+ DR BUTLER’S HATSTAND MEDICINE BAND + JOSEPHINE ONIYAMA
Manchester based artist and musician Gideon Conn is a songwriter and performer extraordinaire who has been astonishing crowds in the UK . He is a uniquely gifted songwriter who uses a broad spectrum of music to conjure up songs that you will never have heard the like of before. Whether solo acoustic or with his lively and lovable band, he never fails to fill you with wonder and leave you with a massive grin!

Gideon took a degree in fine art, where he quickly established a reputation for playing the piano in the main gallery and using the whole building as his studio space for outlandish sculptures.

The band formed around Gideon in 2005, and have gone from strength to strength. They have wowed at major festivals and toured with some fantastic artists. They released a catchy, hip hop/indie crossover single called ‘i want you around’ which was well received by radio – playlisted on Xfm and awarded breakfast single of the week on BBC 6 music as well being championed by Huw Stevens and Rob da Bank on Radio 1.

Gideon’s Debut album entitled ‘new bop sounds’ was released in August 2010 and he is working in the studio this spring on a follow up album.

“ I don’t believe in genres – I believe in songs.”

“the people of Britain may not know it yet but Gideon Conn is one of their national treasures” – Scroobius Pip

Resume: UK Festivals: Glastonbury, Latitude, Bestival, Glade, Electric Picnic (Ireland), Camp Bestival, Gold Coast surf festival, Blissfields, Square festival, Lounge on the Farm, Middlesborough Music Live, D-Percussion, V festival, Isle of wight.

Tours: Dan le Sac vs scoobius Pip – 20 date UK tour support slot in April 08

Jason Mraz – 4 date UK tour support slot in July 08

6 Day Riot – 10 date joint headline tour in April 09

Other acts Gideon and his band have shared a bill with include: Noisettes, Wombats, Get Cape Wear Cape Fly, Karima Francis, Keith, Bombay Bicycle Club, Whisky Cats, Rod Thomas, Josephine Oniyama, Sound of Rum, Jamie Woon

A Freak A is the new EP by the hugely talented JOSEPHINE and is the follow up to her successful summer EP 'I Think It Was Love'.

Josephine’s music is inspired by the musicians of the Manchester area coupled with the musical heritage of her West African family. House parties invariably centred on her mother’s collection of vinyl: Hi-Life, Congolese music and Soul. Stacked in the front room was King Sunny Ade, The Isley Brothers, The Supremes, Ali Farka Toure & Johnny Cash.
 

Josephine explains - "I had this musical history being a Mancunian but there was also the heritage I belonged to coming from a West African family. At school it was all about indie but when I went home it was African. The rhythms and subjects were totally different to the Manchester sounds. I never try to cram all these influences in, hopefully they just come out in a natural way. Lots of the guitar riffs I use have an element of Hi-Life in there."
 

The reviews of her debut release were amazing, with the likes of 6 Music’s Lauren Laverne, The Sunday Times, Music Week and Jazz Fm, all hailing Josephine as a massive British talent and a true artist to watch out for. Her hotly anticipated debut album is set for release next year. "The album isn't finished yet but it will be a mix of upbeat songs like A Freak A and some more down tempo ballads. I like to keep things simple in terms of lyrics with strong messages."