Great news indeed, Donna Dean is going to be playing live on my show 'A Positive Vibration" next week. The show starts at 12 midnight on Tuesday 17th and runs into Wednesday the 18th at 3.30am. Those of you who were at the tree Tops gig back in December last year will remember a beautifully haunting and simultaneously uplifting set that Donna played in fact if your anything like me its probably etched on your brain!
Obviously just for you early birds who need all your beauty sleep we will be trying to get Donna who will be accompanied by Paul Williams to perform in the first hour of the show. Hopefully I will also get time to ask Donna and Paul some questions so if any of you any thing you would like to ask please email me and I will do my best to pass on your thoughts.
A 1997 music festival at the Bay of Islands north of her home town of Auckland, proved significant in the career of New Zealand singer-songwriter Donna Dean. During the festival on a ferry crossing from Paihia to Russell, Dean met a German promoter who, impressed by her music and performance, booked her on a six week tour of Germany the following year. Months after returning from Germany, Dean joined American songwriting legends Jimmy Webb and Dan Penn on their N.Z tour as the support artist. A year later Dean moved to London where she lived for six years touring Europe. She has created a fan base there and continues to tour Germany annually.
Dean regularly played in central London at some of the hottest West End roots music venues including The Borderline, The 12 Bar Club and the Kashmir Club. In 2000 Dean won Demo of the Month in London's Melody Maker Magazine for her self produced 10 track solo album "A Little Faith". The acoustic studio tracks were one take recordings which Dean says are real, not perfect, the way she intended. That same year Dean was a feature artist at a huge Trucker festival in Germany alongside Willie Nelson.
Dean was a guest speaker at the 2003 Mataura Licencing Trust Songwriting Seminar along with songwriters Arthur Baysting and Barry Saunders. Also in 2003 she won two N.Z Tui Awards for Best Country Album and Best Country Song for her self-penned album “Money” recorded in Nashville and featuring Grammy winning Americana band The Amazing Rhythm Aces. A live performance at The Flax Cafe in west Auckland in October 2008 was part of a short film made by Miriama Toms. The music doco film is due to be screened on Maori television and at Lopdell house theatre in 2009. In December 2008 one of her songs from the “Money” album was recorded by award winning American Bluegrass artist Rhonda Vincent whose friends include Alison Krauss and Dolly Parton. Rhonda Vincent/Dolly Parton youtube video
Dean returned to Auckland in 2005 focused on writing new songs and began a search for a suitable accompanist. In 2008 she teamed up with singer-songwriter Paul Williams. Influenced by the diversity of the European music scene Dean was looking for a versatile musician who would add a kind of edge and twist to her music and the multi talented Williams fitted the bill perfectly. The pair have been referred to as the Gillian Welch & David Rawlings of New Zealand with their crossover-rootsy/folk sound. Williams has recorded several albums of original music which Dean endorses and describes as mesmerising and thought shifting. Williams plays Cello, Mandolin, Autoharp and Percussion with Dean. Cello may not be what you expect at a roots music gig but you have to hear and see Dean & Williams play live to appreciate the sound they create together which takes you on a distinctive and memorable musical journey. Williams’ use of the Cello exceeds the norm and stretches way beyond what you think you’ll hear. Dean’s new material is as always, rich with the realisms of life. No syrupy love songs, only real life stories of tragedy and torment, loss and hope. Don’t miss an opportunity to see Donna Dean & Paul Williams live. It’s one of those rare experiences which stay with you long after the music ends.
To listen visit http://www.myspace.com/donnadean8
Dean regularly played in central London at some of the hottest West End roots music venues including The Borderline, The 12 Bar Club and the Kashmir Club. In 2000 Dean won Demo of the Month in London's Melody Maker Magazine for her self produced 10 track solo album "A Little Faith". The acoustic studio tracks were one take recordings which Dean says are real, not perfect, the way she intended. That same year Dean was a feature artist at a huge Trucker festival in Germany alongside Willie Nelson.
Dean was a guest speaker at the 2003 Mataura Licencing Trust Songwriting Seminar along with songwriters Arthur Baysting and Barry Saunders. Also in 2003 she won two N.Z Tui Awards for Best Country Album and Best Country Song for her self-penned album “Money” recorded in Nashville and featuring Grammy winning Americana band The Amazing Rhythm Aces. A live performance at The Flax Cafe in west Auckland in October 2008 was part of a short film made by Miriama Toms. The music doco film is due to be screened on Maori television and at Lopdell house theatre in 2009. In December 2008 one of her songs from the “Money” album was recorded by award winning American Bluegrass artist Rhonda Vincent whose friends include Alison Krauss and Dolly Parton. Rhonda Vincent/Dolly Parton youtube video
Dean returned to Auckland in 2005 focused on writing new songs and began a search for a suitable accompanist. In 2008 she teamed up with singer-songwriter Paul Williams. Influenced by the diversity of the European music scene Dean was looking for a versatile musician who would add a kind of edge and twist to her music and the multi talented Williams fitted the bill perfectly. The pair have been referred to as the Gillian Welch & David Rawlings of New Zealand with their crossover-rootsy/folk sound. Williams has recorded several albums of original music which Dean endorses and describes as mesmerising and thought shifting. Williams plays Cello, Mandolin, Autoharp and Percussion with Dean. Cello may not be what you expect at a roots music gig but you have to hear and see Dean & Williams play live to appreciate the sound they create together which takes you on a distinctive and memorable musical journey. Williams’ use of the Cello exceeds the norm and stretches way beyond what you think you’ll hear. Dean’s new material is as always, rich with the realisms of life. No syrupy love songs, only real life stories of tragedy and torment, loss and hope. Don’t miss an opportunity to see Donna Dean & Paul Williams live. It’s one of those rare experiences which stay with you long after the music ends.
To listen visit http://www.myspace.com/donnadean8
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1 comment:
Great show sir. I'm looking 4ward to the next frilly installment.
Mark
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