Skin Côntact adds three more drinks-trade star singers for Wine Relief show

By Mathew Lyons

Published: 24 March, 2016

Skin Côntact, unarguably the leading supergroup in the UK wine trade, has added three more top industry vocalists to an already stellar line-up at its comeback show on Thursday 12 May at the O2 Islington Academy.

Amelia Singer is the co-host of ITV's upcoming 13-part television series, The Wine Show. She also runs a wine events company and presents wine videos for Jamie Oliver's YouTube channel.

Less well known is her singing experience, which includes performing in front of as many as "60 people in a grungy, Dublin trad bar".

Leah de Felice Renton helps make wine at London Cru, London's only urban winery, and is responsible for Wines of Momentary Destination and Birds & Bats.

She cites her influences as being Paul Rogers, Michael Jackson, David Byrne, Elvis Presley and Led Zeppelin.

Sophie McLean is communication manager for Bancroft Wines, and a contributor to numerous wine and travel publications.

McLean is a fan of Beyoncé, REM and Mumford & Sons, and has also been known to sing Disney songs. [We told you not to mention the Disney. - Ed]

Singer, de Felice Renton and McLean join five vocalists previously revealed as Olly Smith, Guy Woodward, Tristan Darby, Stephanie Barlow and Anne Serres.

Two further singers will be announced in April.

Skin Côntact is the brainchild of wine writer Richard Hemming MW. The band comprises Hemming on keyboards; Berkmann's purchasing director Alex Hunt MW on lead guitar; Concha y Toro head of communications Ben Smith on bass; and Matt James, founder of The Bordeaux Cellar on drums.

Amelia Singer

Smith and James are former professional musicians, with Curiosity Killed the Cat and Gene, respectively.

Hemming said: "I am totally delighted that we've got such a kickass line up of singers. They are going to blow the roof off the Islington Academy!

"People are already snapping up tickets to see them."

The band's début last year at London's Vinopolis raised over £10,000 for Wine Relief, the wine trade's fundraising initiative for Comic Relief.

Skin Côntact is made possible by the support of sponsor Inter-Rhône.

An exclusive Côtes du Rhône tasting will kick off proceedings on May 12, and the show will be followed by a DJ battle between Neal Martin, wine writer for eRobertParker.com and Dan Keeling of the Noble Rot magazine and wine bar.

Tickets are on sale now via via www.skincontactlive.com/buy-tickets.

They cost £22.50 including booking fee, and 100% of the ticket's face value will go to Wine Relief.