Kelly Oliver is making a name for herself for her folk tinged singer songwriting. We featured the singer songwriter’s headline showcase as part of the London Folk and Roots Festival last November and this proved to be a popular event, with the Emerging Talent element curated by Folkstock. You can read about it here https://maverick-country.com/london-folk-roots-festival/
Kelly is about to release her second album, BEDLAM, and is also now embarking on her first headline tour. She has already gained a number of highly respected supporters, including Bob Harris, Dave Swarbrick and Mike Harding. Returning from travelling in 2013 and determined to pursue her dream, the daughter of non musical parents got taken under the wing of her local folk club in Hitchin and started recording with Folkstock Records later that year, releasing her debut EP in November 2013. A trio of awards ranging from Album of the Year ( Folkwords 2014), Emerging Excellence Award from Help Musicians UK (2014), NMG Best Solo Female (2015) have helped her on her way.
The BEDLAM launch gig on Sunday March 6 will be fittingly being held at the Sun Hotel venue, by Hitchin Folk Club, the club at which she started this journey. Award winning harmony trio Said the Maiden are opening the evening.
Kelly has been fortunate to catch the ear of Bob Harris, who has been a fan since early 2014 when he personally interviewed Kelly ahead of her Under the Apple Tree session for his Whispering Bob youtube based TV company. In addition to the three sessions she has taken part in, she has been played four times on his BBC Radio 2 Sunday show and has recently been announced for his inaugural Under the Apple Tree Roots Festival at the end of May bank holiday this year, which is taking place in the popular purpose built Silverstone Woodlands.
Offering a critically acclaimed modern take on the acoustic folk tradition, the Hertfordshire based artist is bringing folk right up to date with clever and insightful contemporary lyrics, clearly audible in every self penned song, and accompanies herself with often intricate, beguiling arrangements showcasing her accomplished guitar and harmonica skills.
Kelly has performed with a number of prominent names in the music world, including Fairport Convention’s Dave Swarbrick who remarked “Kelly has the vocal skills and an exquisite voice to boot. For one so young to have such a grasp of life’s travails is unusual, I like Kelly Oliver’s approach to the present and the past and I predict a glittering future for her.”
Oliver’s 18 date national headline tour which includes The Green Note in London (March 8), Hugh Fearnley- Whittingstall’s River Cottage (March 31) The Gatehouse Theatre in Stafford (March 21) among many others.
The full tour dates can be found at: www.kellyoliver.co.uk
