Dog house Roses are Paul Tasker (Guitar/Vocals) & Iona Macdonald (Vocals/Guitar)...joined on occasion by Malcolm Lindsay (guitar) & Sharon Hassan (fiddle)
Influences
Steve Earle, Bert Jansch, Gillian Welch, Mark Knopfler, Kathryn Williams, Ani Difranco, Natalie Merchant, Fairport Convention, Pentangle, John Renbourn, Thomas Leeb, Martin Simpson, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, John Doyle, Alison Brown, Bruce Springsteen, Kelly Joe Phelps, Richmond Fontaine, Janice Joplin, Neil Young, Eileen Ivers, Nicklecreek, Rory Gallagher, Led Zepplin, Gram Parsons, Aimee Mann, Rolling Stones, Richard Thompson, Sandy Denny, Lunasa, Flook!, Eliza Carthy, Larry Guild, Lonnie Donnaghan, Johnny Winter, Jimi Hendrix, Tuck Andress...
Smokey & the Bandit, Eric Cartman, the night hours ticking sleeplessly away....
"... an inspired performance... Exquisite..." Sunday Mail "Doghouse Roses do the melancholy country ballad with guile and grace. Greener the Grass is unashemedly Sandy Denny-tastic, which is a fantastic thing" the List
" It's called alt-folk...this Scots duo are going places" the Daily Record
“…a formidable debut record… a captivating folk filled dream…” Is This Music
“…this is folk-blues as it should be… I could listen for hours... simple and haunting... an emotional edge that's capable of cutting to the bone...” Fatea - Cambridge & Beyond (runner up in 2006 EP/Single of the year!)
"...vocals are highly reminiscent of such folk luminaries as Sandy Denny and Linda Thompson." Americana UK
"...great songs written and performed by highly talented performers." Woven Wheat Whispers
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Guitarist Paul Tasker & singer Iona Macdonald became Doghouse Roses in late 2005 after one too many nights listening to old music whilst drinking red wine. They soon developed a sound that lies in the spaces between The Pentangle and Fairport Convention, with a nod to Gillian Welch on the way. Doghouse Roses have released two EPs to date and their full-length debut, “How’ve You Been (All This Time)?” will be out on the 1st of September, preceded by a single, “Greener the Grass / Years”, out on the 26th May.
The first Doghouse Roses EP was recorded in their kitchen after gigging extensively around Scotland, England and The Netherlands. Released in September 2006, this EP featured five original songs, one instrumental and the traditional folk song “Nottamun Town”, previously recorded by such legends as Bert Jansch, Fairport Convention, Jackie Leven and Roger McGuinn. The quality of this eponymous debut was recognised when noted folk music site FATEA named it runner-up in the Best Single/EP of the Year category of its annual awards that year.
In September 2007, Doghouse Roses released a second EP, “Folk & Blues part 1” and embarked on a 25 date European tour with US “folk-noir” band, the Willard Grant Conspiracy. Tasker & Macdonald appeared as Doghouse Roses in the support slot and played as members of the headlining Willard Grant Conspiracy at sold out shows in England, The Netherlands, Belgium, Austria and Germany. These included London’s Luminaire, the End of the Road Festival in Dorset, Groningen’s Take Root Festival, The Chelsea (Vienna) and the Rotor Salon in Berlin.
Along the way, Paul & Iona have also shared stages with Seth Lakeman, Rodrigo Y Gabriella, Kris Drever, Kathryn Williams, Jackie Leven and Cara Dillon.
Both Tasker and Macdonald are accomplished performers in their own right - Paul Tasker began playing the guitar after hearing legendary guitarist Bert Jansch in a Glasgow working men’s club in the early 1990’s. He has played hundreds of gigs, from backing fiddle players to playing a telecaster in a “folk techno fusion band”, and in 2004, as songwriter and guitarist for Sal, Paul won a coveted Danny Kyle Award at the Celtic Connections festival.
Although, Iona Macdonald is a relative newcomer, she has quickly gained acclaim as a distinctive and accomplished singer with “vocals reminiscent of such folk luminaries as Sandy Denny and Linda Thompson” (Americana UK, Feb 2007). Her growing reputation has led to Macdonald being much in demand as a session singer. She and Tasker recently spent time in the studio with 60s icon Nick Garrie, working on his first album in 40 years since the release of the “lost classic”, “The Nightmare of J B Stanislas”, and are members of Glasgow songwriter Ally Kerr’s band, as well as the Willard Grant Conspiracy.
The duo are currently mixing their first full length album of 10 original songs, “How’ve You Been (All This Time)?” with producer/composer Malcolm Lindsay, who has previously written and arranged for The Delgados and The Willard Grant Conspiracy, and, among numerous credits for TV and film music, scored the Ewan Macregor film, “Young Adam”, with David Byrne.
The two EP’s released to date have been well received, with more radio stations adding Doghouse Roses to their playlists. The forthcoming single and album should see the band’s fan base in the UK and Europe continue to grow, as well as expanding to the rest of the globe.
Hello Iona & Paul, I'm a little late, sorry! Thanks so much for your letter. Very beautiful songs, especally the new single is gorgeous. And Ionas voice is absolut marvellous! Sending love and hugs from Bavaria Woerterherr
I managed to escape the rain today...thankfully. I'm a bit of a gardener so I kinda welcomed the rain today. I was also skiving off work - so it was nice to hide indoors. Anyway i see from your profile that you are playing Paisley! I'll pop along and see you guys. Your music is absolutely lovely. Great vocals. x
Cineplexx + Ally Kerr (with special guests) Live! @ Viva Melodia June 25th, start 8pm (West End Festival, Bar Brel, Glasgow UK)
Again and thanks to Ally Kerr I will be playing at Viva Melodia (Glasgow, UK) with Ally and special guests. Will be an acoustic solo & short set so please be in time. At 10pm Ally will DJ as well!