I tend to play solo most of the time these days, but there has been a revolving cast of players over the years and the following are all people I have had the good fortune to have made music, some more often or intensively than others...I've been influenced by each one in some way or other - thanks everybody.
Selima Hill,
long drives or cycles,
Bjork,
Odetta,
Neville Clay,
not enough sleep,
Kate Bush,
People who play the bassoon,
Dylan Thomas,
Raymond Carver,
Richard Dawson,
Nina Simone,
being in Wales every Christmas,
Elbow,
PJ Harvey,
sniffing the sea,
The Henshaws,
June Tabor,
Julia Darling
Dolly Parton.
Sounds Like
'You're a really good singa"
(Jordan Nailor, year 4, Broadfields Primary School.)
'A delinquent Carole King'
(NME)
'Fresh from sharing session time with Elvis Costello on BBC2's Janice Long show, this, the second album from the Newcastle-based songstress, should by rights result in the installation of Beccy as the new queen of bleary-eyed ivory tinkling heartbreak. Imagine Carole King singing odes to lost love after four pints of Special Brew, or Nina Simone skinning up the wings of crushed butterflies - Owen is a fallen, aggrieved dark angel, and a very, very special talent.'
(Music Week)
'Are you a pop star? I didn't think so cos me grandad's never heard of yuz' (Year 4 pupil, Malvin's Close Primary School)
Also check out echoes and dust to see a recent review of the recent album (also voted one of 'THE BEST OF 2008' as part of their top 40 poll...nice!)
Praise for Beccy:
"A delinquent Carole King" NME
"A fallen, aggrieved dark angel and a very, very special talent" Music Week
"Polished, sophisticated and really darned good" The Journal
"A real discovery...Gorgeous" Janice Long, BBC Radio 2
...for Down With Gravity:
"Wondrous tales that sparkle with personality and warmth." NARC
"Amazing. Her stock in trade is raw emotion...Quality stuff." The Crack Magazine
"A gripping collection to be reckoned with...truly irresistible" Lesbilicious
"Brooding and dark...startling" Echoes and Dust
...for Beccy's recent telly appearance on The Culture Show:
"In short: brilliant." The Crack Magazine
Some more blurb...
Down With Gravity is Beccy Owen's brand new album. A compelling portrait of a musician whose relentless wit and wisdom brilliantly chronicles the most beguiling and heart-wrenching moments of human relationships, it features guest vocalists from the radiant Kate Rusby and inimitable Richard Dawson.
Owen presents us with a unique and moving musical journey that includes the stripped back intimacy of live piano and vocals on songs such as "You Are Gone" and "Drowning Minnow" to a more daring, filmic, textural vivaciousness on songs such as "Stalemate", "In Your Company" and "Blizzard", a sound that has begun to characterise Beccy's evolving vision and her on-going collaboration with co-writer/arranger Adam Kent.
Every bit as inventive, unique and arresting as those already switched on to Beccy's previous releases and live performances would expect, newcomers will also embrace this soulful gem of a record.
We are proud to announce that we are HEADLINING the Cream
Insturment Cable Stage at the Lesser Muni as part of the 2009 Great British
R&B Festival in Colne, Lancashire, UK on Monday August 31st. The
Charlie White Project and Sheffield’s blues
poet Mr Billy Martin Jnr are also appearing. Expect great music and utterly
immaculate sound quality using cutting edge PA cables and power amps. Ticket
details are available at www.bluesfestival.co.uk.
Doors open at 7.30pm and we will be onstage at 10.15pm.
Our new album “A Time and Place” is available directly from www.robinhoare.com via Pay Pal and from
good record stores.
We Were Promised Jetpacks - Quiet Little Voices Chew Lips - Solo Wintersleep - Weighty Ghosts Nemesis & Arrogance - Live From The Capital The Northwestern - All The Ones Three Trapped Tigers - 1 Beccy Owen & Richard Dawson - Stalemate
Come for blues/rocking/folk fun and frolics. We are also looking for support slots with local performers over the coming months. Get in touch if interested:) x
My band has a myspace now: http://www.myspace.com/fishingparty I'd add you as a friend but I'm not allowed the password. Cause I do bad things with social networking. Swearing.
Hi Beccy It's the launch party for our brand new CD at The Head of Steam in Newcastle on Tuesday April 14th. Amazing night planned, it'd be great to see you there. Nx
ps I could've just told you when i see you but for some reason i thought i'd splash this ad right all here instead. Hope you understand x
This years festival is headlined by Billy Bragg (Friday), Seth Lakeman (Sunday) and Peatbog Faeries (Saturday) with many more top artists also performing incl the award winning The Demon Barbers.
Would love to play your stuff on my radio show, The British Breakfast on WRIR 97.3FM Richmond, Virginia USA and streamed live on wrir. org every Saturday morn from 9-11AM EST which is 2-4PM UK time. Can you make that happen?
Respectfully,
Gene Pembleton
ewpsw@comcast.net
2500 Lauderdale Drive Richmond, Virginia 23233 USA
You and Richard were the best music on the Culture Show. Ever. I'd think that even if I didn't already love your music and think you were ace. Sorry to hear about your accident- but glad to hear you're all mending now. Be well Kxx