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The Charmers

Deb Smith

Tansy Spinks

Debbie Armour

Lisa Lux

Maggie Nicols

Jo Gate-Eastley

Anne Robinson: vocals and composition

Limpe Fuchs: additional percussion for track on EP

The Charmers

The Charmers on tour in 2025 are: Debbie Smith: Guitar, Tansy Spinks: Fiddle, Debbie Armour: Vocals and Drone, Lisa Lux: Drums/percussion, Anne Robinson: vocals.

Curriculum Vitae and beyond..

A rolling band of time-travelling witches formed for ‘Grace Notes’ by Anne Robinson, 2023. On tour and coming soon to a village near you, featuring:

Debbie Smith: Electric Guitar

Debbie has played in several bands since the 90s, including: Curve, Echobelly, Snowpony, Ye Nuns, Nightnurse and The London Dirthole Co. as well as current band WWS. A much respected musician and also DJ, she is described in the book ‘Frock Rock’ as ‘acting as crucial role models for future generations of black women’.

Lisa Lux: Drums/Percussion

The brilliant Lisa has drummed with diverse bands such as Girls Aloud and Hepburn and since 2003 Glam-Punk/Garage band The Priscillas – recently touring with legendary Brix Smith (Fall) and her own band Lisa Lux’s ACL (Anti Complacency League).

Anne Robinson:Vocals

Composed all of the the songs for the EP, taking lead vocals on ‘Ballad in Transfigured Time’ and ‘Swift Song’ and the longer Ballad in Transfigures Time which weaves through the live performances. Also director of the project and filmmaker.

Tansy Spinks: Fiddle and Improvising

Visual and sound artist, performer and photographer, Tansy Spinks researches sound as performative practice and is an amazing fiddler, performing on both acoustic and electric violins! Making a live score for ‘The Hurrier’ in 2021, she also responded musically to the Monica Sjöö show in 2022, and has collaborated with Kate Ryder (as SPYDER) ‘A Cloudburst of Material Possessions’ in 2021. Tansy has exhibited internationally and is co-author of 2020 book: ‘Sound Art and Music: Philosophy, Composition, Performance’ exploring the relationship between sound art and music.She completed a PhD in Sound from LCC, (CRiSAP), UoA. and teaches at Middlesex University.

Vocals and Improvising: Maggie Nicols

Legendary improviser and incredible Scottish vocalist, Maggie Nicols is renowned for the legendary ‘gathering’ irregular meetings of like minded experimenters and explorers, and for a diverse musical career spanning six decades, from the jazz clubs of Soho through the Spontaneous Music Ensemble, Feminist Improvising Group and more recently ‘Les Diaboliques’. Maggie’s work in in song, dance, poetry, performance and composition is highly respected by fellow musicians, and collaborators include Keith Tippets and Joelle Leandre. She also has a strong interest in the Scottish witch trials..

DebbieArmour/BurdEllen

Debbie Armour performs as Burd Ellen, often collaborating with Gayle Brogan, working with British and international traditional song as a foundation to build conceptual works and explore tradition in a contemporary setting. Innovative instrumentation, drone and sound-wash support detailed vocal work to create a unique sonic atmosphere in recorded music, live performance, and audio/visual work. Of their recent album Debbie Armour says “I’m a long time collector and lover of tarot, and I’ve recently become drawn to the idea of finding parallels between interpretation of traditional song and the art of divination.”

Jo Gate-Eastley: Bass player on EP tracks: ‘Ballad in Transfigures Time’ and ‘Swift Song’.

Jo has played bass with bands including the brilliant MX Tyrants, The Wargs and back in the 90s, Edinburgh riot grrrls The Matter Babies, also currently, Where We Sleep. MX Tyrants have been featured by LOUD WOMEN: ‘passing the mic to those who most need their voices amplified’.

Thank you to brilliant German experimental musician Limpe Fuchs for additional percussion on ‘If You Say So..’ on vinyl.

..and just maybe a few additional artists, casting spells and backing vocals.. manifesting Vi, Peggy, Hammer, Nan, Jonny, Madge and Jack: the accused ‘witches’ of Ayrshire who were ‘not to be found’.

Arrangements by the band with special mention for the wonderful Debbie Smith! and thank you to Brixton Hill Studios.

The Charmers are supported by new recording label Dimple Discs, which features artists such as Jah Wobble and Cathal Coughlan.

See News page for vinyl release, new tracks and gig schedule.