Dean Owens' Blog

AUTUMN NEWS

2009-10-11T13:53:00.003+01:00

DEAN OWENS – AUTUMN NEWS
NEWS***The Felsons Acoustic Duo show!!***NEWS

Hi there.
Autumn, my favourite season is here. Though what happened to the summer??
I’m just back from Sweden where I was playing a few shows. I had a fab trip and worked with some great people. I was travelling with Swedish singer/songwriter Annika Fehling. Annika runs a travelling show called The Living Room and we played a couple of gigs in the Stockholm area and also on the lovely island of Gotland in the ancient city of Visby.
It was great to finally make it to Sweden and I hope a return trip will be on the cards in the not too distant future.

Here’s a quick reminder about what’s coming up on the gig front including news of my first hometown show in Leith for a couple of years –
I’m doing a fundraising show in Wales on the 24th October at the Trelawnyd Memorial Hall, Flintshire (near Rhyl). It’s a double header with Folk artist Bella Hardy. For more information go to www.myspace.com/therecordjournal or for tickets go to http://www.gonorthwales.co.uk/shopping/thedms-shop.aspx?dms=72&shop=13&prod=2775
My hometown show in Leith is going to be a Felsons acoustic duo gig on October 29th at The Sapphire Music Club @ The Guilty Lily in Leith, Edinburgh. Calais Brown and I will be performing songs from both The Felsons albums and my solo records. We’ll also be playing songs from the new Felsons mini album Good To Be Back. It’ll be great to play in Leith again. The Guilty Lily is just round the corner from where I grew up. The Sapphire Club is hosted by singer/songwriter Lorna Brooks. For more information go to www.thesapphire.co.uk I hope to see all you fellow Leithers out there at the gig! : )

Thanks to everyone who came out to my shows in Bury and Durham last month. They were fab.
Remember if you would like to purchase a copy of the new mini album by The Felsons – Good To Be Back, just drop me a line and I’ll give you the details. They are £5 each plus p&p. If you want to check out a couple of tracks go to www.myspace.com/thefelsons
Also there are still Limited Edition LP copies of Whisky Hearts available. These come in red vinyl with a gatefold sleeve, plus you also get a copy of the cd.
I’m thinking about shows for 2010 now, both solo and with The Felsons, so if you’ve any ideas of places I may not have heard of in your town or a place near you that I should be looking at playing then please let me know. Thanks.
I’ve got plenty of songs for the next album now so hopefully I’ll get into the studio soon to record them.
That’s it for now.
Here’s to some lovely Autumn days : )

Cheers, Dean

Festival shows

2009-07-23T17:02:00.001+01:00

DEAN OWENS - FESTIVAL NEWS

Hi there.
I just wanted to remind you of my summer festival news

I will be appearing with The Felsons at the end of July with a show in Perth at the Southern Fried Festival on Friday 31st July at the Perth Theatre. There is a great line up of artists at this year’s festival including Lucinda Williams, Los Lobos, Booker T, Mary Gauthier and many others. Go to www.horsecross.co.uk or call 01738 621031 for tickets. This may be the only show by The Felsons this year.

The following afternoon [Saturday 1st August] my fellow Felson - Calais Brown and I will be hosting a songwriting/guitar workshop at 12pm at Norie Miller Studio 1, Perth Concert Hall. If you are interested in songwriting and would like to be a part of this workshop visit www.horsecross.co.uk for more information.

Available for the first time at our Southern Fried show will be a new Felsons mini-album - Good To Be Back. This will have six new acoustic tracks performed by the three of us and recorded by Calais at his Sound Station studio. If you would be interested in getting hold of a copy of this cd please drop me a line.

There is no Felsons website at the moment (will be a link on mine sorted out soon), but there is a new Myspace page at – www.myspace.com/thefelsons Two of the new tracks from the mini album will be up there shortly.

I have two Edinburgh International Festival shows booked at the Acoustic Music Centre at St Brides Theatre on the 17th and 18th of August. These are early shows starting at 6.30pm sharp. I will be doing the first show on the 17th solo and playing songs from my three solo albums, plus trying out some new songs and then on the 18th Calais Brown will be joining me for a “Songs Of The Felsons” show. For this show we will only be playing Felsons material. It should be a fun night.

