This is Dierdre Cartwright who goes back to the 1990’s, and with her long partner Alison Rayner also celebrates 50 years of their collaboration. Picnic play expressive and life affirming music with mainly original compositions reflecting a love of jazz mixed with funk, reggae and rock influences. Guitar and trombone blend in an exciting front sound with great grooves and inspiring melodies.

Deirdre Cartwright is a London based guitarist and composer who first became well known in the 1980s for presenting the BBC TV’s ground-breaking series ‘Rockschool’ and for playing in the Afro Latin Jazz group ‘The Guest Stars’ along with Alison Rayner. They recorded three albums and toured in 17 countries. She has recorded five albums with her own Deirdre Cartwright Group, played with legendary guitarist Tal Farlow, and toured with the Jamaican composer Marjorie Whylie, and presented on BBC Radio 3.