Leith singer songwriter Dean Owens has won the UK Song of the Year Award at the fourth annual UK Americana Awards which were held last Thursday at London’s Hackney Empire. The awards were compered by BBC legend “Whispering” Bob Harris.
The accolade is for Southern Wind, the title song on his most recent album, which he co-wrote with long standing musical collaborator, award wining guitarist, Will Kimbrough.
The award was presented by Graham Gouldman (who has written hits for the Hollies and the Yardbirds as well as his classic work with 10cc). Other recipients at the star studded event, organised by The Americana Music Association UK (AMA-UK), included Lifetime Achievement Award to Graham Nash and Trailblazer Award for legendary producer Joe Boyd.
Southern Wind was recorded in Nashville, and produced by Grammy nominee Neilson Hubbard (who was involved with two other winners on Thurs night – UK Album of the Year (Ben Glover’s Shorebound) and International Artist of the Year, Mary Gauthier (as producer of her Rifles and Rosary Beads album)).
Dean said: “I’m delighted, it was a complete surprise. As the first Scot to receive an award from AMA-UK, it feels really special, and a huge honour to bring this back to Scotland.
“Apart from a cup for being Boxer of the Year as a kid, this is the only award I’ve ever won. I’m still in shock to be honest!”
Will Kimbrough said: “Dean and I wrote Southern Wind in a flurry of creativity. Ideas were flying. I am from so far south that Nashville is eight hours north. Dean is more of a northern man.
“My Southern Wind calls me to a long left behind home; I like to think that Dean’s Southern Wind calls him South to create in Nashville. The lure of home. The lure of the muse. Both romantic and hard to reach. That’s Southern Wind.”
VIDEO for Southern Wind (filmed in and around Dean’s Leith home, including Leith Victoria AAC Boxing Club and including a cameo from Game of Thrones actor Jamie Sives): https://youtu.be/fzJo0yQIEUs
his songwriting craft can stand proudly with the best around… there are songs here that others would die for… albums like this don’t come around too often… FATEA Magazine
A voice like Roddy Frame inhabited by the soul of Ryan Adams «««« Daily Express
Dean Owens is widely hailed as one of UK’s finest troubadours (with fans including Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh and BBC’s Bob Harris).
In September 2017 he became the first Scottish musician to officially showcase at the prestigious Americanafest in Nashville (supported by PRS Foundation / /Creative Scotland).
Last year he undertook his first US tour (also supported by Creative Scotland) which included Albino Skunk Music Festival, South Carolina (where he received a standing ovation and an immediate invitation for a return visit) and a headline slot at the prestigious Levitt Shell in Memphis TN, the outdoor stage where Elvis Presley had his first paid gig. He is returning to USA in April.
While never losing his own unique Scottish identity, Dean has had a longstanding love affair with the USA since his early days as the front man of Scotland’s original Americana band, the Felsons. He has recorded 4 of his 7 solo albums there, including Southern Wind (released Feb 2018) which received glowing, rave reviews, including 4 stars in Mojo Magazine.
It’s been an exciting month for Dean, as his new project –US/UK collective Buffalo Blood – had its World Premiere live performance at Celtic Connections (25 Jan), with a self titled debut album released on Eel Pie Records on 15 February.
Buffalo Blood is an international collaboration which includes Dean’s Southern Wind producer Neilson Hubbard, and Orphan Brigade members Joshua Britt and Audrey Spillman. Buffalo Blood was recorded on location in the heart of the New Mexico desert. A multi media project, including film as well as music, it was inspired by Native American stories, with themes of displacement, migration and a belief in the power of art and the human spirit to connect us all.
Reaction so far has been extraordinarily positive with BBC Radio 2’s Mark Radcliffe calling it a “fascinating project.”
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