hungersleep productions presents

PhoenixSounds

Award winning art rock artist, singer-songwriter, guitarist GRICE will be performing songs from his latest album ‘Mordant Lake’, as well as tracks from his previous releases (one thousand birds, Polarchoral, The Grey of Granite Stone & Propeller).

GRICE has built his reputation since 2012 with his debut album ‘Propeller’ (MPG Awards). His music been championed on BBC Radio 6 Music by Tom Robinson, his album Polarchoral (2022) was voted Best Album of the Year in the Indie Prog Awards (NY) and ‘one thousand birds symphony’ has been awarded with a number of international and UK film awards for best original music score.

‘Mordant Lake’ is described as a ‘stoic, strong and embracing new album, epic in its scope and infused with passion’. Melding electro-acoustic glitch, neo-psychedelic rock, nuJazz, art rock and sophisticated pop, GRICE creates a challenging cocktail of emotive songs mixed with hints of electronica and art rock, country-soaked Americana, underpinned by his expressive vocals.

GRICE is joined on stage by the ‘Mordant Lake band’ featuring his brother Jim Iz (Invisible Opera Company of Tibet) on keys and vocals, Dave Costello (The Letters) on bass and vocals, Tony Plato drums (Jackdaw Music, The Waxroom) & Duncan Chave (programming). 

The signature sound of the vocal harmonies produced by Grice, Peters & Costello, exude emotional power combining a Beatle-esque, CSN sweetness with a ‘Crazy Horse’ sonic intensity marking their vocal reunion after several years. The performance is accompanied by visual projections and imagery created by the artist.

Mordant Lake is ‘dedicated to all tribes who have been (and continue to be) forcibly displaced and who remain stateless’. G

‘GRICE makes music of exquisite beauty’ – BBC Radio 6 Music

‘An artist of rare refinement’ – Prog 

Acoustic rock diamonds – The Musician

“Vocally, Grice is mixing the intensity of Mark Hollis (Talk Talk) with a Beatle-esque sweetness. This is highly recommended.” Chris Jones (Writings on Inner Culture)

Described as ‘a singer who is gifted with one of the finest voices in contemporary UK folk music, Cardiff-based Siobhan crafts songs of intensity and sweetness, recounting personal stories whilst reflecting a vivid fascination with dark folk tales and superstitions. Raised in London to parents with Scottish and Irish roots, her vocal leanings reflect early memories of folk musicians at family gatherings and a strong desire to connect with these emotive beginnings.

Not afraid of embracing matters personal in her songwriting, Siobhan describes her single and title track from her debut album ‘Icarus Girl’, with its infectious shuffling rhythm and a nod to Americana, as a song about “the experience of falling in love having the power to resurrect old hope you thought long gone”. 

In a 5* album review, R’n’R Magazine described Siobhan’s voice as ‘a glowing lamp on a string that loops back to Shelagh McDonald and Joni Mitchell’. Her first single ‘The Mermaid in Your Glass’, was on the top 10 Fresh Favs on BBC Radio 6 Music and was played on BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cardiff, The Folk Pilot, Newsoundwales, CuillinFM, PhonicFM, Lonely Oak Radio, Symfozone Radio and several Spotify playlists. 

Siobhan has showcased her music at numerous events, both large and intimate, including Wales’ largest platform for musicians, Focus Wales in Wrexham, Hubfestival Cardiff, Roath Folk Festival, How The Light Gets In Festival in Hay and at Acapela Studios.

‘Absolutely beautiful, just stunning, the voice is something else’ – BBC Radio Wales

‘Siobhan McCrudden really does have a voice of great intensity and beauty’ – NewSoundWales

‘There is a clear debt in Siobhan’s sound to early Joni Mitchell albums. There is also a definite familiarity with late sixties British folk bands such as Fairport Convention and Pentangle in her cultural hinterland.’ – From the Margins

PHOENIXSOUNDS ARCHIVE

Swanston – Veil Cassini – Evi Vine – Zubina – Kat Marsh – Siobhan McCrudden – Fire Bug – Jet King – IKO – Chris Letcher – Josie and the Lovecats – Rosa Rebecca – Dragonsfly – Cassette Generation – N-Tropic – Rosie and the Goldbug – Nozzle – Rob Swann – Paul Besselle & Slipdown Dog – Sarcere – Victoria Hume – Chris Letcher – Robert Edis – Nuala Honan & more

PhoenixSounds are hosted by hungersleep productions & Sound Gallery studios
Venue: Exeter Phoenix, Gandy street, Exeter, EX4 3LS