Rachel performs both as a solo artist on guitar, vocals, piano and soprano sax as well as with her collective of very talented musicians, including...
Karen Chalk- vocals, keys, flute...
Bill Taylor-Beales assorted guitars, acoustic bass, occasional vocals and visuals (yes he has even been known to do a huge scale live painting to the back drop of the gig!) www.billtaylor-beales.com for more info...
Owen Gallacher- beautiful marimba, keys and percussion...
Rosy Bolton- cello, vocals....
Stacey Blythe- accordian, vocals
Influences
Nick Drake, Nick Cave, Jeff Buckley, Tim BucKley, Joni Mitchell, Natalie Merchant, Tori Amos, Gillian Welch, Beth Orton, Sufjan Stevens, Ani Difranco, Tom Waits, Suzanne Vega, Nina Simone, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Richie Havens, Terry Callier... the list goes on and on and on..Iron and Wine, Calexico, Tracy Chapman, Bob Marley... and on... whiskey, coffee, wine, cake, conversation, sunshine, ocean, Wim Wenders, John Steinbeck, Joss Wheddon, Kathe Kolwitz...and on and on...
Sounds Like
SOMETHING ACHES LIVE @ ZAC'S PLACE 2008
DIGGING SONG LIVE @ ZAC@S PLACE 2008
PLEASE DON'T PASS ME BY LIVE @ ZAC'S PLACE 2008
MELANCHOLY LIVE @ ZAC'S PLACE 2008
RED TREE (VIDEO BY BILL TAYLOR-BEALES 2008)
Rachel Taylor-Beales has a talent for story telling, with an eye and ear for the ‘real’ world around her. The mix of Folk, Jazz, Country and Americana blends to create a sublime sound that stops you in your tracks. Moving between guitar and piano led songs she weaves quirky melody and rich harmony into her narratives.
Rachel's Background is one of many homes and places. Before she'd hit 12 she'd lived in 13 different houses and had relocated five times between Australia and the UK. As one of many artists in her family, there was always a spare guitar to hand and this encouraged Rachel to begin writing songs the by the age of 14. A few yearrs later she began performing regularly on the Nottingham scene; met Bill (a visual artist) eventually got hitched and left for Australia. They spent the next 4 years travelling round on variety of modes of transport from push bikes to station wagons held together with string, and after playing and painting in all kinds of places, they formed a performing arts company. Along the way they picked up other singer-songwriters, dancers and a rainmaker and decided firmly never to get proper jobs. Since then they have composed and performed their way through theatres, schools, prisons, pubs, clubs, festivals and even an audio book and played an extensive tour of the UK and America.
Now based in Cardiff, Rachel has settled down and is well into a career as a solo artist. Her debut album, Brilliant Blue first self-released and then taken on by singer songwriter Martyn Joseph (who re-released it on his own Pipe Records label), was met with great appreciation from those who heard it. BBC Radio 2's Bob Harris called Brilliant Blue "lovely" and Acoustic Magazine said it was "hauntingly beautiful". That album, the first in her colour trilogy, is now followed up by Red Tree, (Released on Hushland, May 21st 08)
Much of Red Tree takes British folk as its starting point. But Taylor-Beales takes the genre in a new direction, adding in hypnotic, echoing vocals, subtle strings and country/blues tones so that something entirely new is created. Her voice ranges from strong and powerful to wispy and dreamy. Her storytelling recounts her observations with humour, elegance, anger and sweetness. Together, the impact of Rachel’s songs of great melody, the wistful ambience and her charming stories combine to create a startlingly affecting work.
Described by Spiral Earth as a 'Liberating Listen- it should be welcomed with open ears, arms and eyes,' and 'Individual and compelling songwriting talent, with a striking singing voice to match.' by Folk in the Round...
Always ambitious, Rachel's live performances often combine music and visual art inspired by the songs, courtesy of artist and husband, Bill Taylor-Beales, via video images creating a dynamic wall of evolving scenes. (He has also occasionally been known to paint live during performances.) Rachel performs both solo and with an ever varying lineup of her very talented 'collective' of musicians.
Her tastes range from Jasper Fforde to Camus, Green and Blacks to Haribo fixes, G 'n' T to communion wine. And her CD player these days is stocked with Waits, Orton, Dylan, Cave as well as Iron and Wine, Di Franco, Sufjan Stevens and much more...
For more information and reviews check out Rachel's website
www.racheltaylor-beales.com
Ciao,Rachel 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
Hello everybody, I'm looking forward to play 3 really nice gigs in the UK this week! This mini-tour will bring us to the Stables in Milton Kaynes, the County and Station pub in Matlock Bath and Town Hall Arts Centre in Selby. Looking forward to meet you all! :-))) Cheers, Agnes
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 162 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): TEES TO TYNE: FIRST IMPRESSIONS - SUMMER 2001
Where traditions are not so rare; Sea, country and works scent the air; A multitude of monuments, Planted tubs and patterned pavements.
The longish pedestrian malls; The remnants of defensive walls; Historic buildings are a gauge Of the respect for heritage.
Wheat, rape and pines in the fields; Estuaries guarded by shields; Long sandy beaches and wide scenes; Romantic-ruin go-betweens.
Rivers in parts licked by trees, Or fringed by boat clubs, wharfs, gantries, And crossed by practical delights - Varied spans, forming pleasing sights.
Fine churches headed at Durham; Football kits ad infinitum; Kept castles - one for study; Masonry behind masonry.
And, with moulding-works out that way, It’s somewhere for a longer stay..?
Rachel, Only wish I could pop over to your part of the world more often (don't like to fly though!). I'd have to sail or invest in a Star Trek transporter, I guess....
Hi Rachel, lovely to meet you on Monday - hope to see you again soon, and chat more! Will be back to listen when I'm not in a room where people are playing music in the background :)
This month we mostly have Catie Curtis (with a Richard Thompson cover), Lindsay Fuller and The Cheap Dates (and who amongst us isn't?), Josh Fix with a track from the well-titled album This Town Is Starting To Make Me Angry and the rather lovely Red Rooster.
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Thank You, For Your Friendship Add !!!
