Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
Ruth Royall's performance was very assured. She may be only 17 but she showed all the confidence of a stage veteran.
Mind you, she has a lot to be confident about for she's a fine singer with a big range, a good songwriter, a talented pianist and she has loads of personality.
Some of her songs, especially "Theatrical Dream", where very wordy and melodically complex, but actually it was the more simple songs like the rather lovely "He Was Beautiful" that were the most effective.
KEITH CLARK - Bristol Evening Post
Opening the show was Ruth Royall. Before her performance, she told me that she was nervous as she has never played a venue this size before. It didn't show.
She Played an incredibly tight set, ranging from soulful blues to stripped down acoustic. She is clearly inflenced by the likes of Tracy Chapman and Joni Mitchel and her mature sound and powerful voice worked perfectly in the candlelit surroundings of the Subscription Rooms.
ROSIE HOSKIN - Stroud News and Journal
Ruth Royall returned to the subscription rooms as the opening act of the Hub Cabaret. Playing unaccompanied, she began an eight-song set. Her refreshingly soft style of down beat, naturalistic blues fitted perfectly with the intimate cafe style decor.
Beginning on piano Ruth demonstrated a large vocal range and played nothing but her own material, singing songs such as "scripted" and one of my personal favourites "Way Down the River".
This heartfelt song had been rewritten numerous times to create a fascinatingly intricate infusion of blues-style piano and strong female vocals.
When watching Ruth, I started to see some similarities between her and Regina Spector.
Half way through her set before her fifth song, she swapped to playing the guitar which allowed her to exhibit a couple of slightly upbeat songs.
For the last two songs, the piano was again her weapon of choice and she performed the odd yet freakishly alluring "Sugar Plum Faries", followed closely by her final song "All I Need". This is one of her latest pieces and is rife with depth, passion and, of course love. A brilliant (if slightly soppy) end, to a talent-filled performance.
RACHAEL HALL - Stroud News and Journal
Discography
Jelli Records showcase CD (two tracks)
released January 2008
Photos
Bio
Ruth has been playing and writing songs since she was 8 years old. She has always loved music which is why she choose to follow it in her career. Ruth plays guitar, piano and will try any other instrument that ventures into her hands.
Ruth's first joined a teenage rock band "sub-justice" when she was 13, she began to write the music for the band and soon had a collection of songs which they performeded in their home town of Stroud. Sub-justice went on to have quite a few good reviews in the local media and soon became known as the up and coming band of Stroud.
After a year with Sub-justice Ruth decided to start focusing on being a solo artist. She became well known in her home town playing regular gigs in local venues such as the Subscription Rooms. Ruth moved to Bristol at the age of 16 as she wanted to undertake a college course at Access to Music.
Ruth is fast becoming well known on the Bristol music scene and has been invited several times to play at the Bristol Folk House, she has also been invited at the Bristol acoustic music festival.
"The music I write is often about what is going on around me. I always likes to write about a subject and produce songs that are a bit quirky. When I listen to other artists I like it always inspires me to create more music".
Her influences range from Tracy Chapman, Nina Simone to Joni Mitchell. She also draws inspiration from Corrine Bailey Rae, Ragina Spector, Ryan Adams, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan and The Beatles. Even PinkFloyd at times. More recently she has been listening to Ani Difranco, Feist and local Bristol band the Cedar.
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