There are at least two artists with the name Rainman: 1. Rainman is the name of a soloproject by Frank Nuyens, a former member of the Dutch group Q' 65. He recorded the album 'Rainman' in 1971, a collection of songs influenced by British folkrock and songwriters from the American Westcoast. 2. For years, Rainman has been building serious skills on mic and decks alike, cementing his presence within the Brisbane and Sydney hip-hop scenes.
Thriving and following the steps of independent acts before them, benjalu is a band that prides themselves on the old school approach of constant touring to promote their music. Since their formation in 2006 the Newcastle based roots-rock outfit have made the most of their successes. In 2007 benjalu concentrated on playing every week, mainly focussing on shows in their hometown. They capped off the year when the band released their debut EP ‘Reflecting On’ to an overwhelming response.
Gossling is singer/songwriter Helen Croome from Australia. Raised in country Victoria, Australia, Croome developed her musical interests thanks to family and the strong music culture of Albury/Wodonga. Her wise older brother kept her up-to-date with contemporary artists, whilst her parents’ music collection introduced her to the musical greats of Bach, Bowie and Meatloaf. Putting music to one side to study Psychology/Sociology at University...
Ben Harper (born in Pomona, CA, on 28 October 1969) is an American Grammy-winning singer and songwriter. As well as solo albums, he has recorded as Ben Harper and Tom Freund, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, Ben Harper And The Blind Boys Of Alabama, Ben Harper and Relentless7, Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite, and Ben & Ellen Harper.
Harper grew up listening to blues, folk, soul, RnB, and reggae. Harper's blend of groove-laden funky soul and folky handcrafted acoustics helped him to gain cult status during the course of the 1990s and widespread attention toward the end of the decade. Harper combines elements of classic folk singers, blues revivalists and jam bands and is embraced by critics and college kids alike. Harper's body of work sells consistently and he tours constantly, building a solid, dedicated fan base.
Harper began playing guitar as a child in his hometown of Claremont, California (in California's Inland Empire). He eventually specialized in the acoustic slide guitar (Weissenborn guitars). As a young man, he recorded an LP (Pleasure and Pain) with fellow folk guitarist Tom Freund. After this limited edition record, Harper got a record deal with Virgin Records, who released his debut album, Welcome to the Cruel World (1994).
This was followed by the incendiary Fight For Your Mind (1995) which became a college radio favorite and generated an abundance of songs which still fill his set list to this day.
In 1999 at the Santa Barbara Bowl, Harper met Jack Johnson, who was unknown at the time and had not recorded. Harper obtained a demo tape of 12 of Johnson's songs that he forwarded to his producer, J.P. Plunier, with whom Johnson recorded his first album.
From early on in his career, his music received more attention in Europe than it did in his home country. While he was a well-known and respected figure in the States, in countries like France, Germany, Switzerland, Portugal, and The Netherlands he was a star, receiving a great deal of airplay and critical acclaim. His popularity in Europe is such that he was French Rolling Stone Magazine's "Artist of the Year" (Artiste De L'Année) in 2003, and his tour that year for Diamonds on the Inside played to packed arenas across the continent.
In 2004, Harper recorded the album "There Will Be a Light" as the collaboration Ben Harper and The Blind Boys of Alabama.
In October 2004, Harper participated in the Vote for Change concert tour organised to benefit Moveon.org and encourage people in the swing states to vote during the 2004 U.S. presidential election.
Over the summer of 2005, when the Zooma tour scheduled with Trey Anastasio and various side stage performers was cancelled, Harper took on a tour of more private clubs/venues such as the Avalon Ballroom in Boston, the Tabernacle in Atlanta, and a full-band acoustic performance at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. This series of concerts saw the debut of a number of new Harper songs, such as "Get It Like You Like It" and "Dressed In Black."
In 2006, Harper released the double album Both Sides of the Gun which debuted at #7 on the Billboard charts.
Next Harper did a worldwide tour, with support from Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley on the North American leg.
In 2007, Harper released the album Lifeline, recorded in Paris just after his tour.
In 2009, Harper recorded the album "White Lies for Dark Times", as the collaboration Ben Harper and Relentless7.
In 2014, Harper recorded the album "Childhood Home" as the collaboration Ben & Ellen Harper.
In 2018, Harper recorded the album "No Mercy in This Land" as the collaboration Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite. At the 40th Blues Music Awards ceremony, Harper's joint composition with Charlie Musselwhite, "No Mercy In This Land", was named as 'Song of the Year'. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.
Frank Turner is a burgeoning solo artist based in the United Kingdom. He has toured the UK extensively and gone on a few forays into Central and Eastern Europe since the demise of his former band Million Dead. Frank Turner started solo acoustic shows prior to Million Dead's break up. The first official performance was at the first Small Town America all dayer at 93 Feet East on September 18th 2004. The solo performances were, in a sense, a sideline to Million Dead.
Kathryn Tickell (b. 1967) is an English player of the Northumbrian smallpipes and fiddle. She has recorded eleven albums, and toured widely. Kathryn Tickell took up the smallpipes aged nine, inspired by her family - especially her father Mike, who was heavily involved in the local traditional music scene - and by the music of an older generation of traditional musicians such as Willie Taylor, Will Atkinson, Joe Hutton, Richard Moscrop and Tom Hunter.
Sounding like a pack of untamed gypsies singin', pickin', screamin' and skankin' with flailing limbs to a grinding Balkan barbershop-doof-quartet at a drunken barnyard rasta hoedown, Double Entendre's high-energy trademark style of "GypRock" shakes stirs and blends genres of world music, gypsy jazz and roots into their own intoxicatingly dancy original concoction. With unshakable vibe and a strong, healthy pulse, these vagabonds from WA's alternative capital of Fremantle jam-pack a double-bass, drums...
‘Villagers’ began life as a nameless collection of musical poems, all under the pen of one Conor J. O’Brien. “Ultimately, I’ve learned that a song is not an isolated thing. You have to wash the dishes before you write a song. It should never be taken too seriously. It must be treated with joy and humour, regardless of the subject matter,” muses Conor, as he strokes his hairless chin.
“The aim is to feel the songs out. If I don’t surprise myself, then it is a worthless endeavour. Indeed, I would apply this attitude to all aspects of this project.
CocoRosie began in Paris, France and formed by Sierra Casady (Rosie) and Bianca Casady (Coco) in 2003. Sierra and Bianca Casady are North American half-Cherokee sisters. Sierra, the older of the two, was born in Iowa, and Bianca was born in Hawaii. Their mother nicknamed them Rosie and Coco, respectively, from which their musical act takes its name. In 2003, Bianca was growing restless and decided it was time for a change. Leaving her apartment in Brooklyn to travel the world, she ended up at Sierra's apartment in Paris.
