Heather Bristow

Bio:

.. American-born singer/songwriter Heather Bristow, who grew up in North Carolina but now makes her home in England, released her well-received debut cd, Hope on the Vine, in 2009 and was a finalist in the 2009 UK Songwriting Contest (UKSC) and a double finalist in the 2010 UKSC. Tracks from her entirely self-penned cd have been featured on radio programmes around the world. Highlights thus far this year have included a live radio spot w/Colin Sillence on Glastonbury Fm (having been the station's Artist of the Month), being a UK Spotlight Artist on internet-radio station UKCountryRadio.com, a brief stint in the top 10 on the Roots Report's UK and US folk charts based on airplay and performing at several British bluegrass festivals backed by one of the UK and Europe's favourite bands, The New Essex Bluegrass Band.

Member Since:

February 03, 2009

Members:

Heather's 2009 debut cd, "Hope on the Vine," was produced by Ben Winship and features the musical talents of Mike Dowling, Jamie Drysdale, John Lowell, Ivan Rosenberg, Anne & Pete Sibley, Colin Sillence, Eric Thorin, Ted Wells, Brian Wicklund and Ben Winship on 15 original songs. She currently performs w/Three Corbies--Colin Sillence (guitar, bodhran) and Dave Scott (guitar, bass, bouzouki)--playing a mix of original, traditional and modern folk material, blues and touch of bluegrass, and also as a bluegrass/acoustic duo (playing fiddle and guitar) with Sean Hogan (banjo, guitar) and sometimes trio with bassist Will Helton and, more recently, Jules Bushell. She will also be performing a mix of her own songs and more traditional bluegrass material this spring & summer backed by the New Essex Bluegrass Band at Orwell and Didmarton Bluegrass Festivals and performs occasionally with The Hog Ranch, a Bristol-based bluegrass band.

Influences:

Blue Highway, Liz Carroll, Karan Casey, Cherryholmes, Cia Cherryholmes, Clannad, Suzanne Cox, The Cox Family, Cara Dillon, The Dixie Chicks, Stuart Duncan, Judith Edelman, Julie Elkins, Sara Evans, Matt Flinner, The Greencards, Patty Griffin, Emmylou Harris, Aubrey Haynie, Winifred Horan, Kathy Kallick, Alison Krauss, Julie Lee, Patty Loveless, John Lowell, Buddy & Julie Miller, Lynn Morris, Nickel Creek, Tim & Mollie O'Brien, Dolly Parton, Loreena McKennitt, Karine Polwart, Kate Rusby, Anne & Pete Sibley, Tim Stafford, Adam Steffey, Ron Stewart, Sting, IIIrd Tyme Out, Pam Tillis, Dan Tyminski, Gillian Welch, Ben Winship, Lee Ann Womack, Rhonda Vincent, Andrea Zonn.

Sounds Like:

What people are saying about Heather and Hope on the Vine: ** "I loved it!" Frank Hennessey, BBC Radio Wales. ** "She seems to move people in a way most of us can't hope to."--Chris Newton, MC, Minchinhampton Folk Club. ** "A lovely bit of bluegrass... ."--Rob Champion, BBC Introducing, BBC Radio Bristol. ** "Beautiful, poignant, but above all lots of great listening."--Johan Schoenmaker, altcountry forum (www.altcountryforum.nl). ** "...an absolutely stunning album," Sandy Harsch, Country Time, RTE Radio 1 Ireland. ** "A native of North Carolina based in Gloucestershire, Heather Bristow really does have that authentic Southern old timey sound in her soul."--Fatea, www.fatea-records.co.uk. ** "...poet, singer and songwriter Heather Bristow affects a modest figure on her quietly impressive debut album. These 15 self-penned tracks carry a special sound, a natural bluegrass talent filtered through an English folk prism."--Irish Times. ** "The eleven musicians who variously accompany her lay down a torrent of hot licks and breakdowns, but it’s Bristow’s voice that rightly dominates, recalling as it does the naked honesty of Iris DeMent and the crystal purity of Krauss."--R2 Magazine. ** "I'm an instant fan. I feel sure many of my listeners are going to be too."--Mike Kear, Bluegrass Australia, http://bluegrass.org.au. ** "...it’s her singing voice and her songwriting that provide the focus on her debut CD, and although these betray a certain degree of influence from the listening habits of her formative years, there’s no slavish imitation. Instead Heather’s own music exhibits a freshness, a lightness of touch and a genuine gentle enthusiasm for communicating her feelings and experiences in attractively poetic imagery and listener-friendly, though philosophical language."--Folk and Roots (UK). ** "Those who are constantly on the lookout for a new voice in bluegrass music could do themselves a big favour by checking out Heather Bristow and Hope on the Vine."--Maverick Magazine (4/5 stars). ** "...quite a stunning debut." Country Music People (4.5/5 stars). ** ** "... [Hope on the Vine] is an excellent presentation of contemporary Bluegrass, well worth listening to - and sharing -often."--Hank Janney, WGTY (USA).** **"Without exception, each song is a strong as the other. The songwriting is wonderful, the intrumentation and musicianship is top notch. I have listened to it over and over again and will definitely be playing your songs regularly my bluegrass shows twice a monthly on www.ukcountryradio.com."--Lynne Butler, presenter, www.ukcountryradio.com."** **"...Her singing is first class as is her writing, and songs like 'That Train Won't Run', inspired by fact, and 'Lonesome Lullaby' are quite outstanding. The whole CD makes for entertaining listening and, as well as being lyrically strong, she also writes strong tunes that catch up on you after a while."--John Atkins, fRoots. **"She covers life and death and in between with songs like Who's Gonna Tend Your Grave?, Aint Glory Grand? and Counting Memories covering the loss side. The Miner's Tale could as easily be on a Steeleye Span album as one from Appalachia, it's acapella delivery makes it an album highlight, as is the duet with John Lowell, Lonesome Lullaby. Despite the bittersweet subject matter of some of the songs they are always delivered with a sense of positivity and hope. All in all if you're a bluegrass fan or just a fan of good acoustic music then Hope On The Vine will bear fruit for the listener."--www.lonesomehighway.com** **“Heather Bristow delivers an authentic bluegrass sound upon which she lays her own beautiful, heartfelt lyrics. Her performance is truly spellbinding, leading enraptured audiences to places far away across the Atlantic and beyond. Real Americana/Folk at its very best!” --John Drummond, Brewery Blues, Cirencester**

Record Label:

Heifer Records