Claire Toomey

Claire now performs as Larkspur Falls. From Claire Toomey: I guess you want to know something about me lol! I was born in Croydon England, I’m the middle of three children and went to school at Croham Hurst school till I was 16….. I love music …obviously..I decided I wanted to play the guitar when I was 10..pretty soon I started writing songs and since then I’ve always wanted to do music…. I love going out spending time with my friends, going to gigs etc.. My influences/ artists I like include Alanis/Sheryl Crow/Nirvana/U2/REM/J Tzuke.. From Claire's website: When you encounter promising newcomer Claire Toomey performing some of her compelling self-penned songs, the sweet aroma of something big about to happen fills the air. The singer-songwriter from Croydon, England has been honing her musical talent since she was barely out of nappies and as she conjures Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow and Alanis Morisette, you could almost swear she had already fully navigated a lifetime of heartbreak, rejection, hardship and all the other elements of the hard-knocks school. But this youngster has hardly even finished navigating her teens; Claire is now eighteen years old. A series of live performances that repeatedly underpinned Claire's ability to grab and takeover diverse audiences resulted in an invitation to appear last year at one of England’s major summer festival Guilfest when she was just sixteen. Following a year of gigging, recording and songwriting, Claire was invited back to GuilFest 2005 as well as the Croydon Fest where as a ‘local hero’ she was honored by the town. Claire has played at various prestigious venues in and around London, including the Cobden Club, the Bedford, and is now a regular at the famous Borderline. The growing buzz on Claire brought her to the attention of famed British artist/composer Judie Tzuke with whom Claire is frequently co-writing. Claire and her band have played live on BBC Radio , BBC Radio Kent, Radio Eagle and BFBS Radio 1. Alan Cackett, Editor of Maverick Magazine recently wrote,, Anybody with one good ear can hear the potential of this all-important avoid-one-hit-wonder-artist. Her voice, a soft sound containing an old soul, is impressively complicated, bringing attitude, sonic maturity and barroom grit to her songs and her audiences. A great songwriter can write words and music that transcend any genre, and Claire's poignant lyrics and strong melodies are perfect evidence. It is part of her gift: The capacity to write succinct, intelligent songs devoid of genre, fads or fancies. Though she has set her sights on international acclaim, Claire has her feet firmly on the ground. Quiet and somewhat reserved she is not one to talk endlessly about herself, preferring to let her music do that. The fresh-faced 18-year-old certainly has enviable pipes for her young age." Taking it one step at a time is slowly but surely paying off for Claire It's a good feeling to know that one day soon the whole, wide world might get into her music." Though she has been singing and writing songs since she was ten years old, and plays guitar and bass, it was only a short time ago that she first got up in front of an audience to perform some of her songs at a local Croydon club. Though an excellent student, Claire left high school last year with the full support of her family, because she wanted to concentrate on her music and take it as far as it can possibly go. I see no reason why it shouldn't all go to plan. she says, although she may be a quiet person, on stage is when you really get an insight into what Claire Toomey is all about: Her thoughts, feelings and experiences.