The Reverend Catherine "Belle" Merrick--vocals, guitar, harmonica, keyboards (weddings & baptisms upon request) .. .. .. .. .. .. joined by (sometimes, always and more often than not): In BOISE--Sam "The Snake" Merrick: guitars and vocals; Todd Chavez: percussion; Jason Flores: upright bass and vocals... in MANCHESTER, UK--Medicine Stu: guitar; Danny Ace: guitar; Medicine Sam: bass; Captain Fido: drums; Elsbelle: backing vocals percussion; and have been on occasion, once or twice: Janet Wolstenholme: guitar, vocals, keyboards, producer/engineer; many thanks to Gabriel Minnikin for his performing and recording contributions (piano, harmonica, banjo and mandolin on Es Tu Yo, and For a Fool); and anyone who knows the words well enough to sing along...
Influences
Horses running, beating time on the ground. The whipperwills sweet melody.
The lonely sound of a breeze rustling through a pine forest on a summers evening. The stream running through my backyard. Mangod, forever and always. ; ) Every place I have lived or travelled... Boise, Idaho; Los Angeles, California; Misawa, Japan; Zakynthos, Greece; Malamorova, Bulgaria; Mexico; Amsterdam; Utah; Oregon; Manchester, England; and everything that happened to me and everyone I met when I was in those places. My dad, RIP. When the wind blows, I know it's you.
*****
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"Belle Of Les Bois' music is genuinely beautiful. Drenched in drama and harmonies, it is the sound of the broken-hearted finding their voice and rising up again. Adorned simply and succinctly, it is music that breathes with life and passion and has the power to convert even the most staunch unbeliever to the truth of country-fuelled music."
Chris Long, BBCManchester Online ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The title Belle of Les Bois & The Semi Precious Gents is slightly misleading in that it’s mainly Catherine Marsden, who fronts this unit. Tonight the Semi Precious Gents are the people she has roped in after only just getting back from Idaho. She has Elena(vocals) plus Stu and a few others from the Medicine Bow and that’s more than ample to overcome a missing drummer. Catherine apologies in her soft, North American accent for possibly being jet lagged, but if she is, it doesn’t show. Her silky smooth voice immediately grabs the attention. It can cross from a seductive tone to threatening one in the space of an octave. When she delivers the line “I can drink you under the table” it’s put in such a manner there’s no point in trying to take her on. Ally the voice to the strident guitars, plus Elena’s vocal support and it’s a fine set. When someone opens with the line “ I may not bethe smartest girl you ever met”, I reckon they probably are.''---Ged Camera, BBC Manchester Online
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Half English, half American, Belle of Les Bois is inspired by the two nations musical histories, with the echoing ambition of open spaces reverberating through her songs. (Switchflicker Records)
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Belle of Les Bois...matchless chanteuse of dark country byways and creaking swing-bridges of the soul... --The Medicine Bow
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Lee Gosney of Broadminded had this to say about Belle of Les Bois and the Semi Precious Gents performance at Universal (@The Green Room, Manchester):
Belle Of Les Bois And The Semi Precious Gents shifted styles with their curious blend of 21st century americana drenched in nostalgia. A sense of professionalism oozed from the assorted onstage rebels but really hit you the most was the amount of heart and soul you gained.. . . .
www.broad-minded.com/universal.htm
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Much of Belle (aka Catherine Marsden) of Les Bois' music captures the atmosphere of her upbringing in Boise, Idaho, USA, a small city nestled at the foot of snow topped mountains, filled with trees, bizarre urban myths, and dark histories. ______________________________
Catherine spent many years living in Manchester, England, playing in several bands and performing/recording/collaborating with other artistes such as Julia Nagle-Adamson/Invisible Girl (ex What Noise, The Fall), Janet Wolstenholme (Ex Bandit Queen, The Present Occupier), Gabriel Minnikin (The Guthries, Gladeyes, The Earlies), The Medicine Bow, and Thee Moths. (See discography below).
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Catherine returned to live in her hometown of Boise, Idaho in August 2008 and now performs with guitarist Sam Merrick (The Nymphs, Juan Fangio, Hillfolk Noir), percussionist Todd Chavez (Ned Evett, Draw), and upright bassist Jason Flores.
Catherine, with the band (as well as without on some occasions), has played with Elizabeth Cook (winner of Best Newcomer at the Americana awards 2007), Mary Cutrufello, Michelle Malone, Doug Martsch and Brett Netson (Built to Spill), performed alongside Curtis Stigers, as well as performing live several times on BBC radio in Manchester, England, and appearing on Manchester breakfast television with Frank Sidebottom!
Catherine also provided guest backing vocals for Manchester country punk band The Medicine Bow (A Medicine Bow vinyl ep featuring Belle of Les Bois is due for release also in spring 2010).... ... .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . ... .. . ... .. . . .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. . .. .
