What's it about?

Sam Newton Battenberg Faulkner was born in Surrey on the 11th of January 1985 and attended the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford, studying the guitar and graduating at the age of 17. He played bass guitar in a Green Day cover band and, before going solo under the fuller name of Newton Battenberg Faulkner, he formed the funk-rock band Half a Guy with Matt Buchanan, Dave Elvy and Nicola Crawshaw. The band released a live self-titled EP with no success and, rather than play angry metal music in church halls like everyone else, they decided to attempt uplifting happy sounds — but playing guitar, singing, writing the songs, and arranging the gigs eventually took its toll and led to him making a break on his own. His first solo gigs were at the London Troubadour club and led to a publishing deal for his original songs with Peermusic UK and appearances at the South by Southwest music festival. Faulkner secured a recording deal with BMG Records and released a second EP, U.F.O., featuring solo material, and he appeared to have found his niche with the rise of such recording artists as Jack Johnson, James Morrison and Paolo Nutini. He appeared twice at the Glastonbury Festival in June 2007, both on the acoustic stage on the Friday and on the Left Field stage on Sunday. Faulkner’s debut album, Hand Built by Robots, was released in July 2007, and after entering the charts at number three, climbed to the top during September. Second release Rebuilt by Humans arrived in 2009 and follows Faulkner’s laid back, acoustic sound that gained him many plaudits and a solid fanbase. It was three years until he released his third record Write it On Your Skin in 2012 which became his second UK number one. Moving away from the theme of his previous two full-length releases, he wrote this album to be played live, with a positive, upbeat feel. Faulkner worked with many contributors on this release, including BBC Fame Academy winner David Sneddon and production partner James Bauer-Mein who make up The Nexus (Lana Del Rey, Matt Cardle, Hurts) and bass guitarist Sam Farrar (Phantom Planet).

Support artist Frankie Davies (Stage time 20.00-20.30)

Frankie Davies is at the leading edge of the boom in UK Country music and has been delighting fans in the UK and beyond with her unique blend of Country and Americana. Frankie says of her musical upbringing, ‘growing up listening to Country music has left a definite imprint on my voice and shaped my sound and the types of songs I write. I am inspired by Country and Americana, and I think that really shows in my music and songwriting but I feel that it is my own take on it not just an imitation.’

With thoughtful lyrics, diverse melodies and a humble stage presence that immediately connects with the crowd, Frankie holds her audience with both beautiful ballads and upbeat dance tunes, all with their origins clearly rooted in the great tradition of Nashville.   

In 2015 Frankie released her debut EP ‘Dancing All Night’ out of which came 3 singles, critical praise and national airplay. In 2016 she began work on her debut album, recording with renowned Nashville musicians in the home of Country, and back in the UK with her all female band. Frankie has visited Nashville on many occasions to write and perform, once notably with BBC Radio 2’s Bob Harris as one of just 3 UK artists selected to represent BBC Introducing in Nashville at the Americana Music Festival. She continues to enjoy support from Bob and his team on his radio shows and festival stages.

Aged just 24, Frankie performs at the highest level. She has toured the UK with British Country favourites The Shires and was booked as main support for Grammy Nominated Nashville star Chris Young (7 US No1’s – Grammy Nominated) on the European leg of his sold out, ‘I’m Comin’ Over’, tour stopping off in London, Glasgow, Dublin, Munich, Berlin, Cologne and Stockholm. Most recently she toured with Nashville singer-songwriter Charlie Worsham in the UK and Germany and has twice played the UK’s biggest Country showcase ‘C2C Country to Country’ at London’s O2 Arena along with some of the biggest names in Country. In June 2016 Frankie was invited back to Nashville to perform at an international showcase at one of the world’s biggest Country festivals, CMA Fest.

It’s clear that Frankie was born to perform, if you have an opportunity to catch her live, don’t miss it!