Dean Owens
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Dean Owens

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom | Established. Jan 01, 2001 | INDIE

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom | INDIE
Established on Jan, 2001
Band Americana Rock

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"In Praise of Songwriters... and Dean Owens in Particular"

Magical - Ricky Ross (BBC / Deacon Blue)


"Great little stories wound around ear-worm-generating tunes"

What is it about the Scots? This very singular nation has a habit of providing us with musicians who embody the distinctive moral codes and melancholic world-view of a people with Celtic lineage, hardened by inclement weather, largely working-class politics, dry humour and a romantic streak as wide as the Firth of Forth. It’s a potent combination seen in generations of artists, from Maggie Bell to Roddy Frame, Karine Polwart, Justin Currie, David Byrne and King Creosote. Already five albums into a career largely under the radar, it could be time to start including Dean Owens in the list.

Full of great little stories wound around ear-worm-generating tunes… - Folk Radio UK


"One of the Best Singer Songwriters in Scotland"

Surely it's time for Dean Owens to be more widely recognised as one of the best singer-songwriters in Scotland.

Man From Leith, from his previous album Whisky Hearts, would enhance any Scottish songbook; here Valentine's Day In New York sets a high benchmark for words and tune in happy fusion (although, truth be told, each and every song on the Nashville-recorded Into The Sea is a worthy successor). Owens is fast becoming a master at crafting story-driven portraits through his lyrics... I'd like to think that somewhere Ryan Adams is giving him an envious nod of approval.

Not only that, but his voice is as good as his writing: strong, graced with a wonderful tone, heightened by a little crack in the veneer. - Sunday Herald


"Artist of the Week"

boasting a storytelling sensibility which deftly straddles folk and Americana... excellent…
Artist of the Week - Scotland on Sunday


"Into the Sea"

lush, sweeping Americana... haunting and arresting... totally in command of his ability as a singer and songwriter... - Spiral Earth


"Heart shredding folk songs full of Scottish soul"

Heart shredding folk songs full of Scottish soul...

Dean Owens has always had a very sharp and astute way with lyrics; but on Closer To Home he’s managed to combine that with a laid back and gritty sound that’s not afraid to include a melody and nothing showcases that better than the ethereal Valentine’s Day in New York which un-surprisingly got a lot of National airplay when it was released as a single earlier in the year... - Rocking Magpie


"4 stars"

…warm, soulful voice... delivering real emotion... - Daily Express


"Beautiful record, beautifully played"

A rich stew of slow-burning melodies and sing-along words that comes to the boil at all the right places...

raises the hairs on your arms and warms the coals in your gut… Melancholic, woozy, rapturous, poignant… a beautiful record, beautifully played… - Eye Level With the Stylus


"The more you listen, the deeper you fall"

As ever, the sound is firmly Celtic Americana, a potent cocktail of his Scottish roots and American influences... the more you listen, the deeper you fall into this ocean of the heart ... - FATEA


"5 Stars"

the work of a songwriter with experience of real life looking backwards to help make sense of the present, creating a lasting work of art as a result...
(This album) should be a part of any music-lover’s collection
5 stars - Music Riot


"Southern Fried (live)"

.... Closing with his popular Raining In Glasgow Owens showed himself at the top of his game with Into The Sea his most fully realised album so far. - Blabber n Smoke


"Supporting Rosanne Cash"

...Dean Owens saunters out onto the Chapel stage and takes to the task of winning over the Chapel’s famously warm and welcoming audience like a duck to water. A well-honed manner that lands somewhere between self-deprecation and blunt honesty hits the mark early. Owens has had his share of personal tragedies in the last couple of years and like every good writer, has used his artistry as a means of understanding and dealing with them. Those songs are the standouts in tonight’s truncated set, but he sets expectations high with opener Shine Like The Road After The Rain and Valentine’s Day In New York, the latter’s lilting melody and clever lyricism achieving notable reaction from the crowd. Virginia Street is as lovely as it was at The Hat Club, the story of small beginnings as sweet a pop tune as you’ll hear all year.

