I’m delighted to welcome Lauren Housley and her fabulous band to Billericay. I can guarantee they have an outstanding live set – having seen them earlier in the year at St Pancras Old Church in Kings Cross (and more recently at the Old Rabbit Barn in Colchester), which was simply one of the best gigs I’ve attended in a long while. I’m especially delighted to have them playing St Mary’s – it will be a very special night.
Lauren is a native of Rotherham in South Yorkshire, but is now based in Manchester. Lauren’s debut album ‘Sweet Surrender’ is definitely one of my standout albums of 2015 and is filled with some brilliant original songs, written alongside long time creative partner Thomas Dibb, that are honest, sincere and personal. ‘Show Me What Love Is’ is a beautifully tender ballad with a slow-burning intensity and one of my favourites on the album. ‘Sweet Surrender’ is a no filler, affair with a number of tracks already play listed on Radio 2 by the likes of Chris Evans, Jeremy Vine and Bob Harris.
Few debut albums are as outrageously assured as ‘Sweet Surrender’, a blend of material both thrilling and tender, propelled by a voice that stirs and soothes. R2 Magazine
Lauren draws her influence from a wide range of music genres, with her emotive vocals steeped in Gospel, Blues and a unique blend of ‘Nashville’ flavoured soul with a hint of Americana and Roots, Pop and Rock and some killer covers thrown in for good measure. It’s a very potent and thrilling mix. If this video of a classic cover doesn’t grab you – nothing will!
Lauren Housley’s brand of Americana blurs the lines between rock and soul through to country and blues. Her music is genre defying, and will appeal to all. National Blues Review
Support will be from Dan Pierce who played a well received opening set at the 2016 Mini Fest (accompanied by Ben & Annabel Carr). Dan has played with Gloucestershire band Big Blue Sun and The Lamplight Poet folk collective in Teesside. Among his influences are Elliott Smith, Damon Albarn & Bob Dylan. Dan describes his songs as: ‘A slice of melancholy with a twist of hope!’ With themes including misfits, rogues and the triumphs of nostalgia.
Tickets are £10 (Door £12) plus fees, there is general seating (with some standing if numbers are high) and are available direct from Lauren’s website http://laurenhousley.co.uk/ (look under shows) or click here.
Saint Mary’s is a 5 minute walk from Billericay station (only 25 mins from Liverpool Street) and there is ample parking off the High Street (behind Iceland). We are also only 5 mins off the A127 or 10 mins off the A12. You can find us on a map here
There will also be a very reasonable priced bar selling wine, beer and soft drinks available!
For more information, please contact paul@billericaychurches.org
A leaflet can be downloaded here and a poster here
Any proceeds from this event will go to Charity (TBC)
revPACman 