Al Start’s melodies are soulful and incredibly catchy: her strong, rhythmic guitar style provides the perfect balance. Entertaining both adults and children alike, Al is right at home on stage. The Beastie Band are Al’s great little folky five-piece band comprise of guitars - electric/acoustic/tenor; mandolin, bazuki, banjo, ukulele, bass, percussion & drums and layers of lush harmonies. 

The band are all good friends and have played together for many years and have an effortless blend.

Al’s main focus is the songwriting itself, “I can remember making up songs each night as a small child and singing them relentlessly to my poor sister!” She even went back to college in 2003 (Brighton Institute of Modern Music - BIMM) to study it in depth for a year. Here her writing caught the eye of Squeeze’s Chris Difford who invited Al to several residential songwriting courses. This gave her the opportunity to co-write with top industry writers such as Helen Boulding (Alex Parks), Matt Deighton (Oasis/Mother Earth), John Hammond-Hagan (Liberty X) and Jill Sobule.

Her songs tell unusual stories; describe situations we can all identify with, conjure images, stir memories and evoke emotions. Her first solo album, GO is a treasure trove of personal stories, childhood memories and the beautiful production (Tracey Field) makes the most of every word and note.

Next solo release, ‘I Heart History’ is a collection of songs Al wrote while on a residency at Brighton & Hove Museum. Six Months as a researcher saw Al in her element uncovering hidden and little known stories from Brighton’s colourful past. “Each song tells a true story; secrets and tragedy, murder and mystery, places and people - murderers, poisoners, impostors, lovers….who knew Brighton’s past was quite so dark?”

Al has toured the UK solo and with folk songstress Belinda O’Hooley (O’Hooley & Tidow) and Australian indie-rocker Nat Ripepi. She played support to one of her early influences & musical role models (and amazing gay icon) Horse on a massive UK tour and built a strong following across the nation. Two trips to the US and a solo tour of the East Coast USA followed. Americans loved the kooky storytelling Brit!

Al has played to huge audiences like Trafalgar Square for Euro Pride, and is quite at home on stage. She has recently branched out into writing and producing children’s musicals with Nicola Bloom, she has recorded 6 children’s albums and produced 2 books. Adult shows are still very much on the agenda, though being a mum of a tiny tearaway has limited touring temporarily! Plenty of new material is building towards a new folk-influenced album for 2014 and the band has never sounded better.