ARTIST IN RESIDENCE
India Bourne is a classically trained musician, songwriter, vocal coach and long-time member of Ben Howard’s live band, where she’s toured the world singing, playing cello, bass and percussion with Ben. Alongside that work, she’s released her own music as Tender Central, blending electronica and folk in beautifully crafted songs that nod to the likes of Massive Attack, Lamb and Joni Mitchell.
She will be performing a special show nearby at Outside in January with her band Mickey Smith (A Blaze of Feather), Nathan Wason and Jem Fatna for an intimate show, weaving together cello, piano, drums, electric guitar and vocals.
She’ll be supported by The Big Skirts, a female a cappella choir who sing weekly in Ashburton, they sing a mix of arrangements of alternative pop, American folk, world music and originals by India.
Established in 2016, the choir started with only a handful of women but quickly grew into a tight-knit group of regulars who India says now feel like her extended family. She writes “We are sisters, mothers, daughters, artists, teachers, doctors, environmentalists, yoga teachers, seamstresses, actresses, chefs and much more",
India wil be joined for the mini residency at Coombe by the Big Skirts as they spend time together to relax and sing together in advance of their gig at Outside in the new year.
*INDIA BOURNE WITH BAND poster for the gig at Outside designed by Luke Baines, performances take place on 24th & 25th January 2026