Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span, Albion Band, Levellers, early King Crimson, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Donovan, Waterson Carthy, Dave Swarbrick,
Men They Couldn't Hang, Oyster Band, Tempest, Waterboys. Lately I've been influenced by a lot of the "Folk Metal" or "Battle Metal" coming out of Scandanavia. bands like Turisas, Ensiferum, Battlelore; plus classic power metal bands like Hammerfal.
Chuck Owston - vocals, guitars (acoustic, electric and resonator), mandolin, mandola, octave mandolin, keyboards, pennywhistle.
Chuck has been playing roots music since 1959 in a variety of configurations from rockabilly to apocalyptic folk. Since 1986 he has been involved in the English/Celtic folk rock music he first discovered in the late 60's by groups like Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span. He wrote the song "Dirge" after reading Greil Marcus' description of singer Richard Thompson as a minstrel during the Black Plague, following the death cart singing dirges. In both 1992 and 2001 Chuck played in the UK at a variety of venues (busking on Cropredy Bridge) and at the Braesnose Pub in the village of Cropredy, Oxfordshire during the Cropredy Festival.
In 1991 he formed the Celtic band Carnival of Souls with Bob Hartman and Brian Lowery, leaving in 1993 to pursue gothic folk rock in the band Revelations in Black. In the fall 1994 he formed A Company of Knaves, a folk rock band that lasted a year to the day. This band also performed a darker variety of Celtic music, with murder ballads and grim Medieval legendry. In 1996 Chuck was the Associate Editor of PORTHOLE, the Fairport Convention/Folk Rock magazine. This slick publication, however, only lasted 2 issues.
Chuck also performed as Owl Stone the Minstrel at the Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival for 6 years.
During the late 1990's and early 2000's he played in the bands Hypnos, Briar Rose, and Scarlet, as well as many solo gigs. He was also instrumental in the Celtic Harvest Coffeehouse programs as the Bryn Mawr Church.
Currently he is working solo and with a variety of other Celtic/world musicians in a loose aggregation called Bonfire Night. In the current (May 2008) incarnation of the band, Chuck is joined by Jim Orr on vocals, Jason D. Russell on drums, John Kerr on bass, and Dean Krimm. The band is occasionally joined by Chuck's son, Chris Owston, on guitar. The music is heavy Rock with Dark Ages themes.
In the Autumn of 2006, Chuck released two CDs, the first being "The Dead of October," which featured mostly original songs of the supernatural. The one interpretation was a version of the 60's psychedelic song, "White Bird," which featured the late Jamie "Wanda" Ricker (Lydia Lithium) on harmony vocals. She was also featured in the cover photo, based on the Jean Rollin film "The Fascination." The other CD was a retrospective called "Cavalier of the Road," which featured some of Chuck's original and traditional songs from 1988 to 2002, done in an acoustic style. Chuck is continuing to record material for a new CD release in 2007.
The first Bonfire Night electric CD EP "Johnny Scarecrow" was released in December of 2007. Plans are underway for a new transitional CD for 2008 called "The Nine Runes" with Nordic folkloric themes. Recently the band has gone into the studio to begin work on "Blood & Thunder," their forthcoming (around December) CD. This will feature the heavy Dark Ages rock sound with Viking themes.
In the recent edition of the Belgian magazine Memories of Crazy Neighbors, the editors writes, "His music is some of the best folkrock I've ever heard. I would say that his most recent music is like a bridge between the folk of the original Fairpoort Convention, Pentangle Shirely Collins and the recent work of bands like Verdandi and Fire & Ice."
"For over 40 years, he has been the rock n roll gypsy, the traveler in shadow, and, as this collection proves, the Tunesmith." -- liner notes from the CD "Traveler In Shadow," released 2001.
Here is a video for "Johnny Scarecrow", an original song written by Chuck. Also appearing in the video are two members of Chuck's Bonfire Night project, Josh Loughrey on guitar and Lisa Pelky on Fiddle. This was filmed in January 2006.
Make sure you disable the audio sound clips so you can hear the music on this video!
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Hi Chuck, what's new? Yes, I was a part of Chicago mafia...at one point lol I truly enjoyed your videos here, you are one brilliant musician! Is this a bigger size mandolin you're are playing in the top video? Summertime in Chicago, people are more relaxed and friendly :) I'm finishing recording my next piano piece, I'll let you know. All the best ~Iwo
Again we are looking for good Underground Bands for our third ExtremeMetal, the second Rock and more Genre Compilations. If you have a Band and want to be on it. Write me!
Und wieder suchen wir nach guten Undergroundbands für unseren dritten ExtremeMetal, zweiten Rock und weitere Genre Compilations. Wenn ihr in einer Band seid und darauf wollt, schreibt mir!
You can order our two ExtremeMetal and the new Rock Sampler NOW for 6,66 Euro each or 12 Euro all three! PayPal payment possible.
Ihr könnt unsere beiden ExtremeMetal und den neuen Rock Sampler ab JETZT bei uns für nur 6,66 Euro einzeln oder 12 Euro alle drei zusammen bestellen. PayPal Bezahlung möglich.
The Jason Martinko Revue will be opening up for the Dropkick Murphys on Monday, June 29 at the Ches-A-Rena located at 22 Adams Drive, Cheswick, PA 15024. Tickets are $25 through ticketmaster. You can also order by calling 1-800-745-3000 or by going to www.elkoconcerts.com. Doors open at 6:30. The JMR starts at 7:00 and the Dropkick Murphys start at 8:30. Hope to see you there!!
Monday, June 29 at 6:30 Ches-A-Rena 22 Adams Drive Cheswick, PA 15024 1-800-745-3000
Hi Chuck, thank you for joining us as a friend. It seems we do have mutual friends, we will let Chris know. Our album with Peggy is now on sale and we are all so chuffed.
Thanks for stopping by with your wonderful jewelery collection! I'm working on my next pieces, thanks god for having electricity back after horrible hail storm on Friday. Have a good one! ~Iwo
Thanks for your friendship! We hope you enjoyed our Folkmetal made in Swizterländ! Greetz Excelsis
Check our Albums "STANDING STONE" (With guest Musicans Chrigel Glanzman from ELUVEITIE, Many Maurer (ex Krokus) and Tumpa Zaffa!) and the Accustic Album "E chly angeri Lieder" out!!!
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