John Mellencamp, Bruce Springsteen, Paul Rodgers, Ben Harper, Ray LaMontagne, Jimmy Webb (Glen Campbell), Cold Play, Paul Weller, Neil Young and Australian songwriters such as Paul Kelly, Troy Cassar-Daley, Bernard Fanning, Pete Murray, Keith Urban, Alex Lloyd, Joe Camilleri (The Black Sorrows), Ian Moss, Don Walker, Archie Roach......songwriters through and through.....from now and then.
Sounds Like
Some have said John Harley Weston sounds like Paul Rodgers, Bernard Fanning, John Mellencamp, Neil Diamond, Gordon Lightfoot and Bruce Cockburn.
John Harley Weston’s latest album ‘Welcome Back To Reality’ (2008) sounds a bit like John Mellencamp and Bruce Springsteen's bands, Paul Rodgers' soul, Gordon Lightfoot's subtleties, Bruce Cockburn's conscience and the Great Songwriting Handbook. If you can't stand pretentious, cutting edge, shoe gazing, shake your booty music then you're going to love it. Weston’s guitar-based folk/rock is unashamedly music for the mature masses. Rather than the usual boring critique here are some recent results…..
Hot off the press - Nov 2009 - John is featured in a book called ‘Minstrels, Poets and Vagabonds’ written by Glasgow rock aficionado Robert Fields about 5 decades of rock music in Glasgow, Scotland. The foreword is by the great Frankie Miller and Mick Box (Uriah Heap). More at http://www.minstrelspoetsvagabonds.co.uk
Channel 7 Television chose two John Harley Weston’s songs (‘Believe In Yourself’ and ‘Waltzing Matilda’) for their 2008 Beijing Olympics playlist. That’s huge! Statistics say 5 million Australians (where the Scotsman is now based) watched the official broadcast. John supports the Olympics and Human Rights so all iTunes downloads of his version of 'Waltzing Matilda' during the Olympic Games went to Amnesty International. Freddy Celis, respected music reviewer at 'Rootstime' says 'Weston’s intimate translation has to be added to the gallery of the greatest'.)
Both songs are featured on John’s new album ‘Welcome Back To Reality’ - it's on special at the moment - only $10 plus postage - see below to buy.
As well as being playlisted on over 30 radio stations around the world and growing (including BBC Radio) Weston just struck a deal to get his songs aired by the company that supplies music to Foxtel and Austar Pay TV radio station channels and major retail stores and hotels in the southern hemisphere. Not easy for an independent artist but Weston isn't your run of the mill musician....
He's just signed with the well respected Blue Pie Records in Australia - a new breed of I.T. driven music industry labels who’ve secured licensing deals with over 300 major companies including 20th Century Fox, ABC Network Australia, Columbia Tristar, Dreamworks, Coca Cola, Toyota etc. It’s a non-exclusive deal so John is still free to sign to other labels.
PAUL PITICCO (manager of one of Australia's biggest rock band's Powderfinger, Bernard Fanning and the Grates) says 'Congrats mate. DIY has worked great for you .....you should write a "how to" book. It has been great to watch it grow. Here's to your continued success'.
MARK HOLDEN - (Australian Idol judge, music producer and songwriter) says 'Hi John.....really good site you have for listening - excellent material - good onya...'
KHALIQ GLOVER (Los Angeles based Grammy award winning recording/mixing engineer for Prince, Justin Timberlake, John Mayer, Christina Aguilera, Stevie Wonder, Santana, Sting, Marcus Miller) says 'Wow, you sound great. Great songs and craftsmanship and your singing is spot on..'
TONY BEARD (drummer/guitarist with Crosby, Stills & Nash, The Bee Gees, Daryl Hall, Jeff Beck, Wyclef Jean, Madonna & McCartney) says new song ''Whatever Makes You Happy' is a hit and a great metaphor'.
‘WELCOME BACK TO REALITY’ - ALBUM ON SALE NOW - HALF PRICE - ONLY $10 (Australian) plus postage.
To buy direct from John Harley Weston click on album artwork below
To buy 'Welcome Back To Reality' from cdbaby.com click here
To buy 'Welcome Back To Reality' from iTunes click here
Blue Pie Records Australia were so impressed that John managed to get his music added to Channel 7 Television Australia's Beijing Olympics playlist that they decided to release 'Waltzing Matilda' and 'Believe in Yourself' as stand alone digital singles at www.mybluepiemusic.com.
