Paul McGowen: Banjo, Fiddle, Vocals
Skye McGowen: Baritone Ukulele, Banjolele, Percussive Dance, Vocals Pete Howard: Fiddle, Jaw Harp, Banjo, Vocals
Influences
Living in the Ozarks
Ozark Musicians:
Bill Bilyeau, Uncle Bunk, The Grinnell Giggers, Pope's Arkansas Mountaineers, Bob Holt, Fate Morrison, Earl Collins, Gene Goforth
Singers, Bands, Banjoers:
Hobart Smith, Uncle Dave Macon, Gid Tanner, Wade Ward, The Lewis Brothers, Joe Thompson, Roan Mountain Hilltoppers, The Old 78's, Clark Buehling, John Salyer, Kyle Creed, Clyde Davenport, John Ashby, Fred Cockerman, Gribble-York-and Lusk, Frazier and Patterson, Charlie Beck, Joe Fulton, Skillet Lickers, Georgia Yellow Hammers, Tommy Jarrell, Oscar Wright, Glen Smith, Gaither Carlton, Benton Flippen
Dancing: Cute old ladies, Flatfoot, Buck, Jig, The Charleston
Shout Lulu String Band is Paul and Skye McGowen, along with Pete Howard. The McGowens met Pete while traveling and busking in Arkansas in 2006. In 2007, Paul and Skye moved to Arkansas and teamed up with Pete.
Paul McGowen has been street performing at various markets in Seattle and Portland since 2002. He was also a member of The Tallboys from 2002-2006. As a Tallboy, Paul played The NW String Summit (band contest winners 2003 and performers 2004), Seattle’s Folklife Festival, KBOO’s Pickathon, Portland’s Old Time Gathering, The San Fransisco Old Time and Bluegrass Festival, and performed live on KUOW 94.9 "The Beat" and KMPS 94.1.
Skye McGowen has been street performing with Paul since 2005. Her Flatfoot Clogging abilities have made her a popular guest with many groups. She recently danced on a re-issue of Clarke Buehling’s classic album "Out of his Gourd." In 2008, she won 2nd place in The Bob Holt National Jig Dancing Competition.
Pete Howard is a popular Midwest dance fiddler. In the early 90’s, Pete played fiddle, banjo, and bowed bass with The Skirtlifters. With that band, he played minstrel type music at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Muisic, Warren Wilson College, and other fancy places. More recently, Pete played in a duet with Allison Williams of The Forge Mountain Diggers. He also judged the 2006 Arkansas State Fiddle Championship and performed at the Ozark Folk Center with Kim and Jim Lansford. Pete is due to teach an Ozark Style Fiddle camp at the Folk Center in 2008, and will again perform with Kim and Jim Lansford.
Shout Lulu String Band features the sounds of fiddle, banjo, ukulele, singing, and Skye’s feet. As a band, they have recorded two albums. “A Long Time Ago-Go” has received great reviews from The Old Time Herald, The Ozark Mountaineer, FAME reviewers, The Fayetteville Free Weekly, Michael Leahy KDVS "Cool as Folk", KXUA 88.3, and The National Traditional Country Music Association.
The group has performed at many events and venues over the past year, including West Plains Old Time Music Festival, The Fayetteville Arts Festival, The Arkansas Historical Association 2008, Shiloh Museum, The June-Bug Jamboree, The Ozark Mountain Smokehouse, The Arkansas Support Network Concert Series, Co-optober Fest, The Dinosaur House Concert Series, The Audubon Society, and Fayetteville Springfest.
The group was featured in The Old Time Herald, June 2008. The article focused on the DIY (do-it-yourself) and sustainable nature of Old Time Music. Other recent press appearances include nominations for BEST AMERICANA 2008 by NAMA (North Arkansas Music Awards) and BEST ALBUM 2008 by the RRMC (Rural Roots Music Commission). Shout Lulu did an hour long radio performance on 88.3 KXUA. And, was also featured on an episode of Ozarks At Large, which is broadcasted on the NPR station 91.3 KUAF.
Shout Lulu prefers to keep things simple. Whether gathering around a single mic on stage, or setting up acoustically at a local market, the group is known for creating a party and welcoming all.
Listen to more of our songs through the link below.
Ya'll just amaze me like crazy! Next time I see you, I'd love to jam some harmonica with a few songs, maybe record something for the heck of it. Skye, you have no idea how cool it is to say "yeah, my big sister is in a wonderful old timey band!" I am just as happy as can be about ya'll! You're the bee's knees! :)
HOTT DOGG!! Looking forward to seeing you at the 2008 Uncle Dave Macon Days in Murfreesboro, TN, July 11-13!! Don't forget, UDM Days adds its first ever jug band competition on Friday night!!
