Sommerville Sessions: Mu Mu's Hoochie Coochie Bar, Maidstone - 13th May 2026

13th May 2026 was the sixth of the Sommerville Sessions at Mu Mu’s Hoochie Coochie Bar bringing a flavour of Nashville's famous Bluebird Cafe to Maidstone. The evening was hosted by 2025 UK Country Music Act of the Year award-winner Florence Sommerville who introduced three other talented singer songwriters, Bella Rose Manning, Russ Kearton and from Nashville Hugh Moffatt 21-year-old Florence Sommerville is a singer-songwriter from Orsett, a small Essex village, who thrives on modern country music. She’s performed to packed audiences at venues in Nashville, including the iconic Bluebird Café, Commodore Grille, Maxwell House, Love & Exile, Cambria Hotel and was chosen by No Depression magazine as one of the top performers at the 2024 CMA Festival. Since the beginning of 2025 she has gigged regularly, performing all across the South-east, both solo and with her acclaimed band, including selling out the Brentwood Theatre twice. Florence is emerging as one of the more gifted melodists, subtly versatile singers, and liberated lyricists of her generation. Florence performed at the 2025 UK Country Music Awards where she was named UK Country Artist Of The Year and UK Female Country Singer Of The Year. Bella Rose Manning started singing and playing guitar when she was 10, entering talent competitions all over the country. She joined the band Starway at the age of 11. Her first TV appearance was on Blue Peter was when she was 11 where she was spotted by Simon Cowell. She has worked with various successful producers and songwriters over the years and is now writing her own country album that she will be touring with at various country music festivals in the UK. When she was 16 she joined all girl band Cherrybomb and they were together for 2 years gigging in London and enjoying being part of a female rock band. She was signed in Germany by Icezone and Universal Records with girlband Mayor's Destiny. Mayor's Destiny made their first single Cross you Heart in California, Palm Springs at the Iconic, Joshua Tree Park. She has made various TV appearances and appeared on RTL at The Dome 46 performing alongside artists such as One Republic, Duffy, Madcon and Sara Bareilles. Bella is a Grade 8 singer, pianist and classical guitarist. She now owns her own music school Camena music in Brentwood (Essex) and she is looking to work with artists who would like vocal coaching and songwriting advice. She was a vocal coach to Florence Sommerville. Russ Kearton comes from Sevenoaks. Kent and fronts the Russ Kearton Trio with the current lineup dating from 2018, he also works solo. Russ picked up his first guitar at age twelve - a battered, no name, nylon string - and found in guitar a friend for life. Good days - bad days - both found him reaching for those six-strings, writing songs from the heart to try and make sense of it all. Growing up in a house full of country, blues and rock-n-roll, his songs reflect a timeless mix of blues, jazz-soaked swing and smoky soul. Expect slick guitar, warm vocals and rhythm you can’t ignore. Music lovers, this one’s for you! Hugh Moffatt was born in Fort Worth, Texas in 1948. In his youth, he learned classical piano and jazz trumpet and was a member of his high school band. Despite early inclinations toward country music, while at Rice University he learned guitar and turned toward jazz and blues. After graduation, he moved to Austin, Texas and had planned to move to Washington, D.C., but a visit to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville in 1973 renewed his old passion for country music, and he stayed there to seek a career in country. Hugh Moffatt first worked as a songwriter and success first came when Ronnie Milsap's recording of Just In Case peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard country chart. In 1977, he signed a record deal with Mercury and released two unsuccessful singles, and then refocused on songwriting. In 1980, Hugh Moffatt formed Ratz with Wade McCurdy, John Dietrich, Michael Bonagura and his wife. They released the self-financed debut Puttin' On The Ratz in 1984. Two years later he released a solo album, Loving You, which he followed up in 1989 with Troubador, often considered today as his best work. He has continued to record and release albums well into the 21st century. Johnny Cash recorded his Rose of My Heart shortly before his death. The song was released on Cash's album, American V: A Hundred Highways. Probably Hugh Moffatt's best known song (co-written with his then wife Pebe Sebert) is Old Flames Can't Hold A Candle To You. The song was a minor hit for Joe Sun in 1978 and it was then recorded by Dolly Parton, who took it to the top of the U.S. country singles charts in August 1980. In 1982, Irish duo Foster and Allen released their version of the song with the shortened title Old Flames which reached number 3 in the Irish singles chart. Hugh sung both this song and Rose Of My Heart at Mu Mu's on 13th May.