For details visit www.acousticmusiccentre.co.uk or call - 0131 346 1405

Remember that in September I will be at The Met in Bury on Saturday the 12th - www.themet.biz and The Gala Theatre in Durham on the 13th - www.galadurham.co.uk
The black and white pics in this newsletter were taken by Catriona McKay during the soundcheck for my show with The Chris Stout Theory at The Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow last month. A great show it was too.
Just before this show I stopped in at the Elba Recording Studio to record a wee podcast for them. You can hear the podcast at - www.myspace.com/elbastudios

Well that’s it for now. I’ll keep you updated throughout the summer as things happen.
Enjoy the sun while it shines.
Dean

Marching On

2009-03-01T16:02:00.000Z

Hi everyone.

It's been a pretty quiet summer on the live front due to me having some problems with my voice. Not much fun, but I'm working through it.

Writing a lot at the moment. Getting material ready for the next album. I'm doing a few solo shows in October. You can get details in the gigs section. It'll be fun going out totally solo again.

That's all for now. I'll write more very soon.

Cheers.

Dean

January 2009 News!!

2009-01-19T09:54:00.001Z

Happy New Year to you.

Hope you had a great festive season.

January means its Celtic Connections time again - lots of great shows going on in Glasgow this month at the festival. I hope to get over there to see a few and I?m really looking forward to my show with Kathy Mattea at The City Halls in Glasgow on the 24^th Jan (this Saturday).

If you fancy coming along check out the Celtic Connections website for ticket details - www.celticconnections.com/whatson/event/79235

Once again I'll have the fantastic Kim Edgar and Stuart Nisbet with me on piano and guitar.

Navigator Records release Raining In Glasgow today. Really pleased to see this track getting out there. The photo above, by photographer Hugo Morris, is the front cover.

Whisky Hearts has also just received another nice review from Spiral Earth. Check out this link - http://www.spiralearth.co.uk/NEWS/Review-story.asp?nid=2207

The new Irvine Welsh mocumentary Good Arrows can be seen on ITV on Jan 30th. He?s used my song Whisky Hearts in the film and I?m off down to London this week to a screening. Looking forward to it. Even if my song only ends up being on there for a couple of seconds it?ll be good to hear it on the big screen.

In February I'll be playing a solo show in Darvel (nr Kilmarnock, Ayrshire) at the Darvel Lesser Town Hall. Its on Friday the 6^th and is part of the Acoustic Nights & Electric Evenings series. Info available at - www.darvelmusicfestival.org

On into March and my UK Spring Tour. I?m very much looking forward to getting back out on the road again and visiting places I haven?t been to in a while. I hope there will be a gig on my schedule somewhere near you that you can make it along to.

Here?s a list of the dates so far, but there are still a few more to come so keep an eye on my website for more. Kim Edgar will be opening pretty much all of the following dates with me. If you haven?t heard Kim then check out her Myspace site - www.myspace.com/kimedgar

TOUR DATES

MARCH

15^TH EDINBURGH ? VOODOO ROOMS

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

for more details or call

0131 556 7060. Email: info@thevoodoorooms.com

16TH ? PERTH - PERTH CONCERT HALL

BOX OFFICE: 0845 612 6324

EMAIL: INFO@HORSECROSS.CO.UK

WEBSITE: WWW.HORSECROSS.CO.UK

19TH ? DIDCOT (OXFORDSHIRE) CORNERSTONE ARTS CENTRE

BOX OFFICE01235 515144

20TH - EAST SUSSEX ? TRADING BOUNDARIES

WWW.TRADINGBOUNDARIES.COM

TEL: 01825 790200

OR E-MAIL - SHOWROOM@TRADINGBOUNDARIES.COM

29^TH ? WORCESTER - THE MARRS BARR (WITH AMY WADGE)

PHONE: (01905) 613336

30TH ? MAIDSTONE - ZEBRA BAR (PART OF MAVERICK @ THE ZEBRA) WITH DIANA JONES

CALL 01622 744481

31ST ? LONDON - ELECTROACOUSTIC CLUB AT THE SLAUGHTERED LAMB

TICKETS FROM TICKETWEB - TICKETWEB (0870 600 100) , WE GOT TICKETS AND SEETICKETS

APRIL

2ND ? NOTTINGHAM - THE MAZE

TICKETS FROM WWW.GIGANTIC.COM, WWW.SEETICKETS.COM OR THE MAZE BOX OFFICE - TEL: 0115 947 5650

3RD ? DARLINGTON ? THE FORUM

CALL 01325 363135

5TH ? INVERNESS ? NORTHERN ROOTS FESTIVAL

VISIT - www.northern-roots-festival.com FOR DETAILS

11^TH ? BANCHORY -WOODEND BARN

TEL: 01330 825431

19^TH ? WORCESTER ? THE MARRS BAR

PHONE: (01905) 613336

That?s about it for now. If I?m not playing a place near you and you?d like me to be then drop me a line if you?ve any suggestions of venues in your area.

