"Touring as much as we do, you encounter a lot of bands, but once in a blue moon it's a great band like The Felsons" - Robert Reynolds, The Mavericks

Imagine a world without pigeonholes... a magical realm where fine music required no further explanation, and genre-busting bands like The Felsons could flourish unfettered by categories.

Based in Edinburgh, united by a collective devotion to American roots music - from Hank Williams to Gram Parsons, early Elvis to Wilco, blues to bluegrass - The Felsons have always been embroiled in something of a love hate relationship with the word "country". Think powerful melodies, passionate vocals and gritty, muscular guitars; purge your mind of stetsons, spurs or schmalz - though this discerning selectivity didn't stop them being nominated as Best British Band in the British Country Music Awards. Add in a fondness for literate British mavericks like Elvis Costello, plus - in lead singer Dean Owens - a songwriter of rare distinction, and you've a brand of contemporary musical moonshine that targets head, heart and feet with equal intoxicating potency.

The band began life back in 1995 - more or less accidentally, as in all the best rock'n'roll stories - when Owens and bassist Kevin McGuire were gigging around local pubs playing country songs, "basically for fun". A friend who happened to own a studio happened to catch them one night, and liked what he saw so much he offered to record an album. The result was One Step Ahead of the Posse, a fairly "unashamedly" country set that nonetheless lived up to its title, showcasing Owens' lyrical skills and the band's tight artful ensemble playing.

Increased demand for live performances following the album saw The Felsons consolidating their current four-piece line-up, with Owens and McGuire joined by Calais Brown's scorching lead guitar (and mandolin). Their 1997 EP Lasso the Moon offered a six-track calling-card of their growing assurance and range, from poignant acoustic ballads to driving R&B workouts. It was this release which led to the band signing with leading Scottish independent label Greentrax, as the launch act for their "adult-alternative" imprint G2.

Recorded in April 1998, with revered Scottish producer Calum Malcolm (the Blue Nile) at the controls, The Felsons' second album, Glad received rave reviews. From the brooding, indie-tinged opener "Boomerang Boy" right through to the haunting folky simplicity of "Meet Me After the Show" fourteen tracks later, Glad brought together Owens' various influences to create a unique sound. Classic-sounding country originals stand alongside majestic guitar-rock tracks; dreamy love-songs give way to stormy dustbowl blues, all led by Owens' thrillingly gutsy yet heart-tugging vocals, backed with classy, imaginative instrumental work.

On the live front, too, the band have earned a reputation as superbly dynamic performers, gigging regularly up and down the country. A chance meeting in Glasgow while performing on the Renfrew Ferry led to them being invited to tour with top American band The Mavericks on their "Trampoline" tour of UK stadiums. Here The Felsons played to 10,000 people every night and won over the large audiences.

Other appearances include guest slots with top American acts like Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle and Little Feat. Owens and the band also took up an invitation to Nashville for a series of shows and radio sessions. Owens has continued to visit Nashville on a regular basis for co-writing sessions with some of the town's best writers such as Steve Earle's production partner Ray Kennedy.

In 2001 the band took some time out to work on other projects. Owens' first solo album The Droma Tapes was released to great critical acclaim and led to him spending the next two years touring Europe as a solo artist and working with some of his musical heroes including Gram Parsons' legendary pedal steel player Al Perkins.
With another solo album My Town recently released to critical acclaim on Vertical Records and tours a-plenty, plus with all the other band members' session work, time for The Felsons has been hard to find in the past couple of years or so with the exception of headline shows at last year's Rootin Aboot festival in Aberdeen and Glasgow's Big, Big Country festival. All that however is about to change. The three original members have now been joined by their good friend Paul Deakin from The Mavericks on drums. Paul played drums for The Felsons at the famous Shetland Folk Festival in 2002 and it was always on the cards that they would work together again when the time was right. That time is now! Paul is an exciting addition to the band with his trademark style.

After the up-coming tour schedule is complete the band plan to cross the pond to the US to make a new record in Nashville with Paul and his buddy from The Mavericks, Robert Reynolds.

The Felsons will be touring the UK throughout April and May 2005.

For more details visit - www.deanowens.com/content/thefelsons/index.html or go to www.deanowens.com and follow the link to The Felsons.