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Belle of Les Bois will be releasing a full length album in 2010. Stayed tuned for details!!!
Discography
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'Peahen' by Belle of Les Bois ('Sealed with a Loving Flick'/Switchflicker Records, produced by Spencer Marsden)________
'Fun' by Invisible Girl ('Sealed with a Loving Flick'/Swithflicker Records, a collaboration with Julia Nagle-Adamson)________
'Chips' by Janet Wolstenholme ('Sealed with a Loving Flick'/Switchflicker Records, Belle provided backing vocals)______
'In Under a Minute' by Catface (a collaboration with Thee Moths, available on 7 inch vinyl, The Littlest Album 3)_________
'Heartbreak' by The Medicine Bow (a cover version of The Dogs D'amour classic, available on limited edition compilation 'Their Hearts Caught Fire' cd)_____________________
'For a Fool' (featuring Gabriel Minnikin on banjo, mandolin, harmonica and piano. Produced by Janet Wolstenholme, on Invisible Girl Records UK)_____________________
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Links
www.myspace.com/belleoflesboismusic
www.myspace.com/catface
www.myspace.com/shambolicmajesties
www.mylegendarygirlfriend.co.uk/littlest/
www.switchflicker.co.uk/listen/
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Ahoy there! Check out our new EP The Inland Sea here - You can also listen and buy at www.theinlandsea.co.uk Enjoy xxx
“A call to arms from the perilous waters of the Island. Kinfolk cower in their homes as wild squalls rage fury on us. A far cry from the glassy seas and towering swells from which we profited only a few days ago. Respite cruelly prized from our grasp, our hopes of reprieve in calmer seas lie tattered, at least for now. Scathed but not scarred, we persist through relentless gales and cloudbursts on the fringes of the ocean, passing the church in the bay where many a reveler and mourner has been left stranded at high tide. Through fortune and fortitude we reach the shore and are greeted by warm fires, zestful ales and hearty tales shared with our good friend, (sadly soon to depart us). For the storm has abated and the bow has settled. We wipe our blinkered eyes, ravaged and weary; the majestic scenes enveloped by the Island in a blind rage, ever imprinted in our minds”...
The Inland Sea is inspired by the isle of Anglesey, a place that has always been close to The Mekkits’ hearts... It was recorded and produced at "Studio Los Mekkitos"... in Manchester, and will be followed next year with the ecclectic debut album!
ive een quit caught up with all the new promo--- finn riggins, revolt revolt, and a tattoo shop--- revolt is just about done, but go listen is something i really need to fit in...--- get a hold of me if you could, please--- i moved, but i'll be down there today
If You Are Interested In being A Part Of The 4 Day World Music And Art Fair Please Let Me Know By Comments Or Email. Please Read My Page From The Top to The Bottom My Blogs To. You Will find All The Information You Will Need For Now On There. It Does Not Matter Were In Our world You Live If You Are A Part Of The Festival We Will Get Their. Please Join My Blogs On My Page. Take A Look at this Video It Will Help You understand More. Thank You Bob
Hi... we've started reviewing new submissions to the label's A&R dept using sonicbids.com.
We're imagining any of you who have submitted for MIDEM, CMJ, SXSW, NXNE etc. may already know about this service. For those who don't, you can follow the link below and check it out without having to sign in or anything - whether you're hoping to send us your material or not, its definitely worth checking out the site for music biz opportunities that you can access yourself.
Best of luck for those submitting, hopefully we'll get to meet some of you soon!
all ages album release party @ Record Exchange tomorrow (TUE OCT 6th)!! 7pm. free.
full blown party @ VAC on Friday (OCT 9th) with LE FLEUR as well as BOY EATS DRUM MACHINE (portland) + JARED MEES & THE GROWN CHILDREN (portland) + VAGERFLY (boise) + A SEASONAL DISGUISE (boise). 8pm. only $5!
did i just do this? going nuts here ha! here's what we've been upto at the studio ; ) starting the new album in the next couple of weeks though. love to your skis nd mountainsssss x x x
Today I like to inform you, that you can read and watch interviews with your favorit country stars in Enlgish, German and French at http://www.CountryHome.de/Interviews .
Warm regards
Christian
Editor & Journalist for Country Music Christian Lamitschka An der Pfingstweide 28 61118 Bad Vilbel Germany Phone: ++49 6101 544613 Mobil: ++49 171 6903352 Ch.Lamitschka@t-online.de Info@CountryMusic-Magazin.de www.MySpace.com/ChristianLamitschka
ellloooha...did you mention the Son Volt thing t'other week...aye been playing that, kinda arite diffidently, just respewed it somewhere, vaguely enjoying Tragically Hip album at minute...someone better send more metal medics soon...cheers ofr Rev Peyton CD...hope all well...xx
ellloooo, ow was the Cowboy junket? got new son volt album, vaguely recall it being allright & a peculiarly sombre song about keith snorting his dad...
Hope you're having a great week.