Culture
Live music at London City Island
As we welcomed an eclectic selection of live music performances as part of The Islander Festival, we caught up with some of our favourite rising stars
Live music is one of those experiences that is virtually impossible to replicate online. But as the industry gradually recovered from a challenging year and audiences were keen to see their favourite stars in concert once again, London City Island was proud to host a series of live music performances alongside alfresco street food markets as part of The Islander Festival. Here, we caught up with three artists to talk about first records, musical inspiration, and what they were most excited about in the run up to playing for the crowds at London City Island.
Erin Bowman
New Jersey native Erin Bowman has been making music since she was a teenager and is passionate about all things 1990s. She moved to London part-time in 2018, where she recorded her recently released debut EP, Apartment 101.
When did you fall in love with music, singing and performing?
I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember. I think it was Disney classics that got me started. And performing followed soon after. I was desperate for the school solo when I was 10!
How would you describe your style and who are you inspired by?
I love the emotional stuff. A good sad girl, mad girl song on acoustic guitar really speaks to me but I grew up listening to a mix of everything. I’ve been inspired by all different artists, some of my all-time favourites being The Eagles, Sheryl Crow, Alanis Morissette, Spice Girls, Third Eye Blind, Matchbox Twenty, Fleetwood Mac, The Police, U2 – the list goes on and on.
Do you get stage fright? If so, how do you overcome that?
I’m usually nervous just a few minutes before I go on but once I start singing that first song, I’m just happy to be doing my thing on stage. All the nerves go away at that point.
Do you have any pre-performance rituals?
Not really, maybe just a quick rehearsal. I have a slight fear of forgetting the lyrics, even to my own songs that I’ve written. But if I rehearse a little right before I go on, I’m usually good to go.
Which artist or band would you love to see live?
I think going to a Fleetwood Mac concert back in the 1970s would have been the coolest experience. What a concert that must have been.
What was the first record you bought?
I believe it was TLC! No Scrubs and Waterfalls were a couple of my favourite songs back in the 1990s.
Which new artists are you currently listening to?
Phoebe Bridgers and Amy Shark are a couple newer ones that I’ve been listening to.
What’s been your favourite performance to date?
I performed for the Radio Disney Music Awards a few years back and that was an incredible moment for me. Such a fun night.
Can you recommend any hidden gems in East London?
Victoria Park is such a nice spot to hang out on a sunny weekend, I absolutely love it there.
What are you most looking forward to about performing at London City Island?
I’m excited to play some new music and see everyone out and about having fun!
Singer-songwriter Erin Bowman
‘‘I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember. I think it was Disney classics that got me started.’
Erin Bowman
Ian Janco of The Fellatones
The Fellatones are an upbeat musical duo who formed during their student days in Liverpool before moving to London. A hit with audiences with their singalong classics and easygoing numbers, Ian Janco – one half of The Fellatones – took part in our Q&A ahead of his performance on the Island in August.
When did you fall in love with music, singing and performing?
I grew up in a musical household so always felt drawn to follow my passion for music. I was writing songs from an early age and was lucky enough to have a lot of instruments around, so I just picked things up and was always learning. I never could have imagined all the adventures music has taken me on.
How would you describe your style and who are you inspired by?
I love the classics: The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison. They’ve always been a huge influence on me, but more recently I’ve really been into more modern artists like Harry Styles, Lianne La Havas and Tom Misch.
Do you get stage fright?
Never have! Apparently when I was 5 years old I sang a song I wrote about Pokémon in front of 2,000 people.
Do you have any pre-performance rituals?
I just take some deep breaths, warm up my voice, and visualise the audience having a great time.
Musician Ian Janco
‘I’ve always felt drawn to follow my passion for music. I never could have imagined all the adventures it has taken me on.’
Ian Janco, The Fellatones
Which artist or band would you love to see live?
Led Zeppelin.
What was the first record you bought?
Demon Days by Gorillaz.
What new artists are you currently listening to?
I’m really loving Arlo Parks at the minute. Her new album is so poetic.
What’s been your favourite performance to date?
I got to open for Lauren Daigle at the O2 Islington – great crowd and the sound was incredible.
Can you recommend any hidden gems in East London
My first flat in London was in Hoxton and I used to go to Brick Lane and Columbia Road Flower Market every Sunday to get inspiration. A bit touristy but always a great day out.
What are you most looking forward to about performing at London City Island?
I’m still so gassed at the thought of being able to play gigs after so long stuck indoors. Really looking forward to this one!
Two Ways Home
Vienna-born Isabella ‘Isi’ Mak and Gloucestershire lad Lewis Fowler make up the songwriting folk-rock-countryAmericana duo Two Ways Home. They released their debut album, Break the Silence, in February 2020, just weeks before the first lockdown put their touring plans on hiatus. The duo stopped off at London City Island for one of their first live performances in July.
When did you fall in love with music, singing and performing?
Lewis: Instruments were always strategically placed around the house when I was growing up and I started playing guitar at a young age. The first gig I remember playing was at our village festival with my dad’s band at the age of about 12. It was then that I realised I loved being on stage and started my first band.
Isi: I started singing as soon as I could talk and then went on to have piano and singing lessons. At school there were always opportunities to perform and I realised pretty early on that I wanted to be a performer. Songwriting came a little later – I remember I wrote my first song at the age of 15.
How would you describe your style and who are you inspired by?
Isi: I always say our music can be described as folk-rock with a country twist and works well on a playlist with artists such as Lady A, Mumford & Sons and The Lumineers.
Do you get stage fright? If so, how do you overcome that?
Isi: We do get nervous before a performance, but we try to turn this into excitement. Being nervous means you care about something and we always want to make sure we deliver a great performance.
‘Playing to a new audience is really exciting and it’s great to see what songs resonate with someone who has never heard you before.’
Lewis Fowler, Two Ways Home
Do you have any pre-performance rituals?
Lewis: We always like to do some vocal warm-ups, they’re super important, especially when performing night after night as it stops you from destroying your voice.
Which artist or band (current or from the past) would you love to see live?
Lewis: Queen. I think Freddie Mercury is one of the most incredible singers and showmen and I would’ve loved to see them performing with him.
Isi: Prince
What was the first record you bought?
Isi: I think mine was the Spice Girls.
Lewis: I can’t remember but there’s a good chance it was an AC/DC album.
What new artists are you currently listening to?
Isi: I discovered a band called Lawrence, who are super cool. They are a brother-sister duo and their sound is a little bit Stevie Wonder-esque.
Lewis: I’m currently loving listening to Ben Rector and Needtobreathe. They’re both well worth checking out!
What’s been your favourite performance to date?
Isi: A couple of years ago we got to perform on the main stage at Nashville Meets London in Canary Wharf in front of a huge crowd who sang along to our songs, which was very special.
Lewis: Nashville Meets London was one that certainly stands out, but I also really enjoyed our set at the first-ever The Long Road festival. We played on the Honky Tonk Bar stage and it had a great vibe.
Can you recommend any hidden gems in East London
Lewis: I love walking around Brick Lane and checking out the vintage stands, there are also some great coffee places and food stalls too.
What are you most looking forward to about performing at London City Island?
Isi: Being able to play to a real audience again and interacting with them.
Lewis: Playing music to your die-hard fans is awesome but also playing to a new audience is really exciting and it’s great to see what songs or aspects of your performance resonate with someone who has never heard you before.
