Laurence Parnell

Handcrafted Guitars

Music

I was a musician and visual artist before I combined the two interests by making my own instruments, and I try to get out and play my own music whenever I can - it's a good way of demonstrating my guitars to potential customers.

I write and perform my own songs and instrumental pieces, and I enjoy playing fingerstyle arrangements of Irish dance music and harp tunes. There's a good, fortnightly Irish session here in Frome, at The Griffin, in Milk Street, where they also have a regular jazz night, and sometimes bands. They also brew some good beers.

There's a thriving music scene around these parts, with regular acoustic club nights, and a busy summer festival, details of which you can find at www.fromefestival.co.uk I play solo gigs, and also as part of Trio Svengali, a pan-European cafe ensemble, with Annabelle Macfadyen (accordion,vocals) and David Allinson (fiddle).I've recently been combining poetry, music and song in a project called Liquid Jam, with poets Crysse Morrison and Hazel Stewart, (there's a cd out now - e-mail for details. Read about Crysse here).

The Magnets, erstwhile swamp groove gods, have decided to disband; that limited-edition cd of yours has suddenly become a collector's item! Watch this space for details of new projects...........

I'd like at some stage to get some soundfiles here, but in the meantime, if you're at all interested in hearing any of the above, do get in touch with me.