December News

December is now upon us.

It?s been a busy November for me. I played some great gigs with Eddi Reader in England, plus my own London show at the Slaughtered Lamb. I was playing the night of the big US election so it was back to the hotel after the gig to keep an eye on the news. Hopefully they?ve got the right guy now in Obama, fingers crossed. Mind you he can?t do any worse than George W! It all reminded me a bit of Blair getting in to power back in 97. I hope Obama turns out better than he did. I?ve been in the studio this week recording a track for the forthcoming Navigator compilation of the songs of Scottish songwriter Sandy Wright.  Lot?s of great artists have covered Sandy?s songs over the past few years including Kris Drever, Eddi Reader and Boo Hewerdine to name just a few.  I?ve recorded his song Can?t Win, Can?t Lose for the album. I recorded in a great wee studio in Glasgow run by Mark Freegard.  Playing on the track  I had John Douglas from the Trashcan Sinatras on Ukulele , ex Proclaimer Stuart Nisbet on guitar/dobro and my old mate from The Felsons and now a very much in demand session player Kev McGuire on double bass. Look out for the album in the new year. Just one more show for me this year. It?s a hometown gig for me here in Edinburgh at The Voodoo Rooms on the 3^rd  December. Looking forward to it as it?ll be the first gig with Kim Edgar on piano.  Kim?s a singer/songwriter and great musician. She?ll also be opening the show. We are planning to tour together in 2009. Booking shows now for the Spring in the UK and France.  I?m also doing a short instore performance and signing at Coda in Edinburgh on the 13^th December. 2008 has been a very positive year for me. I was delighted to sign with Navigator Records and get Whisky Hearts out properly through Proper. I?ve had some fantastic reviews for the album and some great support from well known faces ? Irvine Welsh and Russell Brand etc. In fact Irvine is using the title track from Whisky Hearts in his new film that will be on our screens in January. It?s called Good Arrows. Look forward to seeing that. Heard some cool, interesting records this year. Some new and some older discoveries. I?ve enjoyed the Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver records (like everybody else it seems) and the latest Nick Cave. Also Joan As Policewoman and the fantastic Gramercy Arms albums, but one of my favourite records I heard for the first time this year is a record from around 1969 by Sixto Rodriguez called Cold Fact. I love this record. Check it out. I also have to say that the forthcoming Eddi Reader record sounds lovely. Here?s hoping December is a good month, stress free and full of just the right amount of festive cheer. Here?s to a fab 2009. Cheers Dean

Posted at 11:14AM Nov 21, 2008 by Dean Owens in General  | 

GIGS, JOHN PEEL AND ANOTHER ELECTION

GIGS, JOHN PEEL AND ANOTHER ELECTION

Hi there.

I just wanted let you know that on December 3^rd I will be playing my final Edinburgh show of 2008 at The Voodoo Rooms. My very special guest will be singer/songwriter Kim Edgar. Kim will open the night with a set of her own material from her new album Butterflies and Broken Glass and she?ll also be playing piano with me. Once again Stuart Nisbet will be on guitar. The gigs at the Voodoo Rooms in August were great so I hope you can make it along again in December. It?ll be a festive free zone!! : ) Humbug.

Tickets £10 from ? Tickets Scotland, Ticketweb and Ripping Records or go to -

www.thevoodoorooms.com
www.myspace.com/thevoodoorooms

for more details.

You can check out Kim?s music by going to - www.myspace.com/kimedgar

Kim and I will also be doing some shows together in the new year.

I will be doing one final in-store appearance at the Coda Music Store on The Mound in Edinburgh at 3pm on December 13^th so if you?re out doing you?re Christmas shopping why not pop in for some extra stocking fillers! I believe there will be mulled wine and mince pies laid on by Coda. I?ll be signing copies of Whisky Hearts and performing a few songs. It?s free so if you?re in the area pop in to say hello. For more information visit - www.codamusic.co.uk or call 0131 622 7246.

I?ve just had confirmation that I will be taking part in the excellent Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow in January. I?ll be doing a show at the City Halls on January 24^th with Kathy Mattea. For details go to ? www.celticconnections.com/whatson/event/79235

I hear the City Halls is a great venue. Really looking forward to it.

I can?t believe it?s four years since the sad death of John Peel. I was touring Australia at the time he passed away and this week was reminded by my friend out there, Chris Swann from Blue Wren Records, about my little improvised version of John Peel?s favourite song - Teenage Kicks that I was asked to do by Stuart Coupe on his show on Sydney?s FBI Radio station. Stuart who also runs Laughing Outlaw Records was a huge John Peel fan and asked me if I could play something by way of a tribute. This performance was captured by Chris on camera and is now up on Youtube. It was quite an emotional day for us all. Check it out - http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=xOZt-LAUnk4

In the next few days there will also be a live acoustic version of Raining In Glasgow up on Youtube.

A wee reminder that next Monday 3^rd November I have my London show at the Electroacoustic Club at The Slaughtered Lamb with the excellent Nels Andrews. Tickets I believe are still available at £10 from www.wegottickets.com/event/31934
www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_london&query=detail&event=270568&interface=
or Phone: 0870 600 100

Info - www.electroacousticclub.com

Of course this is the night of another US election. Let?s hope they get the right guy this time!!

You can now buy signed copies of both Whisky Hearts and my previous record My Town direct from my website. Get your orders in for Christmas : )

That?s all for now. As ever please keep an eye on www.deanowens.com or www.myspace.com/deanowenspace  for other news.

For more album news you might want to join the Navigator Records mailing list at www.navigatorrecords.co.uk

Hope to see you somewhere in the next few weeks. Wrap up warm. It?s getting cold out there.

Cheers

Dean

Posted at 01:52PM Oct 29, 2008 by Dean Owens in General  | 

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER NEWS

Posted at 01:44PM Aug 29, 2008 by Dean Owens in General  |