Barbara Helen

Bio:

Winner of Richer Sounds and Banks Music first " Step Up To The Mic'", Musicians contest 2009 : .........."Barbara sent goose bumps through the audience.".. Music Room Shop Talk.

"The finest singer-songwriter Teesside has to offer"....North East Live

FOUR STARS given Rock 'n Reel R2

"Combining a very English vocal diction with elements of the singer-songwriter approach of Joni Mitchell, Judy Collins and Joan Baez, North East of England-based Barbara Helen debuts with an eleven-track collection of originals.. The title track, a delightful statement of intent tinged with regret, is decorated by warm, inviting acoustic guitar. It’s this laid-back accessibility that is the general tone of the Album..... Helen is a charming vocalist, an accomplished guitarist and an impressive songwriter.

An Unfamiliar Place suggests she is a lady worth watching."

Danny Moore. R2 Rock n’ Reel. Dec' 09

4 Song Clips. Taken bt Teeside Steve

Live performances several times on BBC Tees Bob Fischer show, and Bishop FM – hosted by Terry Ferdinand.

A few of the latest comments:

"....... we are big fans of Barbara and since we obtained a copy of her CD it hasn't been off the player. An Unfamiliar Place is a beautiful album"...Angie NE Live.

"Barbara's performance tonight was absolutely first class, she delivered a full set ranging from the poignant and whimsical to the more up-tempo and joyful with her amazing vocal clarity and honest emotion.".....(CD Launch review North East Live)

....."Echoes of Joni Mitchell with nods to such as Don McLean - new acoustic to traditional folk to Appalachian groove, Barbara’s work has a refreshingly cool maturity often missing on the regional scene” ...The Link Magazine Jan' 09 CD of the month.

"A voice like pure crystal” .......Bob Fischer"

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“An Unfamiliar Place”

Recycled material has been used for the original limited edition open sleeve cover and no cellophane wrap for the more recent copies contain the new booklet.

I would class my style of music as “acoustic”.

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The past shapes the present . I found a plateau to reflect.

An Unfamiliar place

I perform my songs live and mainly solo. However I really enjoyed putting a fuller sound together on the songs for my CD.

I recorded at Mirage Studio with the extremely creative musician / sound engineer/ producer John P Taylor.

Wonderful guitar pieces and mandolin added by Les Cameron.

CD and downloads available.

Member Since:

February 10, 2008

Members:

Barbara Helen. Familiar Place.

This video was taken by the talented Ian Swinburne at Loftus Open Acoustic .I played a support set for Patsy Matheson and Clive Gregson.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=barbara+helen&search_type=&aq=f

For more video's

Sometimes Les Cameron accompanies me on mandolin and guitar. Mainly I play solo with my acoustic guitar.

AN UNFAMILIAR PLACE was recorded at Mirage Studios Marske

www.miragemusicinc.com

Influences:

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£1 post and package.

If the paypal link isn't working please message me, cheque will be fine! xx

CONFIDENTIAL RECORDS (UK) LTD for download, link to itunes

Amazon Download MP3 Album: An Unfamiliar Place

Sounds Like:

Review: Folk and Roots...... "it’s an absolutely charming, often profoundly moving – and in the end distinctly inspirational – record of a universal journey. A release to really treasure. " David Kidman.

"There is a richness to "An Unfamiliar Place" that makes you wonder if what you're feeling is the same feeling that people got when they walked in on Joni Mitchell or Judy Collins playing Greewich Village ...........Lyrically strong, poignant and moving. You can feel the passion for song reverberate in the delivery as it stops you in your tracks and reels you in." Neil FATEA

“An extremely talented songwriter, who presents her songs with a voice that ranges between sensitive & soaring! But I love good instrumentation, so the best compliment I can offer is that her guitar picking & strumming is as good as it gets.” Stan Gee*

"We are all big Barbara Helen fans at the Station Acoustic nights, but we are not alone, Barbara converts anyone with ears, her songwriting is wonderfull and she is a great guitar player as well (damit)." Ian Swinburne, Loftus Open Acoustic

"Barbara is possibly one of the finest solo singer / songwriters we have had the pleasure of seeing perform in a long time. Not only does she have a beautiful voice she also performs all of her own material in her act. With heartfelt lyrics and a varied repertoire, Barbara quite literally puts her heart and soul into her performance - beautiful, inspiring and enchanting." North East Live

“.....Last nights folk show was another wonderful night of recorded and live music. The attractive and very talented, smooth voiced Barbara Helen gave us six amazing songs, and you don't have to take my word for it, e-mails from around the country, and the world paid tribute to her song writing skills and professional delivery, from such places as Texas, and from fellow myspace artists. Both Phil Graham and I sat transfixed in almost a hypnotic state as she sang love songs and songs personal to her life, many of which will feature on the new cd, which she is in the process of recording today.” Terry Ferdinand .The Folk Show Bishop Fm Radio

Record Label:

independent