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A SINGER /
SONGWRITER / ENTERTAINER FROM THE BACK OF BOURKE
Merri-May Gill is like
Suzanne Vega meets Lucille Ball; Joni Mitchell meets Bette Midler,
Essentially Merri-May Gill has beautiful & clever songs with a
magnetic performance.
Her stellar voice and
smooth guitar playing beautifully showcase the eclectic and
captivating song writing that has earnt her 5 star reviews and sell
out seasons at the Edinburgh Fringe.
'Merri-May Gill is a consummate performer, captivating, incredibly
gifted, possibly insane,
a joy to watch. There sure aren't many around like her' - The Scotsman
UK
Merri-May Gill was born in outback NSW in 1975. She grew up on
50,000-acre sheep station, called Weilmoringle two hours North West of
Bourke. There was a small school, which she attended with the local
Muruwari (Aboriginal) children. Her extremely unorthodox musical
history involved a 4 hour round trip over dirt roads to have guitar
lessons. Her home was so remote that they could rarely pick up the
radio. With one ABBA album and host of her mother's opera albums as
her only musical influences Merri-May began to write as soon as she
could play.
'Amazing voice and a great guitarist' - The Guardian
At the age of 11 she was sent away to boarding school in Armidale.
This was a little bit of a culture shock as it was all girls and they
were all white and there was nowhere to track emus or shoot pigs.
When Merri-May finished school she worked in Dover in the UK for a
year before returning to Bathurst to do a Business Degree at Charles
Sturt University. In fact many of her subject presentations were
presented in song and it seemed the path to being a musician was well
and truly set.
Excellent singing and guitar skills – The Melbourne Age
Following the completion of her business degree in 1997 Merri-May
started touring professionally. She has consistently toured to the
UK, NZ, USA, Prague and throughout Australia. Her touring has seen
her share the bill with the likes of Michelle shocked, Joan
Armatrading and Janis Ian.
Merri-May is an observational songwriter who has recently been writing
with Greg Arnold from Things of Stone and Wood. You will find
yourself in her compositions as do most of her audience members! Her
observations are clever and her turn of phrase unique.
Merri-May has had the pleasure of appearing at a broad range of
festivals such as Royal National Theatre Summer Festival London,
Cambridge Folk Festival, Edinburgh Fringe Festival Pt Fairy Folk
Festival, National Folk Festival, Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Adelaide
Fringe Festival, Woodford Folk Festival and many more.
In October 2002 she released This Is… Merri-May Gill, her first
release on independent label Hot Records. This follows three
independent releases: 'Live at the Edinburgh Fringe EP, That's Me On
The Cover and One Mixed Bag.
The Back of Bourke may be in drought but Merri-May definitely isn’t
www.merrimaygill.com
- Merri-May Gill
- Designated Driver Tour
MERRI-MAY GILL
SINGER /
SONGWRITER / ENTERTAINER
Designated Driver Tour : March 2004
Merri-May Gill hits the road in Australia in March! Fresh
from appearances at the Pt Fairy Folk Festival, Adelaide Fringe,
North American Folk Alliance Showcase in San Diego, Tamworth
Country Music Festival & the Thredbo Blues Festival she launches
her new EP – Designated Driver.
Merri-May Gill has been
described as Suzanne Vega meets Lucille Ball; On her new EP her song
writing comes to the fore as she beautifully captures songs she co
wrote with Greg Arnold from Things of Stone & Wood.
'Merri-May Gill is a consummate performer, captivating, incredibly
gifted, possibly insane,
a joy to watch. There sure aren't many around like her' - The Scotsman
UK
She is touring in trio mode with her pianist – Jamie Messenger and
backing singer Kerrie Arthur. The trio will perform songs from the
album 'This Is...' and a collection of new material that she describes
as ‘revealing another and perhaps more serious side of her songwriting!’
Merri-May says that ‘including numbers such as Designated Driver,
Tears In The Sun and Who You Doin Now makes the show feel complete. It
gives the audience the full range of emotions.
From Bourke to Broadway, Merri-May Gill is one of Australia's most
exciting exports.
Interviews: Please contact publicist
Ronda Toner
helphelpmeRonda
rtoner@bigpond.net.au
PH: (02) 9798 8824
Mbl: 0408 704 345
For full touring details please see Merri-May Gill @
www.merrimaygill.com
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