Lou Brown: 2. Words
There can't be many singer-songwriters who can draw inspiration from their love of 'The Sound of Music', the legend of Robert Johnson, and a former career in social work, but Lou Brown does just that. These and many more influences are combined in an unique and personal blend of country, folk and pop that is gaining her fans across the globe.Lou's musical training started early, singing along to her parents Peter, Paul and Mary records and exploring any instrument that came within her reach. Finding an affinity with the guitar it wasn't long before she was on-stage at her local folk club, testing out her songs. More and more gigs followed, valuable performance experience that eventually led to her winning the South West Young Achiever of the Year Award and a grant from the Prince's Trust to record her début album.'What Are You Singing About?' was described by one reviewer as an album for romantics; totally unpretentious, beautifully honest, and it is this honesty and simplicity that has seen it become a firm favourite for many. First week sales saw it head straight into the Top 30 Albums at Borders Books & Music, and the quality of songwriting was recognised by radio stations across the UK, both commercial and BBC, who played tracks and invited Lou into their studios to chat and play for their listeners. In June 2009 Lou recorded 4 live tracks for Johnnie Walker at Glastonbury Festival, one of which was broadcast on BBC Radio 2's 'Wake Up to Wogan' show, the UK's most listened-to radio show, and has been followed by plays on several other BBC Radio 2 shows. The strength of these songs has also seen Lou sign her first commercial licensing contract with Lakehouse Sound in Los Angeles, and it won't be long till her words and music are on the big screen.On the back of all this success, Lou continued to gig further and further afield. In addition to extensive and successful UK headline performances, Lou also headed to the USA for her first tour, signing and performing in music stores and venues around Illinois and Iowa. Her skill as a live performer also saw her receive increased recognition from her peers, opening shows for a host of great artists: Albert Lee, Hazel O'Conner, Paul Young, Boo Hewerdine, Steve Tilston, Clive Gregson, Megson, Julie Fowlis, Po' Girl and Eilen Jewell.And so to the present: Lou spent most of 2009 gigging around the UK, including Isle of Wight, Glastonbury, Trowbridge, Priddy, and Greenbelt festivals, and finished the year recording her second album. With Clive Gregson heading up the project as producer Lou can't wait to get her next set of songs out into the wider world. A headline UK tour is booked for May 2010 with her Makeshift Family Band, and Lou plans to take the album further afield the following Autumn."One of my Glastonbury highlights." - Johnnie Walker, BBC Radio 2"A fine voice." - Jeff Smith, Head of Music, BBC Radio 2 and BBC 6Music"Great, great singer with great songs." - Clive Gregson"She's great!" - Boo Hewerdine"Good songs, great lyrics" - Steve Tilston"We've got her album, it's really good." - Megson"She held the audience captivated... with her beautiful songs" - Maverick magazine"There are a lot of musicians around, many of them perfectly competent, but once in a great while you stumble onto someone with that spark of something extra, something beyond the ordinary, far beyond expectations Lou [has] that spark in spades. Lou's got a very pure and lovely voice, and writes some truly gorgeous songs with fantastic wordsmithing." - Gayla Drake Paul, Editor, Premier Guitar magazine
There can't be many singer-songwriters who can draw inspiration from their love of 'The Sound of Music', the legend of Robert Johnson, and a former career in social work, but Lou Brown does just that. These and many more influences are combined in an unique and personal blend of country, folk and pop that is gaining her fans across the globe.
Lou's musical training started early, singing along to her parents Peter, Paul and Mary records and exploring any instrument that came within her reach. Finding an affinity with the guitar it wasn't long before she was on-stage at her local folk club, testing out her songs. More and more gigs followed, valuable performance experience that eventually led to her winning the South West Young Achiever of the Year Award and a grant from the Prince's Trust to record her début album.
'What Are You Singing About?' was described by one reviewer as an album for romantics; totally unpretentious, beautifully honest, and it is this honesty and simplicity that has seen it become a firm favourite for many. First week sales saw it head straight into the Top 30 Albums at Borders Books & Music, and the quality of songwriting was recognised by radio stations across the UK, both commercial and BBC, who played tracks and invited Lou into their studios to chat and play for their listeners. In June 2009 Lou recorded 4 live tracks for Johnnie Walker at Glastonbury Festival, one of which was broadcast on BBC Radio 2's 'Wake Up to Wogan' show, the UK's most listened-to radio show, and has been followed by plays on several other BBC Radio 2 shows. The strength of these songs has also seen Lou sign her first commercial licensing contract with Lakehouse Sound in Los Angeles, and it won't be long till her words and music are on the big screen.
On the back of all this success, Lou continued to gig further and further afield. In addition to extensive and successful UK headline performances, Lou also headed to the USA for her first tour, signing and performing in music stores and venues around Illinois and Iowa. Her skill as a live performer also saw her receive increased recognition from her peers, opening shows for a host of great artists: Albert Lee, Hazel O'Conner, Paul Young, Boo Hewerdine, Steve Tilston, Clive Gregson, Megson, Julie Fowlis, Po' Girl and Eilen Jewell.
And so to the present: Lou spent most of 2009 gigging around the UK, including Isle of Wight, Glastonbury, Trowbridge, Priddy, and Greenbelt festivals, and finished the year recording her second album. With Clive Gregson heading up the project as producer Lou can't wait to get her next set of songs out into the wider world. A headline UK tour is booked for May 2010 with her Makeshift Family Band, and Lou plans to take the album further afield the following Autumn.
"One of my Glastonbury highlights." - Johnnie Walker, BBC Radio 2
"A fine voice." - Jeff Smith, Head of Music, BBC Radio 2 and BBC 6Music
"Great, great singer with great songs." - Clive Gregson
"She's great!" - Boo Hewerdine
"Good songs, great lyrics" - Steve Tilston
"We've got her album, it's really good." - Megson
"She held the audience captivated... with her beautiful songs" - Maverick magazine
"There are a lot of musicians around, many of them perfectly competent, but once in a great while you stumble onto someone with that spark of something extra, something beyond the ordinary, far beyond expectations Lou [has] that spark in spades. Lou's got a very pure and lovely voice, and writes some truly gorgeous songs with fantastic wordsmithing." -
Gayla Drake Paul, Editor, Premier Guitar magazine
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