I'm solo, but work with my brother on the production side, and get huge support from the very fine backing vocalist Holly Morland..... check out my old band at www.redwood.org.uk
....... also check out nights I put on for all the very talented musicians in the Surrey, UK area, at www.openmicnight.co.uk with all the wonderful pictures taken throughout!!
Influences
Fave albums are by Soundgarden, Jeff Buckley, Miles Davis...... I dig stuff by Peter Gariel (early Genesis), Lamb, Beastie Boys, Beck, Led Zep, Carol King, Peter Skellern, Simon and Garfunkel, DJ Shadow, Oscar Peterson, Deftones. My tastes are diverse, and change from day to day
Sounds Like
People compare, and as can be predicted, I'll disagree. However, I reckon if you like Damian Rice, David Grey, John Mayer, Dave Matthews, mixed in with Ben Christophers programming, maybe Ben and Jason, Nick Drake, Tom Baxter....... you'll like my stuff!!!
If you want to see Alistair playing with his old band Redwood, then checkout Guildford Festival 2007!!! Redwood are playing the 2nd stage, Sunday afternoon!
Go direct to itunes to purchase songs individually, or download the entire album! ..
In the studio, I play all the instruments, (though on the latest album, there was drums and programming from Mark Richardson of Feeder, and Wayne Riches of Skin, on one of the tracks). My brother Angus co-produces the material. We both engineer and produce.
Live, until recently, I've been playing solo, with occasional backing vocals from Holly Morland. I've been playing with John Blackburn (Skin) or Tim Jackson (Gem) on bass, and Wayne Riches on drums, with Holly bv's. It was with this line up I played Guilfest 2005 on the Uncut Stage. 2006 saw me playing with musicians from top band Without Grace - no sequences, just very handy guitar work from Marcus Flaherty. When I haven't got a band available, I'l play along with a sequencer, or simply acoustic on it's own. Till now, I've used a nylon strung guitar as my instrument of choice, though for the next album, I may make the move in part over to the steel string...... who knows!!!
NEW LIVE 2006 FOOTAGE AND SONG with Alistair playing live @ Guilfest 2006, with band (3/4 of Without Grace + Holly Morland on BV's).
Visit Alistairs Footage on YOUTUBE (+ archive Redwood videos) and perhaps even subscibe to Solid State TV (Al's 'channel') for all the latest video footage, as it happens!
"A L I S T A I R C O W A N Why Can I See Stars 320
Ex-Redwood frontman launches a solo chiller.
A more beautiful collection of beautifully constructed tracks you'd probably be hard- pressed to find among all the albums released this year. Breezy, spacious and airy tracks like the acoustic guitar-led Bird In The Sky, Baby Don't Cry and Morning Sun float along like fluffy clouds in a summer sky. Elsewhere Long Way To Go dances along on a Latin rhythm, and Saying Goodbye (one of three 'bonus' tracks) highlights the craftsmanship of Alistair Cowan the skillful. singer-songwriter. Written, produced and arranged by Cowan (who plays all the instruments), Why Can I See Stars is a tailor-made soundtrack to sitting on a sun- kissed beach while staring out at the ocean waves, or simply chilling on an effortless summer Sunday afternoon.
Marvelous. (8/10)." Paul Henderson, April 05 ,Classic Rock, national magazine.
"Why can I see stars?" croons singer/songwriter Alistair Cowan on his first album since British song-based rock band Redwood split in 2000. Because sometimes he is so desperate that Nitrous even seems worth doing at the end of the night? Because brawls are a common occurrence after his seven pints of wife-killer?
No no no. This is a sweet wine-swilling, acoustic-driven musician from Surrey who is praised for his wide vocal range and subtle dulcet tones. Why else would he be singing so delicately about seeing stars if it wasn't because he had just met the girl of his dreams?
Fans were disappointed when Redwood went their separate ways five years ago, but can now take comfort in the fact that at last frontman Cowan is back with a very satisfying solo album. Its pop-folk at its simplest and sweetest and he certainly doesn't hold back in taking this opportunity to lull listeners with his delicately tender voice.
But its not just the pleasing surface sound that makes Why Can I See The Stars stand out from other simple drum-backed offerings. Just ask similarly-situated Louis Eliot whose hideously drab solo album The Long Way Round made fans question if Rialtos brief moment of fame was anything to do with him at all.
The ten prettily crafted tracks on this endearing album don't ignore the more serious or comic situations in life. Easier To Smile flits around the subject of domestic violence, while Big Night Out dryly jokes on the partying to be had on three pounds. Cowans storytelling is charmingly personal and adds a much-needed layer to wrap this offering up comfortably as an album of substance.
