The Self Help Group

Event information

The Self Help Group awake in Brighton from a dream of lifetime spent in the Laurel Canyon. Clutching to their breasts an armful their new found bounty of beautiful melodies, soaring harmonies and wistful, intriguing tales………

The Self Help Group started making music in 2009 in Brighton and this year signed to the Union Music Store label. They will release their debut album "Not Waving But Drowning"" in Feb 2013. Come along for a live preview and there will be 'early release' copies of the album available on the night!!


TERRY EMM

‘Excellent debut release.. stunning…faultless production…this is the best debut album from a singer-songwriter that I have heard in a long time…’ – ***** 5/5 – MAVERICK

‘England’s new pastoral-folk prince…an accomplished & mature writer, backed by the most gentle and thoughtful of settings…a charming debut in every sense…careful, considered and invitingly pretty and spatial…luxuriously appealing… ‘- AMERICANA-UK

‘Excellent, excellent music’ -BOB HARRIS, BBC RADIO 2

‘Outstanding debut…pastoral, romantic and lit musically by summer rays…this album is no routine singer- songwriter offering but some-thing totally engaging in melody and lyric…the cult starts here’- **** 4/5- MOJO

“Such finely crafted songs”- R2 MAGAZINE

“Evokes a host of quality English songwriters… a sweet and promising debut”- ACOUSTIC MAGAZINE

‘Striking debut from teenage English troubadour…For a 19-year-old, Emm’s songs boast a remarkable maturity and poise… The effortless, understated craft of songs such as ‘Dove’ and the title track, suggest that if he doesn’t make it as a performer in an already over-crowded field, a career as a writer awaits.’ - UNCUT

Young Bedfordshire singer-songwriter-guitarist, Terry Emm‘s debut album ‘White Butterflies’, caused a stir when it was released in 2009. The album, with it’s introspective lyrics, lush orchestral movements, layers of chiming alternately tuned guitars and mandolin and Terry’s distinctive soothing vocal, found admirers all over the world. The album was produced by world renowned instrumentalist Richard Durrant and features acclaimed violinist Ben Lee (Fuse). The album achieved much praise from the press who drew comparisons to the likes of Nick Drake, John Martyn and Clifford T Ward. Maverick Country magazine described the album as ‘Stunning… faultless… the best singer songwriter debut in a long while’, in a 5 star review, whilst Mojo praised it as an ‘Outstanding debut… pastoral, romantic and lit musically by summer rays…no routine singer- songwriter offering but some-thing totally engaging in melody and lyric’. Uncut described Terry’s songwriting as ‘remarkable’ for a teenager and the album was championed by many radio stations including BBC DJ’s Tom Robinson and Bob Harris who Terry has recorded live sessions and interviews for on 6 Music and Radio 2. Tracks from the album also received support from regional stations including from Johnny Coppin’s ‘Folk Roots’ BBC Gloucestershire, Archie Fisher’s ‘Travelling Folk’ on BBC Scotland, Sue Marchant’s show on BBC Cambridgeshire and Frank Hennessey’s ‘Celtic Heartbeat’ BBC Wales amongst others.

Live, Terry’s solo show is hushed and reflective, his vocal soaring high above his intricate acoustic picking. He is also regularly backed by a band arrangement which sees his songs taken to new triumphant levels. Not long after the release of ‘White Butterflies’, he was invited to open up for the acclaimed songstress Judith Owen on her UK tour and also toured the UK with labelmate, Simon Stewart and with friends Jinder and Alex Hall alongside appearances with the likes of Jackie Leven, Ella Edmondson, Iain Archer, Breaks Co-op, Danny & The Champions of The World, Rosie Flores and at many festivals like Wychwood, Saul Canal Festival and Folk On The Green. Terry continues to tour regularly and has performed at many well known and prestigious venues such as The Stables- Wavendon, The Borderline- London, The Green Note- London, Komedia-Brighton, Gala Theatre- Durham, Bristol 02 Academy and many more. Emm’s work found credible accolades with a cult of admirers that includes Eliza Carthy, the late Nick Drake string arranger Robert Kirby, treasured poet and Beach boys collaborator Stephen J Kalinich and Chesney Hawkes. At the East Coast Music Awards 2010 in Sydney, Canada, it is reported by The Telegram newspaper that when asked for a recommendation from his side of the pond, Bob Harris who was presenting at the Awards suggested audiences listen to Terry Emm.

Terry’s second album ‘Petals Fallen Off The Sun’ released in 2012 saw Terry again working with Richard Durrant as part of Brighton based collective LongMan Records who have been responsible for albums by the likes of; The Ukulele Orchestra Of Great Britain, Stephen J Kalinich, Jack Cryer and the last album by busker legend, Don Partridge amongst others. It again found support from the press with R2 Magazine describing it as ‘an album full of such finely crafted songs’ in a four star review whilst Bob Harris described it as ‘Excellent, excellent music’. Whilst maintaining the English singer-songwriter sensibilities and intricate finger picked guitars of ‘White Butterflies’, the inventive and building drums of Vinnie Lammi and careful instrumental touches by Richard Durrant and acclaimed musician Tom Arnold alongside Emm’s confessional lyrics, resulted in an angsty stark and rocky album. At times, the production is stark and stripped back as in ‘Monet’, an Anji-esque folkie song where Emm is empathizing metaphorically with the life of the painter, his finger-picking ringing brightly and clear voice soaring above. In the sweet ‘Sarah’, a song for Emm’s sister, the drums and accordian float along pleasantly and Durrant’s nylon stringed guitar chimes poignantly, making way for Emm’s emotive vocals. The sparkling guitar layered La’s-esque ‘Here’ and almost Led Zeppelin-esque rocky ‘Snow’ add other flavours to the melting pot, almost as if each song is a different shaded petal fallen from the varied experiences and musical influences of this mature singer-songwriter and his collaborators.

ALEXIS SKYE

Alexis Skye is an English songwriter.Former member of Indie Punks The Violets. New folk sensibilities & narrative lyrics likened to Joni MItchell & Stevie Nicks

Skye was born in a small fishing town on the south coast and lived with musician parents. Her mother a pianist and father a violinist and banjo player who shortly relocated to Australia.

At aged 8 Skye won an art scholarship where she received great encouragement within the creative arts and travelled to Paris, North Africa, France and the Caribbean.
At 18 she formed Indie Punk band The Violets with future founder of Angular Records Joe Daniel and recruited Wolf Riddims to play drums. The 3 having one common ground: Nirvana.

The band released 5 singles and an album and were known for their energetic and atmospheric stage shows across Europe. The violets career culminated in sold out tours with The Gossip and Siouxsie Sioux.

In 2011 Alexis was asked to collaborate with Legendary producer Youth on the moody dance record Separate Our Hearts.

Now following her heart and returning to her roots she is writing music in a more organic vein. With narrative lyrics and folk sensibilities, likenesses have been made to Joni Mitchell and Stevie Nicks.