FIONA'S recent debut US release , 'LUCKY 13' is receiving wide acclaim from reviewers, high rotation radio play, and has climbed the international blues charts. Here's a slice of what the reviewers are saying:
'One of the year's standout albums' (BLUES REVUE)
'One of the most sizzling blues albums - by anyone -in years' (BLUES BYTES)
'One wicked slab of blues' (ALL MUSIC GUIDE)]
'This is great stuff...the lady does it all, plays a wicked guitar, knows how to growl a lyric' (HOUSE OF BLUES)
'Superb...Boyes' facility to move in and out of a variety of blues styles with ease rivals that of a rory Block or Bonnie Raitt' (SING OUT)
'THE HOTTEST WOMAN ON THE BLUES SCENE' (HERALD TRIBUNE)
LUCKY 13? Not at all. There is no chance of fate here, just the talent of FIONA BOYES turned loose on the American listening public'' (JAZZ & BLUES REPORT)
'LUCKY 13 only reinforces her reputation as the most heralded female blues musician on the scene' (HIGH BIAS)
'A POWERHOUSE OF AN AMERICAN DEBUT' (SW BLUES)
'This is GREAT, GREASY STUFF...BOYES is as thoroughly steeped in blues as any American currently playing today' (CD HOT LIST)
'SHE IS AN INSTRUMENTAL MASTER AT WORK ON ALMOST EVERY GUITAR SOLO HERE, WHETHER IT'S DAZZLING ACOUSTIC FINGER-PICKING OR HEATED ELECTRIC RIFFS'(THE BLADE)
Sounds Like
Bookings: Blue Empress Artists
STEVE CLARKE email: steve@blueepressmusic.com
With the release of her debut US album, ‘Lucky 13’ Aussie blueswoman Fiona Boyes has come full circle. Nominated for ‘Contemporary Blues Album of the Year’ in the 2007 Blues Music Awards, the world’s premier blues awards, Fiona is the first Australian blues artist to be so honored. Described by noted critic, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Grammy Awards adviser Jeff Tamarkin as, ‘one of the most sizzling blues albums - by anyone - in years’ ‘Lucky 13’ has propelled Fiona Boyes into the international spotlight.
Not surprisingly some critics consider Fiona a musical anomaly: a fair haired, hard pickin’, down-home blueswoman who just happens to have lived all her life Down Under in Australia, light years from the Mississippi Delta or Chicago’s South Side. As one critic observed, Fiona understands blues music as deeply as if she had been raised on Dockery’s Plantation. When Fiona performed for legendary bluesman Pinetop Perkins at his induction into the Blues Hall of Fame, he said ‘I ain’t heard a woman finger-pick a guitar like that since Memphis Minnie … she’s the best gal guitar player I’ve heard in more than 35 years’ .
Fiona arrived in January 2003 on Beale Street in Memphis, an epicenter of American blues, representing Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society. She competed against the best emerging blues talent from around the world in the Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge, the world’s premier showcase for emerging blues talent. And she won.
Fiona became the first Australian and the first woman ever to win this prestigious event. She returned to the U.S. in May that same year to showcase at the W. C. Handy Awards, the Blues Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, the Chicago Blues Festival, New York Rhythm and Blues Festival, and Portland’s Waterfront Blues Festival.
She also played 75 dates in 15 states on a 90 day tour, appearing on stages with some of the greats in the blues. With her impressive talents, work ethic, and amiable personality, Fiona soon wowed American blues performers and audiences alike. Fiona has since teamed up with artists such as Hubert Sumlin, who toured Australia with Fiona and her band the Fortune Tellers, Steady Rollin’ Bob Margolin, who appears on her last 2 albums and has also toured Australia with her, Kaz Kazanoff, and Alvin ‘Youngblood’ Hart. In 2005 she was guest artist on the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise, playing electric guitar nightly with players such as Taj Mahal, Little Charlie & the Nightcats, Tommy Castro, Kenny Neal, and Little Ed & the Blues Imperials, as well as showcasing her skills as an acoustic blues fingerpicker.
FIona's achievements quickly brought her to the attention of record labels, bookers, and agents in the US. After careful consideration and reflection she signed with Memphis label, Yellow Dog Records and leading booking agency, Piedmont Talent. Fiona went into the studio in Austin,TX early in ‘06, along with friends and guests Bob Margolin, Marcia Ball, the Texas Horns, and Joel Guzman, along with Derek O’Brien, Larry Fulcher, and Frosty Smith, and recorded ‘Lucky 13’. With Kaz Kazanoff producing and Stuart Sullivan at the desk she recorded 10 originals and 3 classic covers. The album was released in July and it has received rave reviews, ranking on top of major blues charts, including ..1 on XM Satellite radio, and now has earned Fiona a 2007 Blues Music Award nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album. So, with these growing opportunities Fiona and her husband Steve have relocated to Florida, USA from their home in Melbourne, Australia.