Good luck for 2009

Cheers

Dean

SEASONAL GREETINGS

2008-12-24T09:53:00.000Z

Hi there.

I would just like to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Thank you for your continued support and I hope to see you somewhere in 2009.

It?s been a pretty good year for me and my music. I was delighted to sign to Navigator Records earlier in the year and have been very pleased with how Whisky Hearts has been received and for all the great reviews it?s had. It even made the end of the year top ten at www.spiralearth.com

I?ve been lucky enough to play some fantastic shows this year around the country. I especially enjoyed my shows at The Voodoo Rooms in Edinburgh and opening for both Eddi Reader and Joan As Police Woman.

I?ve heard some great records too this year ? Fleet Foxes, Gramercy Arms, Joan As Police Woman, Sun Kil Moon and possibly my favourite of all - the re-issue of an old album from the sixties by Rodriquez called Cold Fact. A great record.

I know it?s been a very tough year for so many who have been hit by job losses and the credit crunch. Seems the rich can still get away with pretty much anything while the poor have to pay for their mistakes.

On a positive note it looks like the US may have got the right guy this time in Barack Obama. Though time will tell.

So on we go into to 2009.

I?m really looking forward to hearing my song Whisky Hearts in Irvine Welsh?s new film Good Arrows and to my Celtic Connections show in Glasgow, both in January. Also in January Navigator will be releasing Raining In Glasgow as a single.

In February I'll be at the Darvel Lesser Town Hall in Darvel near Kilmarnock on the 6^th. This is a solo show as part of the Acoustic Nights & Electric Evenings series. Info available at - www.darvelmusicfestival.org

Then in March I will be starting my UK tour which should take me through to the end of April with possibly a few shows in France too.

Details of towns and venues will be up on my website and Myspace very soon.

As always, if you?ve any suggestions of venues near you that I may have not thought of then please drop me a line and I'll pass the information onto my agent.

Well that?s it for another year.

Merry Christmas and all the best for 2009

Cheers

Dean

JOAN AS POLICEWOMAN DATES!!

2008-11-25T09:52:00.000Z

I've just found out that I will be opening shows for the fantastic Joan As Policewoman next month in Edinburgh and Newcastle. I'll be at The Sage in Newcastle on the 12th December and The Liquid Rooms in Edinburgh on the 13th.

Joan is a great artist. I'm a big fan so it will be fab opening the shows for her. Tickets available at all the usual places.

Be great to see you at the shows if you live in those areas.

All the best

Dean

December News

2008-11-21T09:51:00.000Z

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 ondon 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^rdDecember. 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

GIGS, JOHN PEEL AND ANOTHER ELECTION

2008-10-29T09:50:00.000Z

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

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER NEWS

2008-08-29T09:49:00.000+01:00

DEAN OWENS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER

Hi everyone.

What happened to our British summer??

I hope you managed to find some sunshine somewhere.

I just wanted to fill you in on what I?ve been up to the past few weeks and what lies ahead in the next wee while.

That?s me at the end of my run of dates in August.

Big thanks to those of you who came out to the gigs.

I had a fantastic time at the Southern Fried festival in Perth at the start of the month, first of all kicking the festival off on the Friday night at Perth Concert Hall opening for Nanci Griffith. The show was sold out and it was a wonderful audience. Nanci was very sweet and said some very kind things to me after the show. I had fun hanging out with her manager ? the legendary Phil Kaufman talking about the wonders of the desert and Airstream trailers!

After my set I had rush off to the Concert Hall foyer to take part in the live broadcast of BBC Radio Scotland?s Brand New Opry show (as I prefer to call it) with Bryan Burnett. It was great to be asked to take part in this show as it was one of the very last programmes. Sadly ?The Opry? is no more. It?s a real shame as Bryan and the various producers over the years have been big supporters of me and my music.

Bryan had asked me if I would be ok with playing a Felsons song - Born To Lose You - for old times sake and also one from Whisky Hearts.

