UNTIL last February 24-year-old East Maitland speech pathologist BERNADETTE LANNEN had only ever sung 'at church and in the shower'.
Now the performer fronts a folk rock band ERIN, playing on Saturday night at Maitland's Grand Junction Hotel, and is working on a CD with singer songwriter DyMyR (pictured).
Lannen, who works at John Hunter Hospital by day, joined the Celtic group Erin in February while looking for full-time work in her chosen profession, and debuted a month later on St Patrick's Day at the Royal Oak at Tighes Hill.
Her voice is in a similar musical vein to LOREENA MCKENNITT, MARY BLACK and CLANNAD'S MAIRE BRENNAN. Her previous singing experience was as a choir master at St Joseph's Catholic Church, East Maitland, and 'non-tertiary' lessons at the Conservatorium of Music.
Erin injects infectious energy into 'folk ballads of rebellion and ancient Celtic melodies'.
The five-piece band plays traditional and original Celtic tunes penned by lead guitarist DENNIS BOURKE. Other members of Erin include drummer JUSTIN STREET, fiddle player RICHARD SMITH and bass guitarist BILL WICKS. TE
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