Even if machismo stands between you and Alistair Cowan, its hard to believe that behind closed doors his unassuming charm wont provoke a moment of tranquillity in the most vigorous of opposers. Single Bird in the Sky is sure to creep up on you sooner or later in true Beth Orton style and embed itself in your psyche before you even notice its mechanics.
If this album had arms, surely it would stroke you." Charlotte Lyon, http://www.musicomh.com
"The intimate cellar bar plays host to the two acts tonight, one, as advertised, is Hipslinky, the other is their support act Alistair Cowan a singer songwriter and friend to the band.
Its always a worry when you come to see a band and are confronted by an unexpected support act, but in this case it was a joy. Witty, emotional and powerful, Alistair and his songs mix qualities from Tracy Chapman to Eric Clapton (in his more introverted stages) and even vocal hints of Eddie Vedder. There are songs about wife beating, leaving home and of course, love. Alistair was joined by Holly, an attractive and beautifully voiced "friend" who added depth and passion to the two tracks she sang on. One of the songs, Stay, added a country vibe to the predominantly pop-folk set. Where as Record Collector would have slipped seamlessly into a Northern Soul bands set. With the right mix of style and content Alistair is perfectly suited to the current singer/songwriter scene and could possibly shine above the rest." Don Swede, Moles Club / Porters Bar Website
CLICK THE ICONS BELOW TO CHECK OUT ALISTAIR COWAN VIDEOS!!!
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BIRD IN THE SKY ~ WHY CAN I SEE STARS ~ LONG WAY TO GO
'WHY CAN I SEE STARS' ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE FROM
special offer @ HMV online £9.99
FREE UK DELIVERY!!!
CALLING ALL OPEN MIC ARTISTS... NEWS...LAUNCH PARTY!!!
A BRAND NEW WEEKLY "OPEN MIC NIGHT" LAUNCHES THURSDAY 22ND OCTOBER AT THE GREEN ROOM / PORTMAN
HOSTED BY "NACHO JASE"
HOUSE GUITARS & INSTRUMENTS AVAILABLE TO PLAY RECORD YOUR LIVE PERFORMANCES ON TO A CD*
FREE NACHO'S @ LAUNCH PARTY
FREE ENTRY 8PM Please arrive early to get your name down on the chalkboard
It's my Birthday too so please bring expensive gifts & cakes...
Hope to see you...Keep It Sweet & Keep music live! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Don't forget "REVOLVING DOORS" Open Mic Night Every Tuesday @ O'Neill's, Bournemouth from 9pm : Free Entry
How's it going? There is a free track available for you at the moment on our myspace page. Just click the FREE DOWNLOAD box at the top of the page and enter a valid email to download the tune. How cool is that!
Have a great week and thank you very much for being electronically connected to us as friends and fans.
i don't suppose you know who was hosting the last open mic night? i think i left my capo on the guitar and am just trying to chase it up so as to save me £17.
Seattle's Brad and Satchel frontman Shawn Smith's first ever UK tour!!
6th May - The Medicine Bar, BIRMINGHAM - www.theticketsellers.co.uk 7th May - National Centre for Early Music, YORK - www.ncem.co.uk 8th May - Halfmoon Putney, LONDON - www.halfmoon.co.uk
www.shawnsmith.co.uk - New shirts now available www.myspace.com/thediamondhand www.soundvssilence.com - Pre-order The Diamond Hand
Miss this at your peril as who know's when he may visit these shores again...
Hi Alistair Cowan, I am very proud to inform you that my Debut album is going to be released in the UK on 29th March 2008! It's called "THE BEAUTY AND THE SEA". You will be able to get it in stores, itunes and Amazon...
Also, to support it we have a UK tour coming up, the tour will include also a concert at the "PURCELL ROOM" (Qeen Elizabeth Hall) 29th April , WOMAD FESTIVAL in Charlton Park 2008. You can see all the dates on my profile.
I look forward to see you in my concert/s. Hurry Up, Seats are going quickly :)
To be honest - I think the 'we've had a baby' excuse is wearing thin... :o) I want to hear some new things on here and see some full gig Alistair action some time soon...
Hiii... Shame u missed our Dublin Castle gig, but check us out on Saturday the 1st at the MAU MAU Bar in Notting Hill, and the following week (8th Dec) at the WATER RATS in Kings Cross!!
Dont miss out! Details on our site, and a flyer on the bulletin board... The Viff Rock the Capital, London UK..
Xmas Gig at the Crown and Cushion Haslemere, 20th Dec - Free Entry Music from myspace.com/spotlightcannibal, myspace.com/merlinsonline, myspace.com/newrisinguk FREE ENTRY
Hiya! Just to let you know I have updated my profile with three new songs: Letting Go, So Close To You and The Small World, a cover of Ian Brown's El Mundo Pequeno. Please have a listen and let me know what you think. More of my songs will be added very soon. I have also added new pictures to my page too. Thanks, Firouzeh
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Online Now!