On the Saturday night it was the Hank Williams tribute concert
Lost Highway which was an absolute blast. The excellent house band was led by Stuart Nisbet on guitar and a whole host of great guest singers including Eddi Reader, Justin Currie (Del Amitri), Slaid Cleeves, Monica Queen, The Hazey Janes to name just a few. They delivered some brilliant versions of Hank songs. I opened the show with There?s A Tear In My Beer. We singers even had our own bar and barman onstage. You can?t beat that!

My London show at The Electroacoustic Club at the Slaughtered Lamb was great. It was good to finally meet Jon Redfern and see him and Mary Hampton play live. It was also good for Stuart (Nisbet) and I to get a gig under our belts.

After London it was on to Brighton, Tynemouth, Glasgow and then back home to Edinburgh for my first of two shows at The Voodoo Rooms.

This was a great gig. There were lots of familiar faces there and the author Irvine Welsh came along with his wife Beth. It was good of him to make it as he?s on a pretty hectic schedule just now promoting his new book - Crime.

I had Stuart with me on guitar and we were joined by my good friend Kevin McGuire on double bass. It was fab having Kev back with me.

The second show at The Voodoo Rooms was every bit as good. It?s a great little venue. I plan on being back there towards the end of the year

There are more shows planned for September and the Autumn/Winter.

I will be at The Lemon Tree in Aberdeen on September 21^st. Visit www.boxofficeaberdeen.com for details.

I will also be back in London at the Electroacoustic Club at the Slaughtered Lamb on November 3rd doing a show with Nels Andrews.

Tickets 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

As ever please keep an eye on the website or www.myspace.com/deanowenspace for other news.

For other album news join the Navigator Records mailing list at www.navigatorrecords.co.uk

Remember that Whisky Hearts is released on Navigator Records on September 15^th.

Look out for the limited edition gatefold LP in RED vinyl (with cd and bonus film inside)

Also check out - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ez_yCBnWMw

for a solo acoustic video of me performing Sand In My Shoes and a video for On The Edge from The Droma Tapes ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr4PAyI7FHw

This was shot on Super 8 film up at Loch Droma in the Scottish Highlands by my wife Nicki.

I hope to see you somewhere over the autumn and winter months. Enjoy what?s left of the summer : )

All the best.

Dean

summer gigs

2008-04-22T09:48:00.000+01:00

Hi there.

Just had it confirmed that I'll be heading back to Crete this summer to play two solo acoustic shows at the Artemis Apartments, Stavros (just outside Chania). The dates are Saturday the 12th and 19th of July. The Artemis Apartments are lovely to stay in if you're looking for a relaxing holiday in the sun. Check out www.akrotirivillas.com for details.

I'm also doing a show in Perth, Scotland at the Concert Hall with Nanci Griffith on the 1st of August as part of their Southern Fried Festival - www.horsecross.co.uk for details.

There are some other dates in the pipeline. I will keep you posted.

Off to see Grant Lee Phillips this week in Glasgow. Been a long time since I last saw him play. Just a solo show. Should be good.

Currently loving the new Sun Kil Moon album April. Hey and the new REM record isn't bad either. A bit of a return to form for them.

Enjoy the Spring.

Cheers for now.

Dean

Happy Easter

2008-03-20T09:44:00.001Z

Hi there.

This a very brief update just to check all this blog stuff is working properly.

I just got back from London where I was having some new pictures taken for the repackaged re-release of Whisky Hearts. News of this will follow soon. There are some really cool things on the horizon.

While in London I met up with my old mate Jamie Sives. Jamie is a movie and TV actor. He can be seen at the moment playing John in The Passion on BBC1. We had a good night out with some of his friends including - Jessica Hynes (The Royle Family, Spaced, Harry Potter, Shaun Of The Dead, ) and Sendhil Ramamurthy who is one of the lead characters in the NBC series Heroes. Lovely folks.

Nothing much more to report just now, but I will be back here very soon with an update on the record and shows.

Cheers for now and Happy Easter

Dean

whisky hearts reviews

2008-01-11T13:36:00.002Z

Happy New Year everyone.

Hope you had a good festive season.

I wanted to let you know the great news that Whisky Hearts has just received positive reviews in Uncut, Q, Word and Rock “n” Reel magazine, plus lots of other publications and websites including a four star review in, wait for it….The Sun newspaper!!

