, but we were delighted to see her anyway. It was just a pity that we did not told in advance to let her Northeast fans know she was appearing. As a further bonus, Mary Lee was supported by the excellent Jim Kirkpatrick on guitar.

Not phased by the cock-up, Mary Lee's Corvette took to the stage and gave us an excellent 30 minutes.

Her vocal qualities are striking with a well balanced blend of power and sensitivity. The set also had a good mix of songs including some from her latest album, Love loss & Lunacy. This lady is an excellent song writer and is certainly on the up. If you get the opportunity, go and see her. By the way, well done to Jim Kirkpatrick who was first class on guitar.

After the break it was time for Amy. At this point we should mention the football. Arsenal were playing Barcelona in the final of the Champions League Cup which was live on TV, so we knew that audience numbers would be affected. It probably was, but we were delighted with the higher than expected crowd and boy, were they enthusiastic.

Amy has a shed loads of charisma and grabs the audience instantly. Her voice is distinctive  packed with passion and supported by her skills as a musician. Amy showed great confidence on guitar and piano and was selective in using some excellent effects which added to the full feel of the music.

At the drop of a hat, she had the audience talking to her and of course singing with her. no, not a folk club job, just a superb atmosphere with people enjoying fabulous lyrics.

After the gig, one guy said, "We won't see her in a gig like this again, she will be too big for here so it will be the City Hall next time".  We are sure Amy is set for the big time, but we do hope to persuade her to play the Cluny one more time towards the end of the year.

EDWINA HAYES

 ‘A wonderful young woman, so gifted and full of song, with a voice that is sweet as the angels’   Nanci Griffiths

‘A very talented young lady’   Michael Parkinson

 ROSALIE DEIGHTON

Half Indonesian, half Dutch & half Barnsley

www.amywadge.com   www.edwinahayes.com  www.rosaliedeighton.com