Bursting onto the acoustic music scene - you cant fail to notice Al Start. Her music is as striking as she looks! Firmly rooted in the indie-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!
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)
WHAT NEXT...?
**NEW ALBUM OUT FEB 14th 2008**
" I Heart History" is rocking the archives! Each song tells a true story from Brighton's history. Love, passion, deceit, betrayal and even murder.
Go is 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.
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
Brilliant night in Cardiff, lookin forward to the next one lots and lots - make sure you bring Belinda's wig :D - oh yeah, and the singing was bloody fantastic too :) Jules XX
Just stopping by to say excellent show on saturday!! Loved the bare footed look :) and as for Belindas wig, well...words fail me lol. Looking forward to the next one. take care Rachel 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
Hiya, just thought i would swing by and say hi! Loving the album, Go, which i picked up at Brighton pride, any chance you will be heading Portsmouth way to do any gigs? Take care, lois.xx
Great you finally got around to logging on to your myspace and accepting me as a friend. Hope you are keeping well, and look forward to seeing you live again soon.
Hey... Just wanted to thank you for the add :D I caught you playing at the Sussex Arts at pride and it was ace as ever - really good line-up and looking forward to the chance to travel down to another one :D Take Care and thanks again, Jules :)
Hey Al just wanted to say thanks again for the weekend we all had such a cool time.. so thanks for bearing us in mind.. We'll return the favour next year when were giggin again and get you some gigs when were out and about after the studio if you're happy to come play :O).. Love your song Waiting for life..really nice.. Thought you did a fantastic performance at the Arts Centre and at Brighton Pride.. Enjoy the rest of your summer..Take care Georgey xx
Hey Al, it was great to see you in Nottingham last night. I've been wanting to see you perform live for an age - so glad I finally got the chance. Have a good one - hope to see you again soon x
Al proved herself at last weeks An L of a Night in Nottingham, giving a stonkin performance and had the crowd wanting more. Big stage - big cheers! Well done Al, you just get better and better.
Hey,
Great gig on Sat night in Nottingham, you were all up for it. Was listening to your CD on the way to the gig in the car but it's def much better in person, cheers again,
Aileen x
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