HOOK
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HOOK

Band Pop Singer/Songwriter

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"Jo Hook at The Grey Lady"

JO HOOK was the headline act and she simply mesmerized the Grey Lady masses with her absorbing jazzy pop acoustic melodies. Jos vocals are breathtakingly supple and soulful and she is probably the most relaxed performer I have ever seen. Her playful and gently humorous interaction with the audience went down a storm and she had the good folk of the Grey Lady in the palm of the hand. Jo is so at home on stage, almost as if she were born to perform. An outstanding set and how they hollered for an encore and they got their reward! Her two backing singers gave an interesting, thicker texture at times adding rich Gospel like harmonies and answering phrases which gave the music a further power & lift when required. Jos style is sort of like an up tempo Tracey Chapman/Carole King but in all honestly She has carved her own brand of inspiring music, well worth listening to I tell thee, so I urge you to come and watch Jo net time shes in the house. - Paul Dunton


"HOOK AT LOUNGE ON THE FARM"

They took to the stage with glee and once again played a cracking set. The songs consisted of many I had heard before, but there were a few new ones that went down really well. Their newest one was particularly well-crafted and had an extremely catchy chorus. Someone should really give these guys some more exposure, as they have proved that no matter what the size of the crowd is, they can always win them over.
- JUKE BOX


"BBC Kent write up of Kent festival"



- BBC Kent 'Blast'
"The first band we met was Hook. I had never heard their stuff before but after today I will definitely be recommending them. Hook are from Canterbury and the lead vocalist Jo thinks that the Kent Music Festival is, "an excellent thing for the county. There should be more music in the county and bigger acts".

Jo's voice is very strong and this creates a "strong and punchy" rock style. She is helped out by her own guitar playing, Becca Green's percussion, Jez Aitkens indie guitar and Nick Thurston's melodic bass.

They admitted a festival of this size was not a daily occurrence: "It was pretty mind blowing," says Jo. "There are a lot of amazing talent in Kent that don't actually get heard a lot of the time so we are just really lucky".

Hook are an amazing talent ranging from soft ballads to punk rock and they were "Really chuffed" to have performed at the first Kent Music Festival. Well I can honestly say they made a massive impact on the audience."

- BBC Kent's Nicole Langdon
"[Meeting them] was very exciting because I already knew I like their style of music so to actually take photo's of them was a great feeling. Especially as I personally think they will be huge across the globe."
- BBC Radio Kent


"Bugbear Promotions review"


"Charmsome wistful and pastoral psychedelic folk pop from Canterbury…aaah, the garden of England comes to Islington, the executive parking space cum marble table top smudged with coke debris and sun dried tomato remnants err of England."

"jazz tinged pop razzle, only going to show that the Canterbury scene is alive and well and still enjoys a herbal cigarette."
- Bugbear promotions


"Richard Manning Warrior Entertainment Group"

Best band I’ve heard all year, knockout songs, that had the audience begging for more – you’ve got to hear this band”
- Richard Manning


"HOOK"

Hook

JO HOOK has learned the hard way that making it in the music business is far more pitfall-laden than most could imagine.

After a management deal for this versatile Canterbury singer-songwriter fell through, events seemed bleak.

"I don't think the company knew what to do with me. They liked my songs but I don't fit into a neat box as I don't look like a pop singer.

"The contract I was asked to sign would have fleeced me of my songs, but I did not want that, I wanted to sing them myself as they were personal."

Determined not to be beaten by the experience, she returned to the Canterbury area and set up her own band, Hook.

Their impressive self-financed debut album Settle Down is packed full of laid-back melodies that showcase Jo's expressive vocals.

"We have worked really hard in the last year and a half on it at Delta Studios in Chartham," she said.

"It's taken us a long time but we are proud of it and our producer Julian Whitfield has been a real inspiration."

Originally from Sussex, Jo, who works for the National Family and Parenting Institute, first began songwriting in her teens and found she had a natural way with a melody.

Moving to Kent to study at Canterbury University, she went on to gain an MA in women's studies. But the pull of music has always been strong and it was while in the city that she developed her songwriting further.

"I used to go to the Penny Theatre a lot where there were people who were amazingly supportive of my music and bands like Radiohead played there, but it's just a chain pub now.

"I've been playing with our drummer Becca Green for about six years now and she is amazing. She and bass player Nick recruited themselves really, then we were joined by our guitarist Jez.

"For me, singing and writing are the things that give me most comfort."

Still performing solo, Jo has played America, France, Greece and Germany.

Hook have enjoyed support slots with a wide range of acts, from indie rock's Cast to Suzanne Vega and Tom Robinson. They also played at last year's Kent Music Festival.

"That was a really good day, the crowd were great and we got bombarded by young kids wanting our autographs."

Hook play the Grey Lady, Tunbridge Wells.

More on Soundcheck...

Related Website: www.myspace.com/johook

- Neill Barston -Kent Messenger


Discography

Settle Down ( album)
square (ep)
take me home ( ep)
Inside Out ( album)
PODCAST http://fishbowlacoustic.com/?p=16 live set at Fishbowl Accoustic
We have had radio play and some tv coverage including BBC.

Photos

Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio

Canterbury based Jo Hook started out performing solo, building a strong fan base in the South East, and recorded an album of songs called Inside Out. Jo has a lush, rich voice, a beautifully detailed guitar style and builds an amazing relaxed rapport with her audience.
“Best band I’ve heard all year, knockout songs, that had the audience begging for more – you’ve got to hear this band”
Richard Manning, Warrior Entertainment Group

Hook sees Jo’s vocals and guitar work complemented by the alternative beats of percussionist Becca Green, indie lead guitar by Jez Aitkens, thumping bass by Tudor Smith and soulful bv's from Emily and Hannah. Together they transform Jo’s songwriting skills into a blend of soul, pop , folk and indie rock.
Hook’s new album, Settle Down (release late 2005) builds on the last two EPs, Take Me Home and Square (2004) moving through a vibrant live feel, to a smooth, polished and professional sound. Musically, Settle Down is an eclectic mix of contemporary indie guitar, jazz flavoured pop, all with Jo’s distinctive singer/songwriting; intense, wry, quirky, vulnerable, cynical, hopeful – all with great tunes.

· Support and gigs
· Lemarr, Girls Aloud, Roll Deep, Cheeky Girls!!, Wire Daisies, Motionpicturesoundtrack, Cast, Suzanne Vega, Tom Robinson, Arthur Lee, Jim Leverton (Caravan), Glastonbury

· Have played London ( including Dublin Castle, Hope and Anchor, The Verge, The garage). Paris, New York, LA, Prague, Glasgow, Birmingham, Leeds

· Sold over 1500 local releases (not to mention the bootlegs!)

· TV and local Radio - Radio Kent, Invicta FM, Bradford FM, University of Kent Radio, ‘Where It’s @ TV’

· Current US distribution agreement with Dreamscape records

· Growing mailing list, vibrant fanbase, praise, reviews and album sales from, USA, Australia, New Zealand, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Czech Republic, Sweden, Norway, Greece, Canada.

Why are we different?
Because we relax our audience, we connect with people on different levels, musically and personably and because we are who we are, people always see something of themselves in us.

More info can be seen at www.myspace.com/johook or www.jo-hook.com.
You can also purchase and hear songs on www.indiestore.com/hooktheband