Recently Fiona was staying with Hubert Sumlin at his home in Wisconsin. Since Hubert toured with Fiona in Australia they have become great friends and musical collaborators. Fiona was jamming with Hubert in his basement when Hubert said ‘Let me show you a riff that Wolf taught me. He learned it from Charley Patton.’ It's this sense of history and continuity that is really what ‘Lucky 13’ expresses, and what Fiona Boyes seeks to embrace as a musician and songwriter. It's the sense of history, the hours spent studying the past so as to nuance the classic forms in the present, the opportunity and privilege to play and learn from the living legends. As Fiona herself says, ‘As an album, Lucky 13 is diverse, but I think the material stands together as a kind of wonderful American musical road trip incorporating some of the traditions and roots that I love and deeply admire. Hope I get a chance to play some of this stuff somewhere near you soon!’
**FOR BOOKING INQUIRIES CONTACT:
Steve Clarke 'The Preacher' /steve@blueempressmusic.com
Ph: +61 8 8346 5583 or Cell: 971 344 8726
**FOR CD INQUIRIES CONTACT:
Australia/NZ John Ward Only Blues Music/ onlybuesmusic@aol.com.
US/CANADA/EUROPE
Mike Powers Yellow Dog Records, Memphis Tn/ info@yellowdogrecords.com
I edited my profile with Thomas' Myspace Editor V4.4
I edited my profile with Thomas' Myspace Editor V4.4
Ciao,Fiona Thank you for the add and the friendship. you are very good, I like your stupendous music a lot, Band, and stupendous voice. compliments ..really. you are one of my prefeitis, I feel great admiration for you, be really one whom is worth rather a lot! I hope to listen soon to you, in italy .. talk to you soon, and all of my best wishes to always listen to your good music all the best.. from italy.. and good life.. every day neal
Thanks for a great night of gospel blues last night. I'm sorry Rebekah and I could wait around to say hi. Everything seems to be run run run these days!
Hi and best wishes from bad oeynhausen - germany. Have a good time and all the very best. Thank's for the friendship and DON'T FORGET TO BOOGIE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ulli
Hey there Yellow Haired Gal! Welcome back to Oregon. Are you going to add more info on the Sunday Nov. 1st Gospel Blues? Do we need tickets or is it a donation type thing? I know a bunch of us Mt folk are talking about coming.
Thanks for adding me Fiona . Great to see you doing really well States side . You sure deserve it but we miss you out here down in OZ . More blues , more blues ...;-)
PEACE & MANY BLESSINS' ON YOUR PATH FIONA!! THANKS FOR KEEPING THE BLUES ALIVE!! MAY THERE BE FEW STONES IN YOUR PASSWAY MY FRIEND!! HOPE TO SEE YOU ON THE ROAD..TILL THEN.. KEEP MAKING IT DO WHAT IT DO... ~ RR
"DEVIL OFFERED A GOLD DOBRO~I SAID NO,I BE A HOBO!!" ~ RiYeN RoOtS
Hi there Lady Blues, looking forward to whatever that thang is we're going to do at the gospel show in Bridgetown..hope you're having lots of fun and i'll see you soon....lotsa love to you and a bone crushin hug to the preacher..Andrea
Thank you very much, Fiona. You ain't a mule at all: you are a Blues Giant. You do celebrate the "curves" of Blues (I'm jocking with your words)! Hope seeing you in concert soon: for now I will console myself with your records.
It was a great summer, we opened a show for Charlie Daniels, played at Buddy Guys Legends with Buddy in the house, backed up Cedell Davis at the Deep Blues Festival. Played the Hot Springs Rally along with Foghat, and Blue Oyster Cult (crazy). We also have a show with Bobby Rush and Cedell next month. Be careful inviting us to stay with you we might take you up on that and bring Cedell, he would be ready to go tomorrow, lol.
Hey friend remember us we would like to think you because wit out you we couldn't of gotten so far, we started this account 3years ago and we never would expect to go so far wit the band
1 000 000 play on youtube & myspace
50 000 friend
myspace top 20 Canadian band
and now our first deal Soul Kiss Entertainment Inc/Universal Music Group Artist OUR VIDEO HERE when you look at peoples comments you know this band will have huge follow up CHECK VIDEO HEREhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ku4JapK-fEQ&feature=player_embedded
DOWNLOAD IT ON ITUNES NOW SUPPORT YOURGIRL!!! HERE http://www.apple.com/ca/search/?q=SPY+NATION
Hi Fi, I see you are heading back our way shortly. I hope to get to catch up someplace. We hope everything is going great and best of luck with your touring! Cheers
**FOR BOOKING INQUIRIES CONTACT:
Steve Clarke 'The Preacher' /steve@blueempressmusic.com
Ph: +61 8 8346 5583 or Cell: 971 344 8726
**FOR CD INQUIRIES CONTACT:
Australia/NZ John Ward Only Blues Music/ onlybuesmusic@aol.com.
US/CANADA/EUROPE
Mike Powers Yellow Dog Records, Memphis Tn/ info@yellowdogrecords.com
I edited my profile with 
Online Now!
