Friday 20th May 2022:

Songs & Stories Collective:

Tennessee Twin, Sarah Yeo, Donna Marie and special guest Sandy McLelland

At the Golden Hind, 355 Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 1SP

8pm (Doors open 7:30pm)

Entry: £10(door), £9(advance), £8(members).

Buy tickets here.

The Songs & Stories Collective came about through live streaming during the Covid Pandemic. Having admired each other's music from afar, a chance Twitter conversation brought together Tennessee Twin, Sarah Yeo and Donna Marie for a one-off live stream in the summer of 2020. Such was the success of the event that the show continued for some 14 consecutive weeks and a few later one-off shows adding special guests and songwriting challenges for each event.

In the spring of 2021, having recorded everything remotely (even the video), the group released their first single. The song, a cover of 'Humble & Kind' by Lori McKenna, enjoyed wide radio play and is available as a free download to their fans.

Having never been in the same room together the group finally met in person in late 2021 for a one-off show in central Manchester. Arrangements for further dates were soon made for Cambridge, Doncaster and York.

Special guests have always been a corner stone of the Songs & Stories Collective and for the Cambridge show they are delighted to welcome their friend and amazing musician Sandy McLelland.

Tennessee Twin

Hailing from Cambridge, Tennessee Twin are Geoff & Victoria, who have both been creating and performing music since childhood. Their lyrically honest and musically melodic songs span the emotional spectrum, while their performances draw from a lifetime as live musicians.

They've enjoyed both critical acclaim and chart success for their music, having released numerous works in recent years. They’ve appeared on stages on both sides of the Atlantic, with festival appearances including Cambridge Folk Festival and the British Country Music Festival, Blackpool.

They are currently working on a new album due for release later in 2022.

Sarah Yeo

Native Devonian Singer Songwriter Sarah Yeo has been releasing her brand of Country Folk music since her debut EP in 2014 and has gone on to record four albums and three singles.

The multi-faceted songwriter, with a "silky smooth" vocal and acoustic guitar, finds her main inspiration in everyday life, experiencing new destinations and nature. Described as his "favourite singer" by Jim Marshall of Marshall Amps, Sarah has taken her music across the pond to NYC, California and Europe to rave reviews.

Likened to the voices of Karen Carpenter, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Andrea Corr, many of Sarah's tracks have enjoyed BBC and independent radio play since she began releasing music.

Sarah is organising a Country Festival in Devon for 2022 and runs a regular music night in Exeter, Devon alongside top original Country Folk artists.

Donna Marie

Donna Marie is a singer-songwriter from Warrington in the North-West of England.

Her song writing style mixes musical genres that have inspired her as a musician, is deeply rooted in ‘story telling’ and creates melodies that stay with you.

As a musician and vocalist , Donna is also part of 'Dominic Halpin & The Hurricanes' for the hit theatre show 'A COUNTRY NIGHT IN NASHVILLE', playing across the UK in some of the most prestigious venues like Edinburgh Playhouse, Belfast Waterfront Theatre and The Royal Albert Hall.

She is also one half of the musical duo DOVE TIES with Patrick Jordan and a founding member of THE SONGS & STORIES COLLECTIVE.

Sandy McLelland – Special Guest for Songs & Stories, Cambridge

Born in Glasgow, Sandy McLelland has been living and working as a professional composer, arranger, and music producer for over thirty years. Having started his career as an aspiring singer-songwriter, he soon attracted interest from major record labels, moving to London and recording several albums.

His recent ‘Cross the Line’ album reached number 1 in the UK iTunes Country Chart and was Album of The Year on Blues and Roots Radio Worldwide.

He says, “The aim of my music is to be simple and direct. Some of the music is inspired by half-truths, remembrances and an imagination which keeps me awake most nights. Much of it is entirely rooted in personal circumstance. I have been fortunate to be able to have carved out a living from doing something I truly love, something I would have done anyway. The style and content for my music is down to me.”