And listen out for the new single Years Ago on a radio station near you from the end of January.

That’s it for now – all the best for 2008…
Cheers,
Dean

Whisky Hearts reviews

2008-01-11T13:13:00.002Z

Whisky Hearts reviews

2008-01-11T13:13:00.000Z

DEAN OWENS ANNOUNCEMENT JAN 2008:

Happy New Year everyone.

Hope you had a good festive season.

I wanted to let you know the great news that Whisky Hearts has just received positive reviews in Uncut, Q, Word and Rock “n” Reel magazine, plus lots of other publications and websites including a four star review in, wait for it….The Sun newspaper!!

And listen out for the new single Years Ago on a radio station near you from the end of January.

I'm trying to get over a horrible bout of flu at the moment. Hope to be back on my feet soon.

Currently listening to The Smiths (various albums).

That’s it for now – all the best for 2008…
Cheers,
Dean

Crete, Russell Brand, Dean Friedman & Irvine Welsh!!!

2007-08-15T12:11:00.000+01:00

Hi there.

It's been a busy old month so far.

I just got back from having a fantastic time out in Chania, Crete where I played a couple of solo shows at the Artemis Apartments in Stavros near Chania. They were lovely warm nights under the moonlight by the swimming pool.

As soon as I got back to Edinburgh via London I had to travel through to Glasgow to do Dean Friedman's Real American Folk show on BBC Radio Scotland. This was a live show from the rooftop cafe of the brand new BBC headquarters at Pacific Quay down by the River Clyde. It was great fun and a wonderful setting for a show. I was asked to perform one song by a songwriter who came from the Hudson River area so I played the Bruce Springsteen song One Step Up. I also played my own song from the River Clyde area - Raining In Glasgow and guess what??? It wasn't raining!! You can re-listen to this show for the next week by going to -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/radioscotland/ and following the listen again instructions.

The next morning I was off back down to London to do The Russell Brand Show on BBC Radio 2. I was asked to play one of my own songs, but also to summarise the show in song at the end of the programme. This would have been a lot easier to do had I not been left in an office for the first 45 minutes of the show without a radio!! I had no idea what they were talking about and wondered how the hell I was supposed to summarise a show I couldn't hear. However it all worked out in the end as I caught the main part of the show and was filled in on what I'd missed. Russell has a good team of people working with him who were very kind.
To hear my daft wee song and the rest of the show go to -http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/brand/ and follow the instructions to listen again. You can also download the podcast.
Russell was a lovely guy. The show is pretty mental, but great fun.

Irvine Welsh (author of Trainspotting) has been saying nice things about me and Whisky Hearts in The New York Times. Check it out - http://papercuts.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/01/living-with-music-a-playlist-by-irvine-welsh/

I have some shows coming up in September.
They are:

September 7th - The Queens Hall, Edinburgh. This is a show to celibrate 30 years of the Canongate Youth Project and other performers on the night include the wonderful Karine Polwart and the legendary Dick Gaughan.

September 15th - The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen. This is a full band show at one of my favourite Scottish venues.

September 19th - The Village, Leith, Edinburgh. This is a solo show in a small intimate venue just a stones throw from where I grew up in Leith.

September 23rd - The Maze, Nottingham. This is a duo show in one of my favourite venues in England.

September 26th -The Darvel Festival (near Kilmarnock) this should be a great night and is part of this fantastic festival in Ayrshire. Also on the bill this night is my good friend Michael Weston King and also Keiran Docherty. Get your tickets and information now from - www.darvelmusicfestival.org

That's it for now.
Enjoy what's left of the summer.
Dean

update

2007-06-15T11:43:00.000+01:00

Hi there.

Nice to see Whisky Hearts finally in the shops this week.

All going well so far.

I've just had it confirmed that I will be headlining The Darvel Music Festival (near Kilmarnock, Scotland) with The Whisky Hearts on September 26th. My buddy Michael Weston King will be on before us along with the Kieran Docherty Band. Should be a good night. Doors 7.30pm - Tickets £10. Ticket outlets and concert information at www.darvelmusicfestival.org

I'll be doing other dates in September with the Whisky Hearts. They should be confirmed in the next week or so.

Remember if you're looking for the album and your local store doesn't have it then make sure you ask them to order some in. Thanks.

That's all for now from a very gloomy Edinburgh. Still not too long now till my gigs in Crete.

Cheers.
Dean

week1

2007-06-15T11:16:00.000+01:00

Hi there.

