album launch

Hi there.
My new album Whisky Hearts finally hits the shops today. At last!!

I had a great album launch party last week here in Edinburgh at my good friend Douglas Robertsons photography studio.
It was great to see so many old friends there.
I did an acoustic set with my old buddys Kev McGuire who plays bass on Whisky Hearts and keyboard player Kenny Hutchison. We played around 7 songs from the album. It was a really wonderful evening.
Colin Burnette-Dick from Vermillion Road Records and his wife Pauline came up from London and my manager Davie Gardner managed to make it down from Shetland, plus my whole family were there. It was nice to be able to play Man From Leith for my dad. A special moment for me. My daughter Billie checked everyone off the guest list and made sure everyone knew where the food and drink was!! Although some who were there didn't need to be told where the free alcohol was! Not naming any names!!

It was really nice that promoter James Windsor from Cosmic American Promotions in Nottingham made it up for the launch. The song Beth On The Trampoline was inspired by his daughter Beth.
Good also to have my old friend Karen Miller along from The Miller Tells Her Tale (online radio show) and BBC Radio Scotlands Brand New Country.
Just a shame none of the great American musicians who played on the album were in the UK. Would have been nice to have had those guys there to help me celebrate.
Whisky Hearts was originally meant to be released last Monday the 4th, but was put back a week and is now officially on sale at all good record shops (and a few crap ones) and available online at all the usual outlets.

A band tour for September is being planned at the moment.
We will be headlining the Darvel Music Festival - 26 September 2007 - Doors 7.30pm - Tickets £10
support Michael Weston King and Kieran Docherty Band. Ticket outlets and concert information at www.darvelmusicfestival.org

Currently listening to the new Nick Lowe and Wilco albums (both brilliant), plus John Phillips from The Mamas and Papas solo album - John The Wolfking Of LA. Some lovely stuff on there.

Here's an early review of Whisky Hearts from the Scotland On Sunday newspaper:

DEAN OWENS
Whisky Hearts ****Vermillion Road vrr001
After more years making music than his youthful enthusiasm suggests, the former Felson has turned out a career-best record. His early pop rock expression has now been fully integrated with more recent explorations of country and roots, creating a musical skin Owens finally seems comfortable in.
Recorded in Nashville with contributions from serious players such as Will Kimbrough and Al Perkins, he wears his Scottish heart on his musical sleeve in 'Man From Leith'. Whisky Hearts may be the record on which Dean Owens finally arrived.



Not a bad start.

That's all for now.
Hope you like the album when you hear it.

Cheers.
Dean