We’ve noticed recently many couples are going down the solo acts for weddings option which is presumably down to this seemingly endless recession. We’re feeling the pinch here at Freak Towers too, we ‘ve had to cut our oyster lunches at the Café Royal down to two a week. It’s hell I tell you…
Matt Cook is a guitar player and singer who specialises in providing an alternative musical option for people that want live music for their event, but don’t want to go down the “pub and club” singer route. Matt likes to play all kinds of different songs, these can be songs that are only a few weeks old and currently playing on the radio, or they can be old classics from heavyweight bands. If it’s a good song, it’s in. Matt uses only an acoustic guitar and his voice, and doesn’t believe in using backing tracks or prerecorded CDs, as these detract from the goal – to provide real live music, to people who insist on an authentic sound.
Jen Armstrong (below right) accompanies herself on piano, whilst using her powerful and soulful vocals to take the audience on a relaxing and beautiful journey visiting the likes of Alicia Keys, Norah Jones, Elton John and many more on the way. Jen can also perform with her band, bringing guitar, bass, and percussion to the mixture, ideal for lively parties and centre stage entertainment. 
During the brit pop era Chris Stocks started to listen to artists such as Oasis and Blur, he’s a south-paw, but first picked up a right handed guitar and began to learn upside down. Encouraged through his fathers love for music, he was introduced from a very early age to artists such as The Beatles, The Kinks, Rolling Stones and many more. His interest in music continued throughout his education forming school bands, it was during this time that he began writing his own material. By the age of 28 Chris had been part of the music scene with many different bands having had the most success with The Good Die Young.
And, the jewel in our crown Hollie Burns (pictured) is one of the finest and most popular solo performers the UK has to offer. In 2008, Hollie toured and opened up concerts in front of 7,000 people for Status Quo on their UK tour. Hollie has performed at hundreds of weddings, armed forces events and corporate gigs all over the country in venues such as the Gleneagles hotel, Cameron House on Loch Lomond, The Balmoral, The Hydro, several Hiltons, a few Marriots, One Devonshire Gardens, Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh’s Dirty Martini and many more besides. If what you want is 60s, 70s to all the new chart hits – or relaxed jazz, blues and soul, Hollie can judge a crowd and has over 400 songs to chose from. As standard she includes pre recorded DJ music for breaks – or if you prefer she can supply her own DJ who can also do a called Ceilidh set.