Whisky Hearts is in the shops now. At last!

Nice to finally see it on the shelves.

I've just had it confirmed that I will be headlining with The Whisky Hearts at the Darvel Music Festival (near Kilmarnock, Scotland) on the 26th of September. My buddy Michael Weston King is on before us along with the Kieran Docherty Band. Ticket outlets and concert information at www.darvelmusicfestival.org

Should be good.

We will be doing other dates in September. I'll confirm these in the next week or so.

I've been working on a lot of new songs recently. Don't know what I'll be doing with them yet, but it's always good to have some up my sleeve.

I'll maybe try a couple out at the September gigs.

Remember if your local store doesn't have a copy of Whisky Hearts please ask them to get some in.

That's all for now from a rather gloomy Edinburgh. Where is the summer??

Still not long till my gigs in Crete!

Cheers.

Dean

album launch

2007-06-11T10:03:00.000+01:00

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

Dean Owens on Russel Brand Show

2007-03-12T10:01:00.000Z

Hi there.

Yes the wonderful Russel Brand played Raining In Glasgow from my new record Whisky Hearts on his BBC Radio 2 show on Saturday night. For lot's of fun and nonsense you can re-listen to his programme by going to Radio 2's website.

The album artwork is all done and ready to go now so Whisky Hearts should be in shops at the end of May. Keep and eye on the website for details and live dates.

Cheers for now.
Dean

Celtic Connections

2007-02-05T08:50:00.000Z

Well it's been a long time since I updated this blog.

Last Tuesday night I played the fantastic Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow. My show was at the ABC, a great new venue in the centre of town. I was opening for my old Nashville friend Suzy Bogguss, plus Gretchen Peters and Matraca Berg who were doing a "in the round" style show. It was a wonderful evening. Suzy and I have been friends for a few years ever since she and The Felsons played the Big Big Country festival in Glasgow together. We've always stayed in touch and met up when I've been out in Nashville. I've also played a couple of shows with Gretchen in the past few years so it was nice to see her again.
It was my first show in quite a while and to be honest I was a little bit nervous as I was planning to play mostly songs from my forthcoming Whisky Hearts record which I hadn't played since I'd recorded them. I was put at ease as soon as I walked onstage by a fantastic Glasgow welcome. The crowd were really warm and good fun. I got a great reaction to the new material and especially one of the new album songs - Raining In Glasgow.
Before I went on Suzy had asked me if I was going to be playing any songs from my Droma Tapes record as it was one of her favourite records. I was very surprised and pleased to hear this so played Strangers Again for her. Thankfully she loved it!
I finished my set off with the song Years Ago which will be the first single from Whisky Hearts and this also got a great reaction.

It was nice to hear Suzy, Gretchen and Matraca singing together. I'd never heard Matraca live before and I was really impressed. She was good fun. It was also the first time I'd heard Suzy solo. She has such a beautiful voice it was so good to hear her play just with her acoustic guitar and no frills. Matraca had her husban Jeff Hanna from the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with her and he also got up for a couple of songs
I think a great night was had by all.

I had to play the festival club at the Holiday Inn later on that night. Most of the artist do a short set there.
I thought I was doing a solo set of 20 minutes or so, but just before I started my best buddy Kev (McGuire) turned up at the side of the stage with his double bass (he'd been playing in town that night with Eddi Reader). Kev got up to join me for my set. When I started to play Strangers Again suddenly from the front of the stage Karine Polwart jumped up to sing with me which was a very pleasant surprise. Finally on the last track Eddi Readers drummer got up behind the stage drumkit. All very good fun.

Later on Eddi Reader asked me up onstage to sing on a Tom Waits song with her and her band.

A really special night for me all round.

That's all for now.

Whisky Hearts is still due out in May followed by the band tour. I'll keep you posted.
Cheers.
Dean

Scottish Sunshine

2006-05-12T12:14:00.000+01:00

Hi from a very sunny Edinburgh.

Just waiting on the master copy of my new album to arrive. Then it's time to start looking for a home for it.

Had a cool little gig in Peebles in the Scottish Borders last Saturday at the Eastgate Theatre. I did the show with Kev McGuire on bass. First gig Kev and I have done in ages. Great to be playing live with Kev again.

Currently reading the debut novel from Willy Vlautin called The Motel Life. He's the singer/songwriter with the excellent band Richmond Fontaine. I'm really enjoying it. It's taken me back to revisit their albums. Great band.

