Tattletale Saints

Doors at 7pm for coffee and cake.

Formally Her Make Believe Band, Tattletale Saints is a London born duo band described as a “masterful blend of Americana fused with jazz, soul and pop”.

As Her Make Believe Band, Cy and Vanessa released their debut album AM Radio (Old Oak Music) in 2009 to critical acclaim both in NZ and in the UK, including Uncut Magazine UK who described songwriter/vocalist/guitarist Cy Winstanley as “a potent songwriter with a voice gently reminiscent of Paul Simon” while vocalist/bassist Vanessa McGowan “adds beguiling harmonies”. Graham Reid, New Zealand's foremost music journalist, described AM Radio as a "delightful album...hooks you in with melodies and keeps you there by virtue of the words...very sharp stuff". The album was an exploration of the alt-country and pop possibilities of Cy’s songs and has become a timepiece of Cy and Vanessa’s work with London based keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist Sebastian Weiss and drummer Tom Greenhalgh.

Performing as a duo, Cy and Vanessa present Cy’s songs in their rawest form, with just acoustic guitar, double bass and two voices. With voices described as “love letters between Amy Mann and a slip-sliding Paul Simon” they evoke the work of Gillian Welch and David Rawlings in their musical connection and full sound belying the duo’s size.

In April 2010 Her Make Believe Band toured New Zealand for the first time, introducing their home audience to the duo’s unique blend of country/folk/pop.

Tattletale Saints was born in 2012 with the announcement of the new name at the Auckland Folk Festival where Cy and Vanessa were performing as guest artists.

2012 brings a new name, new album and third New Zealand tour for the duo.