Gilly Darbey 

04.07.08 Oh dear, sorry haven't kept this up to date. I've been so busy with our organic market garden. I have also been out ticky touring and doing a few solo gigs round the south island. I played at some new places down the west coast which was fun, the Formerly The Blackball Hilton, gorgeous hotel in gorgeous Blackball. Would you believe they had a wonderful second hand shop too where I managed to spend a heap and had fun trying on lots of clothes. Played in Westport for the Arts Commitee, lovely little gig with a lovely audience, then at the Blue Ice Cafe in Franz Josef. Rather scarey as it was a trendy bar full of well oiled young 'uns. But I had a great gig and went down really well. I am starting to thing about the next CD and I am usual torn between, going really jazzy and putting on a lot of my own stuff. Any thoughts? Sang a duet with Liz Frencham (of Jigzag) on her new solo CD which is out now and I am eagerly awaiting my copy. Looking at touring with the band again in January, watch this space! love and hugs to all. Gilly XX  

02.10.07 Both CD's now available online at




This is a review of the new CD in NZ Musician......
"Contained within is a selection of famous tunes, bar one original, which is an equal to it's companions. Norah Jones's 'Come Away With Me' is the opener and Darbey's lovely improvisations immediately strike the heart. She reminds me in places of Joan Baez, Katie Melua, early Joni Mitchel and even Eva Cassidy. These are just references, and while her roots are firmly folk, her style is classic and her own, her voice ageless and agile. Don Macleans 'And I Love You So' is an emotive listening experience, as are most of the tracks. I didn't think I would enjoy yet another version of Leonard Cohens 'Hallelujah' but Darbey made it as definitive and moving as any. Further down the tracklist she experiments more with blues attitudes, but she is the queen of accessible folk. The excellent featured acoustic guitar playing is most likely her own, though not clearly specified on the CD sleeve. Her performances are captivating on the first listen and only get better after that. A magical little gem that is easy to love."

I am about to embark on another tour of NZ with my band to promote the new CD, for tour dates see Date Sheet. Then back to the UK for November mainly to visit family and friends, and hopefully some UK dates.
Not many of you have entered my 'forum' yet, whassa matta wid ya?