Snakebite

Morning Letter Blues & Route 66

In Trouble Again

Squeeze

‘A truly exciting live act’

Gavin Martin of the Independent

Elephant Shelf has been on the road for just over five years now, and they’ve sharpened their act through over 500 gigs in London and the South East. They have played every type of venue; Dingwalls, Vortex, Kings Head Theatre Islington, the Fisher Theatre, Jo Jo’s, Olivier’s Jazz Bar Greenwich, the Bull & Gate, Bull’s Head Barnes, Joogleberry Playhouse Brighton, Borderline, etc. They have links back to some of the greatest names in blues and rock – with anecdotes involving Jimi Hendrix, Brian Jones, Bill Munro, Johnny Winter, Jaco Pastorius, Dick Morrissey, and links to Little Walter, Keith Richards and many more.

Elephant Shelf spent much of the past year recording their album ‘In Trouble Again’ a self penned mix of tried and tested original tunes. The album is already being playlisted all over Europe and it captures the excitement of the band’s live shows. 

The band is fronted by singer guitarist Vicky Martin and she is augmented by the fiddle and piano of ‘Princess’ Diana Stone. On stage they add some very different sounds including rock ‘n roll ukulele, Blues melodica and more. Terry McInerney on drums and Robbie Charles on bass add true swing. Finally ‘Little’ Rosie Swan’s backing vocals add an edge of excitement all underpinned by a rhythm section that swings like crazy.

Band leader Vicky Martin recalls a meeting with Jimi Hendrix that sums up the band’s philosophy–“I was fortunate to get a brief chat with Jimi, after a gig at the Manor House pub, North London. I said I’d started out on guitar and asked him for advice. He had enormous hands, he put one on my shoulder and said, “It’s all about listening to the originals, the guys who started it all, listen, learn and then do it and add your own thing.” And he added something “…and don’t ever forget, you gotta entertain the folks!” So that’s what we do; our songs go back to the roots and we believe in entertaining. Send the people away with a smile on their face and we’ve done our job.

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“Is this blues? Is it Jazz?, Is it rock? No, it is the music of

Elephant Shelf; a whole modern music for all audiences and all generations;

Indulge in numerous great pleasures; listen to Elephant Shelf. Excellent!”

Serge Warin – RADIO CANAL BLUE France

Band Biographies & Pics

Vicky Martin – lead guitar / vocals / ukulele / mandolin / dulcimer

Vicky has been playing guitar for a long time but fully developed her playing style quite late in life. As she tells it “I started out a long while ago and got to play with Ian Anderson (of Jethro Tull) I also played a bit with UFO in their early days. But I got the call to become a preacher (church minister)  

It was while I was doing that that I got involved in being an exorcist. It was very interesting, and I recall meeting and, I hope, helping Pete Banks formerly with YES when his father died. Eventually I decided to get back to music. I took the guitar much more seriously, started teaching and then started this band.

About two years into it I started writing and it’s been going well ever since.”

Diana Stone – violin / piano / mandolin / melodica / vocals

Although she has played for a long time, her primary involvement in music came from being in the sound team at Hammersmith Odeon. It was here that she met Bill Munro, Johnny Winter, Elton John and many others. ‘Elton told me I was a good player and to look for a band and really go for it’ She started to do that but unfortunately serious illness sidelined her for a long time. In recovery she developed an amazing array of computer skills but it was when she got together with Vicky Martin that live playing really took off for her. “Now I’m making up for lost time”, she says, “and I’ll see if I can repay Elton John’s faith in me”

Terry McInerney – Drums

Terry started drumming at age seven and has been a pro musician from the age of seventeen. He was a gifted teen footballer and was offered a trial with Spurs, but found music won over sport. He played with Mixed Bag (managed by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber) then with Dick Morrissey, Jim Mullen and others. The great Phil Seamen told many that Terry was a great talent. Illness ruled Terry out of two big opportunities, with Procol Harem and Quintessence. However, he has no regrets. 'I've had the privilege of playing with lots of great musicians, in particular Louis Cenammo of Renaissance and Gary Leport who was famous as guitarist with the Moontrekkers on the Joe Meek classic; Night of the Vampire.

For a long time Terry's life was dogged by the personal demons of alcohol and drugs, but he is now a recovered alcoholic of some twenty years. He devotes much time to helping others both through AA and personally.

Robbie Charles – Bass

Robbie started playing at age fourteen. He later studied for a degree in music theory at Middlesex University and also a Masters Degree.  Robbie trod the boards with jazz groups all over Europe and played with George McRae at Uri Geller's wedding where he met legend Michael Jackson. He also played with the great jazz guitarists Diz Disley and John Etheridge. In the eighties he backed more big names, including George Michael, Bette Midler, and Tavares. Along the way he was also fortunate to have had tuition from the legendary Stanley Clarke. Interestingly, Robbie's uncle Harry Shaberman wrote the million selling 'I'm a Pink Toothbrush' a hit for Max Bygraves and the legendary Danny Kaye. "Yes, rock 'n roll certainly runs in the family" says Robbie.

‘Little’ Rosie Swan – Vocals / Percussion

Rosie’s background is mainly outside of Blues & R&B, being in pop and soul yet it seems that with Elephant Shelf she has finally found her niche.

Rosie has a considerable talent as a songwriter in pop winning prizes in various prestigious competitions and has been much involved with TV in sessions on BBC1, ITV & London Weekend TV. She has also been on radio several times including London Live, CMR (Country Music Radio) for Bob Patterson, Liberty Radio and Jazz Fm. Major gigs included Brit Awards / Earls Court Stadium (London) and Smash Hits Poll Winners’ Party/Xcel Arena (London)

But now she is singing the blues and perhaps following in the footsteps of her greatest influence Dusty Springfield whom she describes as; “An incomparable vocalist”. She is also influenced by Aretha Franklin, Prince, and a host of other great singers. Asked what she truly loves she says “Singing and songs, I just love music, all of it”. Interestingly though that it is the blues and its’ little brother classic rhythm & blues that now seems to have brought Rosie back home.

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