Eddie Reader - Melissa Etheridge - Norah Jones - Tracey Chapman - Indigo Girls - Anastacia - Alanis Morisette - Muse - Jeff Buckley - Sting - Bessie Smith - Everything But The Girl - The Beautiful South - Joan Armatrading - Beth Orton - Kristin Hersh - KT Tunstall - Lucinda Williams - The Cure - Daniel Bedingfield - James Blunt - Nina Simone - Ani Di Franco - Eleanor McEvoy - Shakespeares Sister - Sheryl Crow - Sarah McLachlan - Evanescence - Jewel - Missy Higgins - Brandi Carlisle - Carly Simon - k d lang - Joni Mitchell - Shirley Bassey! - Tori Amos - They Might Be Giants - The Waterboys - Bert Jansch - John Renbourn - Lenny Kravitz - U2 - INXS - Radiohead - that amazing soundtrack to "28 Days Later" - man! that's genius ... ... Heather Nova, 10,000 Maniacs ... Kate Bush, Tasmin Archer, Adam and the Ants (my hero!), Never The Bride, Sass Jordan, Allanah Myles, Rita Lynch, Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Sound Garden, Ed Alleyne Johnson ... ya da yada yada :)
"STARS & FIREFLIES" EP OUT NOW ON NAPSTER, I-Tunes, Tunetribe :
There are some artists that have a certain, something, a tone of vocal, an inflection that makes them distinct from those around them. Often they do not have the best voices, but there is something about the flaws that give them something lots of other artists don't have. Benita Johnson is just such an artist. She carries emotion on her voice so well. She could make turning twenty seem like the end of the world, similarly she could bring hope to the hopeless. She keeps it simple, but by doing so makes sure it matters.
(Fatea Records)
"'What is truly regrettable is how, as a musician, you tend to lose people as you go along. They want you to keep playing music that made them feel something once, something they think your old music will help them recapture. But really, if you are at all alive as an artist, you are somewhere else, other than where you were, almost constantly.'"
Arveyda - quote from The Temple of My Familiar by ALICE WALKER
BENITA JOHNSON lives just outside Bristol, south-west England. She has been performing solo and in bands / duos at venues around the UK, and small festivals, for several years, playing alongside local legends Hazel Winter and Rita Lynch, as well as well-known singer-songwriters Boo Hewerdine, Patrick Duff (Strangelove) and Hugh Cornwell (The Stranglers). In 2006 she released acoustic EP "Stars & Fireflies" via Emu Bands online and received some very positive reviews including one from David Kidman, reviewer for Folk Roundabout, who called her "an extraordinary talent". Stars & Fireflies has also received airplay on local / regional Radio stations. It is available to download on I-Tunes, Tunetribe, Napster & Yahoo Music.
In 2008 Benita launched the first incarnation of her official website www.benitajohnson.co.uk where much of her recorded work to-date can be heard or ordered for download. At the same time, Benita began work, with local studios AudioShelter, on an album. It is hoped that, with the launch of this album, in 2009 Benita can reach out to wider audiences ... Both writing and performing feature strongly in Benita Johnson's long-term goals.
Benita is currently looking for musicians to join her band and take the album material on the road... message for more details.
I didn't drag them, ha!... you seemed to have made an impression on most of the others aswell, had a few asking where you were playing next .. .Good times!!!... Also a few saying that Leanne was gonna be the next Jo whiley...lol
It was a good night, hope to see you playing again soon, and next time i promise to bring more friends.. :-)
p.s glad you're with me on the whole Angelina thing. ;-)
Sending over some pics from my journey to my familial and spiritual homeland. Was great catching up with family, eating Chile, taking in the high altitude air and chil'n
what is it with those temperamental diva musicians??? ...u giving the drummer a hard time or what..man thought you were over that after your grammy performance and all the publicity..remind me not to carry any drumsticks around you....;-)*
now, on a more, much more serious note, how things going?
Hey BJ, How's the mixing coming along? Can be rough on the ears to hear your stuff over and over, remember to take some sun breaks...looking a bit pale there...haha, just kiddin'!! ;-)
Just popped onto my favourite web page to see how things are going and get another dose of some brilliant tunes. Hope all is well in Bristol land and the CD is coming along smoothly. Cheers and wish you an early happy Easter.
Hi Benita I am hosting ;cosmicacoustica ; at THE FERRY STATION,BRISTOL( opposite Watershed )THIS THURS MARCH 19th 8.00pm Hoping to do more events so come down if you are free and see if you would like to do one soon.. we could do a Johnson/Johnstone nite!! xx Diana
Hi BJ, Happy New Year! Hope it's a fantastic one for you, especially with the new album coming soon!!!
Been traveling about lately, finely home for a bit. Was in Oz for two weeks then camping/climbing last week in NZ. Can't complain, but gotta get back to the daily grind ;-)
Dop me a line, let me know how life's treatin' ya'. Take good care!
Details of how to apply for this years festival can be found in our blog or on our website. Check it out!
We'll be hosting our first fundraising party of the year at the end of the month! You'll get to spend the evening in the company of The Ten Pound Suit Band as they rip through a set of non-stop, rebel rousing fun!
That's right! "The best swingabilly band in town!"
Date: Sat 31st Jan. Venue: La Tasca. The Triangle, Clifton, Bristol. Time: 8:00pm kick off. Tickets: £5adv from Bristol Ticket Shop.
Love the new track "Distance".Great to hear anything new from you as they are always brilliant . Hope all is going well over there in Bristol. Cheers Benita.
