Awards

Bluebird at the Bluecoat and other creative catch-ups!

Hello!

The last few months for me has been very creative/collaboratively swayed and I’ve had a lot of fun in the process…

Here is a bitesize update of some selective things I’ve been involved in and more will follow!

The most recent venture for me is happening this Saturday at Bluecoat Liverpool. I entered a songwriting competition a few months ago that was being run by Monkey Mind Productions in Nashville. After putting forward 3 of my songs I was picked as a finalist for a masterclass and songwriting feedback session taking place at Bluecoat under the banner ‘Bluebird at the Bluecoat’. We are given the opportunity to perform a song for the visiting Nashville songwriters/industry professionals and Bob Harris. I’m very excited (and a teeny bit nervous….:) but good nerves for sure). More to come on this……!

Check out the details here.. http://monkeymindproductions.net/the-bluebird-at-the-bluecoat/

BIG CLOUD: Earlier this month I went to visit Big Cloud Productions to be interviewed and perform songs for their excellent podcast. The man in charge is Steve Stroud. We had a great time., he asked some really interesting questions and we chatted guitar and music geek for at least a couple of hours and over about 4 cups of coffee 🙂 We also discovered we were playing music in New England at the same time a few years ago! I managed to squeeze in 7 songs. Here is the vid for this, enjoy:

ROOTS & FUSION: In the below link you can hear my latest session with Roots & Fusion. Always a pleasure to work with Rick and Aaron. Great session from June this year! (2015)

Roots & Fusion no.330, 17/6/15, from Todd Rundgren to Michael Brook via Jo Bywater in session by Roots & Fusion on Mixcloud

BREAK THE MAN: July saw the finished album that I had the pleasure of playing guitar, harmonica and backing vocals on, as well as designing the cover. This was ‘Break the Man by Kwalaparla’. A Western theme featuring gallows and heartbreak. Here’s a fab and deserved review by FATEA Mag.

http://www.fatea-records.co.uk/magazine/2015/KwalaParla.html

Coming up next week is my time to visit Bay TV in Liverpool and play some songs in their studio! More updates and links on that when it’s done and out.

I’ll be back with more updates as they come in and to fill in the blanks from the last couple of months 🙂

Bye for now.

Jo x

Folkscene & Bluebird Cafe comp!

A couple of weeks ago I was invited to go to Radio Merseyside and record an hour-long interview with Liverpool harp legend and all round good ‘un Stan Ambrose for his show Folkscene. I always have a great and interesting chat with Stan on creativity and songwriting.

Here’s the link to playback for the next 3 weeks. After that I will add it to my Soundcloud account..

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02jv9j6

And and and…

I have also managed to be picked as one of the 20 songwriters invited to go to group songwriting workshops with visiting Nashville songwriters and music industry execs on their visit to Bluecoat, Liverpool for The Bluebird Cafe event on 29th August.

http://monkeymindproductions.net/the-bluebird/

Exciting, creative times!

Riches to Rags FREE download..

Hey All!

I’m very excited about this whole experience of writing and winning the Judges Award for Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting Challenge (Nov 14) and so have decided that the new recording will be available as a free download to anyone who would like to enjoy it for a limited time.

As part of my prize I had the pleasure of recording Riches to Rags with Judge Jon Lawton at Crosstown Studios Liverpool. We had a chilled and enjoyable session and thus this recording was born.

Big thanks to Liverpool Acoustic and the 3 Judges (Kaya (Balance Vocal), Jon Lawton (Crosstown Studios) & Robert Vincent).

Big smiles from me!

You can download the song from Bandcamp (free or if you want to pay anything that’s up to your discretion) or Soundcloud.

I also played the fab Liverpool Acoustic live on Friday (27th Feb.) as part of an epic line-up (Cousin Jac & Roxanne De Bastion) and the lovely Graham Holland (1 half of Liverpool Acoustic) took this vid of me performing the song …

Enjoy

Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting Challenge WIN!

Good News!! My song Riches to Rags won the judges award for Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting challenge 😀

On Friday I went along to perform my entry for the finals. It was a great night of music both from 2 of the judges (Robert Vincent & Kaya) and also the other 9 finalists.

There’s a big smile on my face and I’m also very overwhelmed by the amount of congratulations from people. I genuinely entered the challenge for a bit of a different songwriting venture but to come out winner is very nice…

This is the painting I chose from View Two Gallery to write about… I was really drawn into this picture and had the whole song concept very quickly.,

The song…

The lyrics…

Riches to Rags

Do you know I used to be a Queen?

I followed you here

Enticed and entranced by your need

But I know I’m never going to be your Queen

Though dress in golden seams

I’m left alone with my dreams

And I gave my colours for you

Gave my colours for you…

Honey, how I ache to be your queen

Oh invisible me

Now we’re strangers its clear that I

Served a purpose it seems

Left to dote in the breeze

Carry all that I’ve seen

And It’s alright

I know how you feel

I can’t keep you here

You’re not meant for me

And we used to dance and you’d hold me so firmly

I’d fly like a bird

And you’d touch me so softly I’d slip through your arms

Like the breath that you drew

When you kissed me

Unhooked me from all that I knew

Now all I know is you

Now all I know is you…

Darling I could never never be your queen

The world worn weary

This Goddess has dignity

And darling I rage like the sea

You took all that I had

From riches to rags

Not sure I exist

Chameleons and twists

Laments of lives gone by

I float between two skies

I’ve been chasing ghosts

Since you caressed my throat

Spinning mirrors and smoke

I tenderly choke

And we used to dance and you’d spin me so firmly I’d fly like a bird

And you’d touch me so softly I’d slip through your arms

Like the breath that you drew

When you kissed me

Unhooked me from all that I knew

Such a beauty, you told me I shone like a charm

These red lips you could kiss

That remind you of sunsets so bold

So unspoiled, I unfold, you took me from all that I knew

You unhooked me from all that I knew

Yeah you took me from all that I knew

And all that I wanted was you

Now all that I’m haunting is you

The prizes for winning are a vocal lesson with the amazing Balance Vocal, a studio recording of my song with Crosstown Studios and I am also invited to perform at Liverpool Acoustics Birthday event on 27th Feb 2015. 🙂

Once the song is recorded I will put it on here..

Thanks for the support everyone

Winner of FATEA award best EP/Mini Album/Single 2013 – Chasing Tales

This is a fantastic bit of news to weigh in with so early in the year, I’m feeling very lucky and achieved!

Firstly Happy New Year!

Just before Christmas it was brought to my attention that I had been shortlised for the above award down to 3 people. I was in fab company with Marina Florence and Keston Cobblers Club, it felt pretty special :). I found out last Wednesday that my EP Chasing Tales was voted the Winner of the category. Big smiles and many thanks to all those at FATEA Magazine and involved in the awards for your support. I’ve worked hard and it feels nice to get my first award since winning a drawing competition at the East Ardsley Gala when I was little. Check out the rest of the categories and awards here!

Chasing Tales is available to buy at gigs and online. It’s available from all the usual suspects but it is Bandcamp that looks after me best and I can also sign a CD for anyone that wishes who purchases from there. You understand that this is now officially an Award – winning EP right? 😉

Onwards and upwards! 🙂