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
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I edited my profile with Thomas' Myspace Editor V4.4
HI Fi!!! Think we might end up being in New York when you're playing with Rich and Mookie - that would be a bit special wouldn't it!!! Me and Bree leave on our OS adventure in 2 weeks and hit the Canada and the US early Sept and after lounging around in Europe for 6 weeks. Lets keep in touch x x x Nad
Keep on jammin’ them blues, it’s music to my ears. The House is a Rockin’ at Odie’s House of Blues with host band Mike Dollins & The Cruize Brothers every Thursday Check out www.bluesguitarnews.ning.com an all blues network to list your gigs, videos and photos. See who has joined in the blues social network, and join the fun. Burn them 6L6's into little sizzling pools of melted glass brothers and sisters. Peace to the world through blues.
Hey...passing through for a visit. I totally revamped my page. Added some brand new tunes...! Hope you like the fresh tracks!!! Have a great weekend... And THANKS for listening.
Well hello there Ms Boyes! Happy Birthday for the other day! You in Melbourne yet? Just been looking at your dates and looks like we're all gonna be in New York together in September!!! Can you believe it?
Hi Fiona, I see you;re back in Oz... alas you don;t seem to be playing any shows :( Argh well, hopefully I can catch a show before the year is through :)
Hi Fiona, Hope things are going well for you in the US. If you have a chance check out my new podcast 'Women with attitude' which features you and some other feisty blueswomen!
http://tesstify.podomatic.com/
Keep on bluesin! Tess http://www.live365.com/stations/tesstify2
Greeting Fi'.......where are you now??...me&Harpo&Jeff start yet another Blues band this Thurs nite at the Nighthawk......im sh*tting myself,,im afraid i might be too happy to play th blues!...??,,.....loll KeepaSwingin Maria!! dudels McVoutie 111.
Hey Fiona, Thanks for the add on! The next time your in Memphis and you offer me a job I'm taking it. I sat in with you at the 2004 Blues Award after set. Do you have that video?
The UBHOF is stopping by to show some Bluesy Love, and wish you a great week.. Hope you are doing alright sweet Roxy, and all is well... Peace n hugs, Rosa
Thank you for being my friend! Some new reviews are listed below, and you can click them to go the website.
"Everybody Come Outside!" by Pomegranates ~ Folk Gospel Done Devo & True! "Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar" by Matthew Montfort ~ Stop World Fusion Improvisation J. Dorsey Blues Revival "Get Right Church" ~ Naked Blues in Rock 'n' Roll The Atlanta Café Band Voodoo Brotherhood ~ Workingman's Blues !!!! Kara Grainger's "Grand and Green River" ~ Heaven and Hell and Blues You Can Feel Extra Golden "Thank You Very Quickly" ~ A Bright Light From Kenya and The Poconos Mariah Parker "Sangria" ~ Intoxicating unsquare Indo-Latin Dance of Maya music Adrian Belew "Side Two" ~ 21st Century composition from the chrysalis of Nuevo Metal born . . . Wussy (Eponymous) ~ This Wussy Will Hit You Like A Truck
WhAt'S GoOD FaMiLY? I'm JuSt KeEpIn' BuSy..WoRkInG HaRd aT ThEsE BLuEs... BaCk To ThE StUdIo In JuNe To ReCoRd TuNeS FoR My NeW CD..!! GeTtInG ReAdY To HiT ThE RoAd ThIs SuMmER. HoPe To SeE YoU At A ShOW DoWN ThE RoAD. TiLL ThEn..
If YoU ArE GoInG To TrY.. Go aLL ThE WaY.. Do It...ALL ThE WaY.. DoN'T LeT AnYoNe StEaL YoUr ShIne.. 2009 BeLoNgS To YoU.. MaKe It Do WhAt It Do!!
**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
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