LUKE JACKSON: Luke Jackson is a young Roots singer-songwriter from Canterbury, Kent, who in 2013 was nominated in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards for both the Horizon Award for Best Emerging Talent and The Young Folk Category. With a bold, distinctive voice and a sweet, percussive guitar style, Luke is a confident and captivating live performer. He was also winner of Fatea’s “Male Artist of the Year 2014”.
Over the past few years he has steadily been developing a reputation for himself in the Folk & Roots circuits either through his solo shows, many festival appearances or when opening for such luminaries as Show of Hands, Steve Knightley, Martyn Joseph, Karine Polwart, Oysterband, Paul Brady, Glen Tilbrook, Sarah Jarosz and Lucy Ward.
Luke is now on the road with backup- In late 2014 Luke decided to form the trio, having met Connor Downs (percussion) & Andy Sharps (Bass) a few years back at College, where they started playing music together. Andy has joined Luke on two Scottish tours and Connor more recently accompanied Luke on his first European tour. After writing seven tracks for an EP, Luke knew he wanted their talent and sound to feature on those particular songs. After a hard weeks work in the studio they managed to capture something special and are now taking it on the road to share with you!
“Reminds me of Jeff Buckley, which can only be a good thing” Mark Radcliffe BBC Radio 2
“Two words, bloody brilliant” Maverick 5 star review
“An outstanding heir to the likes of Richard Thompson and Martin Simpson” Acoustic magazine
“Luke has already acquired both an unmistakable voice and a strikingly individual vision” fRoots Magazine
“It comes as no surprise that Luke Jackson is continually feted as one of the British folk scene’s bright young things” R2 Magazine
“A great singer, a great songwriter and a really commanding presence” Mike Harding
“He has a stage presence that many artists would kill for and a voice and guitar style that make you think that he’s a sixty year veteran who happens to have discovered the fountain of eternal youth” Fatea Magazine
“Very powerful-impressive songs, individual playing and the singing-oh man the singing!” Folkcast
“A sumptuous voice loaded with maturity and a melodically blessed guitar style” Spiral Earth
“Luke Jackson sings with an extraordinarily rich voice and possesses a guitar technique astonishing for one so young. I first heard him sing four years ago and even then his songwriting suggested a performer of rare promise” Steve Knightley, Show of Hands
“A huge talent is emerging” Acoustic Magazine
“Luke Jackson has an incredibly mature and expressive voice that can holler the blues or give sensitive treatment to his own more personal tales” R2 magazine
Support from KELLY OLIVER: Kelly Oliver is a singer/songwriter, guitarist and harmonicist, described by The Times as ‘an artist who blends traditional values with hints of a bold, indie-pop sensibility.’ Her debut album ‘This Land’ was funded by an Emerging Excellence Award from Help Musicians UK and was given a 4* review by The Telegraph, with the single ‘Diamond Girl’ (featuring Luke Jackson) gaining BBC Radio 2 airplay. Her second single ‘Jericho’ was premiered by Folk Radio UK, and gained Kelly her first BBC Radio 6 airplay. Support slots for artists including Cara Dillon, appearances at the prestigious Cambridge Folk Festival, an Under The Apple Tree session for Bob Harris and collaborations with BBC Folk Award nominees Ciaran Algar, Will Pound and Sunjay show that Kelly is ‘rapidly establishing herself as a solid and in-demand performer.
