Mothers of Intention



			At age 11, inspired by the folk tradition, Rosie started playing her first scratched up guitar bought with her savings. Now numerous guitars later and with a beautiful hand made "Gerard Gilet triple 0", Rosie is still exploring music's life enhancing potential and pinching herself that she managed to get that guitar! Initially seeing herself primarily as a guitarist, Rosie has been delving into alternate tunings and still pursuing guitar playing with a passion and engaging in the endless possibilities it presents. However it is upon hearing Rosie's voice that audiences resonate with its ability to transcend the mundane and evoke deep and personal yet subtle connection with the listener. Rosie's influences are varied and include Rumi, Paola Coehio, Bach, Pentangle, Planxty , and in particular Andy Irvine and Paul Brady, also Sandy Denny, June Tabor, Lunassa, Felpeyu, Bothy band, Dick Gaughan, Tony McManus, Bruce Cockbum, Folk rock groups from the 60's Jefferson Airplane, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Joni MitchelL Love, The Byrds, Laura Nyro, Jethro Tull, Velvet Underground, John Martyn, Nick Drake, Jazz greats Oscar Peterson, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Keith Jarrett, Nina Simone, Billie Holiday and listening solely to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan when in the last stages of pregnancy with her daughter! Most influential have been her family and the many talented and inspirational people she has met through playing in the folk world including the journey she has made with the Mothers of Intention. Rosie is the founding member of the 'Mothers. She is passionate about Celtic Folk Songs and tunes as an expression of the human condition in it's many hues.

			Lainey Is also one of the founding members of the "mothers". As a child she was immersed in music, growing up in a famiiy of recorder players. Dad on tenor, mum on treble and 3 sisters on sopranos. As a teenager she studied the flute but (loving their pure tones and sweet pitch) returned to playing recorders once she discovered Irish music. She is a talented recorder player and a fine poet - writing many of the mothers original songs» 18 months ago a friend gave her an Overton low whistle as a birthday present. She now has 3 of these finely crafted Instruments and has been exploring their resonance and beautiful tones. These Irish low whisties have enhanced the mothers distinctive sound and given their music a depth not seen in many Australian Celtic bands. Lainey is also a keen traveler and has recently traveied to Antarctica and Tibet, playing whistles on the freezing deck of an ice strengthened Russian ship and perched high on glacial moraine rocks in the rarified air at the base of Mt Everest. "Playing music in an environment tike that lets your heart connect profoundiy with the Earth and brings a new dimension to your performance"

			Coming from an English/Irish background, Celtic music has always been an inspiration to Penny, along with the searching lyrics and harmonies found in the music of such greats as Joni Mitchell, Cat Stevens and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Growing up on a Chinese junk in Sydney Harbour gave Penny an artists eye and ear for beauty and nuance, and a sense of the way life ebbs and flows like a river as we follow along. Singing, music. Art and Community have been intrinsic to Penny's experience of life. Penny runs art workshops in Sydney, facilitates community events and works with children with special needs. Playing guitar and singing Folk Songs has evolved into a love of harmonies, and more recently she began playing the Bodhran, or Irish drum, weaving the gentle beat into songs and tunes, following the resonant rhythm of the guitar. Traveling to Ireland and reconnecting with family and ancestral origins gave Penny a deep sense of the purpose other music. In the last few years she has helped develop the Northern Beaches Folk Club; "Fairlight Folk... the acoustic lounge." Sharing music with others, you become aware of how interconnected we all are and of how music lifts us out of our everyday struggles it inspires and refreshes us

			From the age of six. Tony played in Welsh Eisteddfods on an old fiddle wrapped in the .News of the World' newspaper.He studied in london under Polish virtuoso Waclaw Niemczyk and subsequently played in several London orchestras, receiving a Licentiate from the Royal College of music. While living in London, near Kentish and Camden town. Tony discovered the great Irish music at session bars and pubs. This fueled his passion for music and fiddle playing. Since coming to Australia Tony has played and recorded with many bands but has found real pleasure in playing with the 'Mothers'. Tony is an exhuberant and irrepressible player performing lightning fast jigs and reels as well as adding lush accompaniment to songs. His tenor voice compliments the beautiful voices of Penny and Rosie producing the sublimely recognisable 'Mothers' sound. He is influenced by many different fiddlers, from Bluegrass, jazz..to funk and hip hop...including Martin Hayes, Stefan Grappelli,DBR,Hugh Marsh,Jean Luc Ponty, Natalie McMaster, Nancy Kerr,Chris Duncan, ,,.to name just a few.