Evergreen is fantastic, Owens hitting every high note on the memories of his late sister. The Only One is equally well received, and Raining In Glasgow is just lovely and an opportunity to test our vocals, the results applauded even if, from where I was sitting, we failed to raise more than a murmur. Owens is clearly enjoying the larger stage, so much so that for his final song, a cover of Buck Owen’s Love’s Gonna Live Here, he steps away from the mic, switches off his guitar and wallows in the Chapel’s acoustics. It’s a lovely moment, an artist revelling in his environment and, quite rightly, keeping some of it for himself; making his own memory whilst providing us with ours. Owens clearly strikes a chord with the crowd; business at his merchandise stall is brisk and a quick pint with the man himself after the show confirms his delight. Top stuff. - Eye Level With the Stylus


"4 Stars"

This impressively assured sixth solo album from the seasoned troubadour of Leith-rooted Americana finds him recording in Nashville, Tennessee, with a classy bunch of US musicians and singers including his long-time collaborator guitarist Will Kimbrough.
These are highly personal and generally catchy songs, informed by country and indie rock sensibilities and opening with the purposeful drumbeat and guitar reverb of Dora, a tribute to his circus girl grandmother, while the yearning of Evergreen, is enhanced by guest singer Kim Richey’s keen harmony. The Only One sounds straight out of a Sixties hit parade, going for a retro Everly Brothers sound, and a bonus re-working of his early song, I’m Pretending I Don’t Love you Any More sees Owens in classic country duet with Suzy Bogguss.
There’s full-blooded delivery from both singer and band in Up on the Hill, slide guitar howling, while the mighty outpouring of It Could Be Worse was recorded in just one take, straight from the heart. - Scotsman


"4 stars"

...the 12 songs are superbly crafted and Owens is an excellent writer and singer... - Maverick


"4 stars"

a soulful blend of Scottish folk influences and Americana stylings... an accomplished, well crafted collection of Celtic Americana, suggesting Owens might just be on the verge of something big. - R2 Magazine


Discography

Into the Sea (2015
Cash Back (Songs I Learned From Johnny) (2012)
New York Hummingbird (2012)
Whisky Hearts (2008)
My Town (2004)
The Droma Tapes (2001)

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Bio

"Scotland’s most engaging and haunting singer-songwriter…" Irvine Welsh

Celtic Americana from Leith via Nashville

Dean Owens is one of Scotland’s finest singer songwriters, with fans including Bob Harris, Ricky Ross, Irvine Welsh and Russell Brand.

Armed with a searingly soulful voice and a neat line in memorable heart-twisting melodies, Dean filters his love of Americana through a gritty yet lyrical Scottish sensibility.  A compelling and engaging live performer, with an innate ability to connect with any audience, with an emotional hurricane of stories and songs.

In his early career Dean was the front-man of the much loved Scottish Americana band The Felsons.  His music has taken him far and wide, including Europe, USA and Australia. He  has played shows and toured with the Mavericks, Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, Joan As Policewoman, John Hiatt and Nanci Griffith, and recently opened for Rosanne Cash at London’s Union Chapel (July 2015).

His new album (his sixth solo) – Into the Sea – was recorded in Nashville (with producer Neilson Hubbard) and released in  May 2015, to rave 4 and 5 star reviews and claims of “best yet”. Recent radio sessions include Bob Harris Country (BBC Radio 2), Iain Anderson Show and Ricky Ross Another Country (BBC Radio Scotland).

His Whisky Hearts band is a mighty all star line-up, who can rock up a storm, with flashes of folk and a touch of twang!

One of Scotland's best… "Whispering" Bob Harris, BBC Radio 2

Magical – Ricky Ross (BBC/Deacon Blue)

Full of great little stories wound around ear-worm-generating tunes – Folk Radio UK

boasting a storytelling sensibility which deftly straddles folk and Americana... excellent… Artist of the Week  Scotland on Sunday

one of the best singer songwriters in Scotland... Sunday Herald

For God’s sake buy this album...! Russell Brand

Rocks like the E-Street Band…  Uncut

#5 in Sunday Herald's Top 50 Albums of 2015