Bursting onto the acoustic music scene - you can't fail to notice Al Start. Her music is as striking as she looks! Firmly rooted in the acoustic singer/songwriter genre; her exceptional songwriting sets her apart from the rest. With smooth vocals that have been compared to Tracey Thorn mixed with kd lang, and a strong guitar style worthy of Ani Di Franco or Joan Armatrading; the sum total is a breath of fresh air!
**NEW BOOK AND NEW ALBUM OUT NOW!**
Hot off the press, we're very excited to announce the release of a brand new book & CD package to accompany my first children's album, "Excellent Songs for Children". The book features full-colour illustrations by the fantastic Shanni Collins, to accompany all the song lyrics, so there's no excuse for not singing along loudly! It makes a great Christmas prezzie for 4-11year olds & their grown ups.
Also brand new - and just in time for Christmas - "Excellent Songs for Children Volume 2" is out now, just in time for your Christmas present needs! This is my second children's album, ideal for kids 4 to 11 (and big kids too!) Recorded this summer, it features 9 fantastic new tracks, with special guest musicians Deb Shurvell (mandolin) and Carol Levi (bouzouki, guitar). Visit my website to order your copy now - www.alstart.co.uk
Having attained a distinction for the Advanced Songwriting HND at the Brighton Institute of Modern Music, (BIMM), in 2003, Al was chosen by BMG
executives to attend the infamous residential songwriting week with Chris Difford (Squeeze). Here she excelled, and co-wrote with top industry writers such as Helen Boulding (Alex Parks), Matt Deighton (Oasis/Mother Earth), John Hammond-Hagan (Liberty X) and Jill Sobule to name but a few. She has now been invited back by Chris three times.
Start tells stories Joni Mitchell would be proud of - cross-dressing neighbours; rent boys and missing cats are inter-mingled with touching reminiscences of childhood, surreal dreams and candid confessions.
Musically, the sound ranges from natural and intimate acoustica through to solid Fleetwood Mac-style folk-rock with sprinklings of cutting-edge programming. Produced with Tracey Field, the arrangements are thoughtful and effective throughout; giving an accessible, radio-friendly sheen to some raw, ingeniously left-field songs.
TOURS
2004 Coveted Tour. Opening for Horse
2005 Girlsworld Tour with Nat Ripepi & Belinda OHooley (June)
2005 - Winter Acoustic Tour with Belinda OHooley (Nov/Dec)
2006 Mini Adventure Tour with Belinda OHooley (Feb)
2006 The "GO" Tour USA and UK (Oct & Nov)
Al's CDs are available online at: www.lonecoyote.co.uk and www.cdbaby.com and as a digital download from: Apple iTunes, Napster, Arvato, MusicNet, Sony Connect, Liquid Digital Media, QTRnote, MusicNow, Next Radio, Solutions, Tradebit, MSN MusicPassAlong, Rhapsody, NetMusic, AudioLunchbox, BuyMusic, WrapFactory, Emusic, Iriver, Media Online, GroupieTunes, Hear Music, Interi, MusicIsHer, MO, Systems, Destra.
Hi Al, lovely to hear from you! Just got back from the States, it was great. Lots of travelling, but fantastic to see all those places you hear so much about, Rachel x
I love your new album - You and Lorna Brooks havn't been off the CD player for days. Beautiful work - I hope to see you performing live again soon - thanks x
PINK 2008 is taking place on Saturday 30th August at Cherry Hinton Hall Cambridge! We're now looking for bands, artists, comedians and more! Email all performance enquiries to acousticstage@hotmail.com all other enquires email info@pinkfestival.com
fantastic performance at Cardiff Al, and your new album is brilliant, the little stories behind the songs are fascinating. I'd like to apologise for being 'a little' drunk on sat night, and getting Fi to lick your shoe...and for any other 'incidents' that my memory has chosen to forgotten! Take care, Hayley (Julies other half) x
Fabulous performance on saturday night! The best woman certainly won! You blew me and the missus totally away! New album is amazing too - any gigs uo north planned?
I used to come her often, before my partner had cancer! My partner is called Steph, i'm Ali, and Sam is our Son.
And i need some help.
Steph is dying from secondary breast cancer in her bones now. She's been on this last chemo for just over a yr and the cancer was growing, but not fast. Oncology on Fri now tells us that the chemo is not working and her cancer battle of 4 effing yrs is now going down a different path, i hate changes.
Anyway, yet again we are shoved down a road we've not seen before, another chemo to try which will probably make her puke and be in pain and all that crap... Hopefully not as bad as the other ones.
So this is where you's lot come in.. If you want..
We've booked to goto France on the 4th April. (Steph is French) So i can get Steph to see her family.
I have some Horse stuff that i want to sell, to raise as much dosh as i can for us all to have a wicked time.
They are rare cd singles and they will be listed on fleabay tonight starting at 8pm and so on..
Hey Al.. Happy New year to ya, and just wanted to wish you the very best of luck with your new album. Hope to catch up with ya soon. Lots of Love Lorny xx
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