The new Calexico record is also on rather a lot at the moment. Love their music.

I'm just getting into the Myspace thang. I now have some songs from My Town up on www.myspace.com/deanowenspace
Check it out. Strangers Again is up there. It's being released as a single next month on Vertical Records. I will put a couple of songs from the new record up there very soon.

That's all for now. I'm off to enjoy the very rare Scottish sunshine!

Cheers.
Dean.

Man From Leith is going home

2006-04-15T21:11:00.000+01:00

Well we've just finished mixing the final track on the album "Man from Leith".

I can't believe we've finished. It all sounds great.
It's been a pretty intense couple of weeks out here in Tennessee. A time I'll never forget. Some really special memories.

I can't wait to get this record out.

Just time to get my bags packed and run to the airport.

This man from leith is heading home!

Dean.

greetings from sunny California,Tennessee!

2006-04-13T21:06:00.000+01:00

Greetings from sunny Tennessee.

Lovely day here.
We're now mixing the record.

13 songs to mix. Lij is currently mixing "Miss You California" which has some cool 12 string by Will Kimbrough and sweet pedal steel from Al Perkins. I feel rather lucky to have these guys playing on one of my songs.

Not long now until I head home to the land of grey skies. Looking forward to having a good pint of beer in The Diggers and watching a re-run of Hearts' 4-0 victory over the Hibees! Sorry to any Hibees. Don't mean to gloat. Just hate to think what the score might have been if we'd played with our supposed advantage at Murryfield!! Ha, only kidding. Enough football already.

Remember I'm playing a solo show in Peebles in the Scottish Borders next month. Check out the website.

That's all for now. Have to get back to "California!

Cheers.
Dean

getting there

2006-04-12T00:30:00.000+01:00

Hi there.

Well we sure are getting there.

That's all the recording of the new album just finished. We start mixing tomorrow.

Managed to avoid all the tornadoes so far.

I'm over the moon with the recordings. Lij and Brian the engineers/producers have been great. This is an amazing little place.

I do look forward to heading home and not hearing any music for a few days though!

Heading back to Nashville now after another great, but long day in the studio.

Over and out.
Dean

ice storm

2006-04-07T22:50:00.000+01:00

Hi again from stormy Tennessee.
Out here at the studio sitting in the control room listening to Kev and Thad Cockrell doing harmonies on one of my new songs - Adrift. Sounds great.

We've just had another Tornado out this way. Missed us so far! Had a big ice storm though. Hail stones the size of golf balls!!Scary.

I can't believe how well this recording is going. All the various musicians have been amazing and the studio is fab.

Gotta go now and do some more work.

Dean.

Hi from Twangtown

2006-04-05T04:27:00.000+01:00

Hi there from stormy Tennessee. Tornadoes all around.

Out here in Nashville making my new record. All going fantastic. The band sounds great. Will Kimbrough on guitar, Kev McGuire and Robert Reynolds doing bass, Paul Deakin on drums and Jen Gunderman on keyboards and accordion. We finished cutting the final band tracks today. We've got 14 in the can and start the overdubs tomorrow. It's sounding quite different from My Town. Will Kimbrough has been amazing. The whole team have just blown me away. Al Perkins is coming out to the studio in a couple of days to play some pedal steel.
The studio is just outside Nashville in a little place called Murfreesboro and we're recording on vintage analog equipment with Elijah Shaw and Brian Carter at the desk.

Looking forward to getting it all finished in the next couple of weeks.
I'll keep you posted.
Cheers.
Dean

Back to Dallas

2006-03-23T11:06:00.000Z

Hi y'all.

This blog is well overdue. Haven't used this much at all.

I'm just back from the amazing South By Southwest festival in Austin, Texas. I feel lucky to be here writing this actually as we were caught in flash flooding on the way back to Dallas from Austin to catch our flight home. Bloody scary stuff. Police cars floating by on the freeway etc.

South By Southwest (SXSW) was pretty incredible. Never seen so many musicians in one place before. A musicians Mardi Gras. Every single free space seemed to be turned into a venue. Aswell as playing a few shows myself I was lucky enough to see some amazing stuff. Ray Willie Hubbard, Trish Murphy to start with. I was invited to Ray Benson from Asleep At The Wheel's birthday bash. He played the whole night with a great band and a whole host of amazing guests icluding Steve Bruton, Dale Watson, Bob Schneider among many others. We ended up hanging out and drinking with the mayor of Austin Will Wynn (how's that for a name for a polititian!!) Fun night.

