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:
HARRY TURNER harry@hlturnercompany.com
Ph: +1 540 793 5651
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:
Harry Turner - HL TURNER COMPANY - harry@hlturnercompany.com
Ph: +1 540 793 5651 PO Box 7696, Roanoke, VA 24019, USA
**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
Fiona, Thought we'd drop by and invade your space and say thanks for being friends on Myspace. Your awesome! Whiskey Hill would like to wish you a very Happy and Peaceful holiday season. We sure hope you stopped by and listen to the songs we have and really hope you enjoy them. Yours in the Blues, Whiskey Hill.
Thank you very much for the Link Up & Sharing Your Music Nice to meet you through cyberlink! Keep up the Great Work! Wishes you All the Best in 2009! Enjoy your Week!
delighted to have your stunning self in performance this year Fiona .... what a treat you gave us all. Thanks for being part of the festival this year and we hope to see you back again sometime.
It is a pleasure to have you as my new MySpace friend… I find your MySpace page, your talent and your enthusiasm for music pleason’ to many… I welcome you’re other MySpace friends to visit my MySpace page that I’ve dedicated to my admiration of many talented guitar playing musicians of many styles… Stop by check it out and leave a comment if you like… Thanks Ken…
Hey Fiona, loved your workshop at Bridgetown and really enjoyed mine, great to see you and Steve again, Love from L. Goose, Matt Taylor and gang, dynamite !!!
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 ...;-)