Date/Time Sun 10 Apr 2022 7:45 PM
Price Online - £9.90; On The Door - £10
Website: https://www.thelastinklings.co.uk/
The Last Inklings are Leonardo MacKenzie and David Hoyland, formerly of Kadia; both are accomplished multi-instrumentalists with a solid folk background. The band’s innovative sound crosses genres, centred around cello, mandolin and vocal harmony, layered with guitar, piano, strings, synths and percussion. With vibrant backstories and creative musicianship, their songs have a modern flavour that is rich with imagery and narrative, exploring at their core what it is to be human.
Their name is a nod to the mid 20th century literary group which included Tolkein and CS Lewis, although their inspiration is drawn from wider sources than just these authors, ranging from Carl Jung to Terry Pratchett. Thoughtful depth is handled with a light touch, balanced with playfulness, metaphor and humour. Musically their influences are equally diverse, including artists such as Moulettes, Punch Brothers, and the cinematic soundscapes of composers like Max Richter to the traditional songs and tunes of the British Isles.
The duo’s debut album, The impossible Wild was released in November 2021.
Leonardo MacKenzie is a classically trained cellist with an early music background. Awarded a music scholarship at Bournemouth University he now teaches cello, piano, violin and ABRSM Grade 8 music theory. He has 15 years of live session work and recording experience and has worked with studios across the country for a number of acoustic and folk artists with producers including Mark Tucker (Portishead, Jethro Tull, Show of Hands, Fairport Convention). He regularly works live and in the studio with Dorset folk duo Ninebarrow (BBC Radio 2 Folk Award Nominees) alongside Evan Carson (Sam Kelly and the Lost Boys, The Willows) and John Parker (Nizlopi, Ward and Parker).
David Hoyland began his musical career as a percussionist, playing drums in jazz, blues and rock bands. Picking up the guitar alongside this he developed a keen interest in other stringed instruments including the ukulele, mandolin and violin. With a grass roots musical education and experience of songwriting and live performance, he now also runs Impossible Audio, a studio offering mixing and mastering services as well as media composition for film, TV and video game soundtracks.
Alfonso the Magnificent is an innovative and exciting group, mixing traditional genres of Jazz, Gypsy Jazz, Latin, Classical and Modern Folk to create a unique sound of their own. Performing original songs from melancholic ballads to toe-tapping upbeat dance tunes.
The collaboration consists of Violinist Mervyn Wallis, Singer/Guitarist Leo Gibbs, Accordionist David Warner and Percussionist Nathan Marshall.