I was Will Kimbrough's guest at an amazing gig featuring first off the fantastic Eliza Gilkyson, then Tom Russel, followed by Rodney Crowell with Will and then to top it all off - Lyle Lovette. Not a bad show eh!!

I played a couple of gigs at a great little place called Opal Divines and one at a new place in town Cafe Caffeine, plus I took part in South By Soup Fest. This involved playing for the homeless of Austin at Caritas Soup Kitchen. Quite a humbling experience. It was my birthday the day I played and they all sang happy birthday to me.

Spent some time and money in the famous Waterloo Records store. Got the new Tones Van Zandt documentary DVD and a few other things. Dangerous place for me the record store. Spend, spend, spend!!

That's all for now. Gotta get on with finishing some songs for the new record.

Also just got the new Josh Rouse record. Sounds good.

Spring is almost here.

Cheers
Dean.

John Lennon

2005-12-08T09:21:00.000Z

Well today is the 25th Anniversary of the great mans murder. Can't believe it. I remember getting ready to go to school and it coming on the radio that he'd been killed. I wasn't all that aware of John then to be honest. I only knew he was a Beatle and that he meant a lot to a lot of people. I don't know if I would have become a songwriter if I hadn't started listening to John and Paul's songs. They really changed my life. I remember the first time I listened to the Abbey Road album it totally blew me away. I was hooked. Got every Beatles record and then all of John's solo albums. Nicked loads of ideas from him!! Not many songwriters have ever moved me in the same way as John. He was such an honest writer. really wore his heart on his sleeve. Not scared at all to show his true feelings in his music. I hope some of that has rubbed off on me and my way of writing.
If he was still around today I'm sure he'd still be out there on the frontlines protesting and giving it to Bush and Blair big style. Taking no shit!
I'm so grateful for having John's music in my life. He's always there over my shoulder when I'm writing.Wherever you are today and whatever you're doing take a moment or two to think of him. We have a lot to thank him for.
Cheers John for all the great music. RIP
Dean.

GIG

2005-10-19T12:45:00.000+01:00

Hi there.
For those of you who may not know or have forgotten I will be playing a solo show at Howden Park Centre in Livingston this Saturday night (22nd Oct). It would be great to see you there. I'll be onstage around 8 o'clock. Venue details are on my gig page.
Cheers.
Dean.

John Peel Day

2005-10-13T14:31:00.000+01:00

Hello to you on what is now officially John Peel Day.
I can't believe it's a year since he passed away. I was on tour in Australia when I heard the news. I think you can still see my wee tribute to the man on the site. I perfomed Teenage Kicks on Sydney's FBI radio station and there's a video if you want to check it out.
RIP John.
I'll write more soon.
Try and get along to my up-coming shows if you can.
Cheers.
Dean.

Bob "n"Roll

2005-09-29T09:24:00.000+01:00

Howdy.
Just finished watching all the Dylan stuff on the BBC. There's just so many great songs. Unbelievable really. And that was only the sixties! Great seeing him with Johnny Cash.
Well as I said in my last blog I'm working through some throat problems just now. Bit frustrating when you're trying to write songs. It's such a natural thing for me to be singing. Hard to stop.
Doing a couple of little recording projects. Unfotunately it doesn't look like there'll be a new Felsons album in the near future. Just can't get our diaries to match. I'm hoping to record a new solo album towards the end of the year. I'll keep you posted. There should be a single "Strangers Again" released by Vertical Records either at the end of the year or the start of 2006. It's a duet with Karine Polwart. I was down at Karine's house demoing some new songs with her husband Mattie. Mattie played drums on My Town. He has a nice little recording set up at their place in the country.
A tour is planned for Jan/Feb 2006. If you've any ideas of places to play that I might not have been to before please give me a shout.

That's all for now.

Cheers.

Dean.

Hi there.

2005-09-28T21:24:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone.
Here's my first Blog message.
It's been a pretty quiet summer on the live front due to me having some problems with my voice. Not much fun, but I'm working through it.
Writing a lot at the moment. Getting material ready for the next album. I'm doing a few solo shows in October. You can get details in the gigs section. It'll be fun going out totally solo again.
That's all for now. I'll write more very soon.
Cheers.
Dean.