Weston's first album 'Hope Harbour' (2004/5) picked up some serious international awards. In Australia where the Scotsman is now based he won the prestigious Australian National Songwriting Contest 2005 (rock category) with the rootsy, up-tempo, country-rock anthem 'Last Days Of Summer'. (co-written with U.S. based drummer Tony Beard who's played with Crosby Stills and Nash, Madonna, Daryl Hall, Jeff beck). Weston also received highest level Honourable Mention from Billboard World Songwriting Contest (2006) for his humanitarian lament, 'Brothers and Sisters' inspired by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. And in 2006 John also made the top 20 at the notoriously difficult Unisong International Songwriting Contest judged by songwriting legends...a competition that's given birth to songwriters Bonnie Raitt , Jimmy Buffet, Mick Fleetwood, Indigo Girls, Lisa Loeb, Burt Bacharach. Now that's huge recognition for a first independent album!
As if that's not enough Weston was also voted in the top 5 best singers in the world by a major heavy-weight U.S. music publisher Dale Kawashima (previously Creative Director at Sony Music Publishing in Los Angeles and head of Michael Jackson's ATV) he has represented the song catalogs of Springsteen, Dylan, Beatles and Motown. Now that's what I call an endorsement.
''HOPE HARBOUR (2004/5) IS ALSO ON SALE HERE
To buy direct from John Harley Weston click on Hope Harbour image below
To download 'Hope Harbour' at iTunes
To buy from cdbaby.com
John Harley Weston has worked extensively in the UK and Australia supporting acts such as Indigo Girls, Wet Wet Wet, Lighthouse Family, Duran Duran and Aussie legend John "Swanee' Swan amongst others.
In 1999 he wrote 'Road to Victory' for the mighty Brisbane Lions Aussie Rules Football team. (Festival/Mushroom Records)
In a long and interesting career his musical apprenticeship was served with some of the cream of the industry such as Gary Katz (legendary Steeley Dan producer), Ian Kewley (Paul Young's M.D.) and members of Paul McCartneys band. He's recorded all over the world in studios such as Peter Gabriel's 'Real World' in England, 'Rockfield Studios' in Wales, Jimmy Page's 'The Old Mill' and George Martin's 'Air Studios', London
His first taste of success was in the early 90s as lead singer/songwriter with the Scottish band 'Frontier' (Polygram now Mercury Records). Frontier played hundreds of live shows from outdoor festivals, pubs and clubs to the UKs university circuit and large capacity exhibition centres including Wembley Arena headlining and supporting acts such as Wet Wet Wet and Gun. More about Frontier at myspace/thebandfrontier
John Harley Weston is endorsed by Takamine Guitars, D'Addario strings and Neumann Microphones.
Have not stopped by in awhile! How are you?! Hope all is well and good with you and yours!!
Started my own business venture and am lovin it!! It's summer vacation for the kids! Their thing this year is tenting it in the big outdoors of the back yard and at night even. lol Keeping busy though which is always good!
Oy! JohnO, How'd ya be eh mate? Me family members are Australian. Me baby sister is Australian born. Many are nurses and one is a Professor and another is a Doctor married to a Doctor. We are doing fine. Great great great Grandfather was a Scottish Lawyer who founded the Cherokee Nation. Ah, me boy, i wear me school uniform from Oz. Speak Stralian and invest in Oz. One day the Chinese could be the biggest economy in the world. Oz is close by. Many Asian banks try to own and scoop up all the Australian resources. Many Yanks don't even have a clue about investing in Aussie stocks or anything about Aussie royalties. They are too busy being debtors and all the industry and jobs are being exported. i have been singing Waltzing Matilda for forty years. Invest in Australia or you will be sorry you didn't. Eh mate?
Heya! John Harley Weston Just popping by to have a browse at your page! Lovin' it! Hope everythings good with you. Please take the time to listen to my re=recording of 'Hey' up on my myspace now if you havn't already! Any feedback would be appreiciated =)
oh thanks for your add John .... its getting warmer now, the last 2 days we had about 10°C but for tomorrow they say colder again .... grrrr .... I love the spring more. I know that it is hot in Australia now, because you still have summer .... I love your country, have been there twice - all over the east coast from Cairns down to 12 Apostles .... have a nice week and keep on rocking .... hugs .... Andrea
Hey John - My week will be fantastic. Have a few days off work and venturing down to Coffs to see some beautiful friends of mine. Is there any chance you could upload "Whatever Makes you Happy". I keep playing it, plus your other songs which are fantastic. Also do you mind if I put something up about "Waltzing Matilda" and that is is owned by the America etc etc. Enjoy your week, might see you on Saturday. Keep smiling Sandy
Thanks John, I'm now a member of Blue Pie, though just for the non-exclusive digital distro. Hope we can hookup sometime, I see you're talking to film folks. Good luck!
Just wanted to let you know that you were talked about in Las Vegas this weekend. Don't worry....it was all good. Mostly about your talent and great voice. Seems like you have some fans in Paolo Nutini and his band. ;)
Online Now!
