Red Rooster AMA UK Gender Balance partnership & line-up news

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As Red Rooster festival heads towards its 6th edition at the end of May, this renowned champion of the very best in Rock’n’ Roll, Blues, Soul, Roots and Country music, is thrilled to announce

...a new collaboration with the Americana Music Association UK and New York singer/songwriter Sunny Ozell, who will be curating as well as headlining the female-led acoustic AMA UK stage on Friday 31st May.  It comes with a very important message and action that Red Rooster festival is honoured to support.

Sunny Ozell:

"I am extremely proud to be a part of the Americana Music Association UK / Keychange-inspired stage at the Red Rooster festival.  Right in step with the changes we're seeing in all walks of life (from business to the film industry to government), Keychange aims to reach a 50/50 balance of gender representation in the music industry, particularly at festivals.  I've been a musician, and a woman, all my life.  I could talk about what that has been like, but wouldn't it be better to hear me express myself through my music and my craft?  Representation matters--when diverse voices are given a platform to be heard, the full richness of the human experience just might be within our grasp.  Come to the AMAUK PRS Keychange-inspired stage and take in the power of women's voices."

 

Stevie Freeman:

“This year the AMA-UK were excited to be asked to do something special at Red Rooster Festival, to curate a PRS Keychange-inspired stage, this is a pledge with PRS that AMA-UK have signed to have 50/50 gender balance by 2022.  We are really delighted to have been given this opportunity to share awareness of Keychange by the Red Rooster team.  We have teamed up with the American artist Sunny Ozell to host and curate the line-up and shine a light on the strong female representation in this genre. It’s not just about giving opportunities to female artists but also demonstrating to audiences that women are equally valid on festival line-ups and for aspiring female artists to see those women on stage and be inspired.”

Stevie Freeman CEO Americana Music Association UK

 Sunny Ozell, the New York City songstress, developed her craft over a decade plus of performing and collaborating with some of the city's best session musicians.  With this same tight-knit community of seasoned players, she honed her sound. Sunny's powerful voice effortlessly weaves together the elements of jazz, blues, and Americana roots that infuse her music.  Her upcoming record "Overnight Lows" showcases Sunny's growth as a lyricist and reveals a skilled singer in search of depth and expression.

Birds of Chicago have been riding a wave of good mojo in the Americana world since their inception in late 2012. With their new album, Love in Wartime, they are set to both validate that roots buzz, and break on through to a wider audience across the world. The invitation is joyous, but urgent … call it “secular gospel,” or call it what they used to call poetry intoned over roots music mash-ups: rock n roll. The Birds consider themselves a rock and roll band first and foremost.

Fiona Bevan is a British-Canadian songwriter, singer and multi-instrumentalist from Suffolk, UK with a sweet, fiery voice and a soulful folk-pop sound creating "startling odysseys that suggest Erykah Badu, Joanna Newsom and Kate Bush spine-tinglingly joined" (The Guardian).  Her new EP, ‘Wild Angels Sweet Demons’, was produced by Grammy award-winning engineer Robin Baynton (Mumford And Sons, Laura Marling, Isaac Gracie) and went straight to number 3 in the iTunes singer-songwriter chart in November 2018.

The Jambalaya Band have been making a name for themselves as the hottest honky tonk band in London. After setting up their own honky tonk at The Blues Kitchen in Camden they’ve got everyone shaking off their blues in true country style. Featuring Pedal Steel, Telecaster, Fiddle and female harmonies, these guys and gals mean business.

Cornwall trio William the Conqueror have been picking up praise from far flung corners ever since Ruarri Joseph took the step to go public with his erstwhile secret alter-ego. Debut album, Proud Disturber of the Peace, was released in 2017 to widespread critical acclaim, and their shows have been steadily winning over fans up and down the country.

A consummate songwriter and superbly accomplished folk player and singer, Essex born Lucy Kitt’s creative soul looks west across the Atlantic. Taking inspiration from the classic 70’s folk rock of Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Neil Young, Lucy’s signature sound evokes LA’s legendary Laurel Canyon at its height. One to watch!

Misty River are an Americana band from London with roots in the west coast of Ireland and the US.  They are set to release their first single on 14th June from their debut EP ‘Promises’  mixed in Nashville by Grammy award winner Vance Powell (Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson, Elle King). Their songs feature in Oscar winning film The Phone Call as well as new US film Extra Innings. They combine sweet harmony vocals intertwined with dobro, electric guitar and songwriting firmly rooted in classic alt country, roots and blues.

Published on 26 April 2019 by Ben Robinson

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