Diane Cluck is a New York-based singer-songwriter of intuitive folk music. She has been influential in the development of the Anti-folk scene and has collaborated with Jeffrey Lewis, and Hermane Dune. She plays an intimate two day residency OTO following sell-out shows in London in September ’09. For these two shows, Diane will be accompanied on both nights by versatile, classically-trained cellist Isabel Castellvi.

“My favorite singer/songwriter in all of New York City. I’m so happy to be alive at the same time she is because I get to see her perform. Her lyrics are so good; when I play this for people they stop doing everything and are quiet for hours after.” Devendra Banhart

"Though Cluck is also anti-folk affiliated, her sound is more serious— she is likely one of the most refined and elegant songwriters in all of neo-folkdom (freak-, anti-, whatevuh-). A brilliant idiosyncratic guitarist, a witty and wise lyricist, an imaginative melody writer with a powerful voice; her dark and introspective tunes are utterly captivating, sorta like an earthier Kate Bush. Watch her spellbind the room." Village Voice



Song of The Week project
Diane Cluck interview on Breakthrough Radio
Diane Cluck interview on Bobby Six
Isabel Castellvi website

FRANCESCO GUERRI

Francesco Guerri was born in Cesena (IT) in 1977. He graduated at “ B. Maderna” Conservatory of Music (Cesena) in June 2000, with full marks (10/10). Right after the examination he run away from the building, with the beloved Shostakovich first cello concerto under his arm and never came back. After that he approached music improvisation and electro acoustic music. He met, drunk, ate and played with Tristan Honsinger, Carla Bozulich, Edoardo Marraffa, Fabrizio Puglisi, Ches Smith, Cris Corsano (just for one song), Fabrizio Spera, Alberto Fiori, Vincenzo Vasi, Cristiano Calcagnile, Gianluca Petrella, Domenico Caliri, Laurence "Butch" Morris, Nicola Guazzaloca, Steve Noble, William Parker.

Since 2001 he has worked at Bologna “Maggiore” Hospital, as educator/musician, dealing with psychological disorder in teen years. Real life. Real monsters. The most incredible experience ever.

FROM YOUR BEGINNING TO MY [HA]ND is a project for solo cello, mainly acoustic. I feel an anachronistic connection between my instrument, widely considered ancient and limited in the scope of musical genres it can explore and the unlimited world of living, contemporary musics which I consciously apply to my work. The album moves between improvisation and written song, always respecting the possibilities of moving from one to the other.



Though I've explored much contemporary classical music, in this case my use of the word “contemporary” refers to all sorts of song-structured stuff..... everything from rock, electronics, dance, ethnic pop.... musics with repetition, and minimalism. I use my cello to extend my body. The sound puts shape to things in many ways... even going so far as to feel lyrical, like a voice coming through me.

ROZI PLAIN



ROZI PLAIN

Behold the wonderfully intimate and human songcraft of Rozi Plain, born Rosalind Leyden in the leafy-greens of Winchester 26 years ago. Having moved to Bristol, set up the Cleaner Records collective with a collection of musical friends and family and released her debut album “Inside Over Here” on King Creosote’s Fence Records in late-2008, Rozi has been busy bringing her beautiful, enchantingly brittle and understated music to the people.

Whether alone with guitar or joined by an assembly of her regular co-conspirators (including François & The Atlas Mountains, This Is The Kit and Sleeping States, all of whom she also joins for their sets in a glorious musical swapping shop), her songs possess a certain fragile magnetism that can hush the gabblers in the drawing of a breath, and make any room seem like home.

The rare and humble pleasures of Rozi’s live show have led to tours across Europe, the UK & USA with notables including Devendra Banhart (who fell for “Inside Over Here” and named it one of his albums of last year) KT Tunstall, James Yorkston and Viking Moses, and appearances at festivals such as Green Man, End Of The Road, Shambala and Fence’s flagship event Homegame. Recordings have been tied to tape and tinkered with for her soon-to-follow second album, recent singles Humans and See My Boat have been BBC 6 Music favourites.