Yorkshire-born, Liverpool-based singer-songwriter Jo Bywater assumes the from of an innovative and inspired musical force.  Rhythmic, tactile, rockin’, poetry.

Jo independently released her debut album ‘Cycle Grace Pulse Break’ in December 2010.  It captures both the whispering gentleness and dynamic power of Jo’s expression.  Bluesy and captivating.  As a result of positive feedback from magazines such as Americana, R2, Folk Radio UK and FATEA she has performed various sessions, a small selection of highlights being Songs from the Shed, Radio Merseyside, Bob’s Folk Show and Roots & Fusion.

Jo has played extensively across the UK and is a familiar face on the Liverpool music scene. Festivals include Beverley Folk Festival, Purbeck Folk Festival, Folkstock, London Folk and Roots Festival, Liverpool Music Week, Threshold Festival, International Pop Overthrow, Brighton, London, Liverpool and Manchester Prides, Hope Street Feast, Liverpool International Music Festival and London Vegan Festival.

Chasing Tales EP released Sept. 2013 is acoustic Blues slide guitar meets finger-picking brain food.   Raw and finely-crafted beauty with a dark twist, soothed with harmonies, melodies and textured.  A worth follow-up to its predecessor in creative growth.  Guest performers are Andy Jones (Just by Chance) and Blythe Cooper.  Mastered by Russell Cottier (Parr St. Studio).  Released in collaboration with Searching For Dandelions Label/Collective. 

Most recently picked for Fresh Faves for Fresh on the Net,  Tom Robinson's MIXTAPE and voted Winner of FATEA AWARDS Best EP/Mini Album/Single of 2013.

Reviews for Chasing Tales EP

'delicious, laid-back piece of blues inspired, folk-tinged Americana that slides effortlessly from soft expectation to hard-edged understanding.  There’s a great deal to Jo and her music. This EP, although really only a taster, serves to showcase an exceptional talent. This lady can craft a tune, no doubt about it. ' - Folkwords

'Unorthodox, uncompromising, simply brilliant..purely on the evidence of this latest EP, Jo is an absolutely extraordinary talent - as singer, a darned accomplished stylist with an unusual voice, and as a guitarist pretty phenomenal too' - FATEA 
 
‘..an excellent musician and most engaging performer...this EP showcases Jo’s emergence as a fine finger-picker and slide player who is capable of building a great deal of drama and soulful expression into her arrangements. It is a fine recording which most certainly leaves you wanting more’ - Liverpool Acoustic

'an ear for the rhythmic and an ability to place words in such a way that the guitar is more than an instrument to her, it is more like a confidant, a co-conspirator in her music and Chasing Tales once exemplifies this confident and genuinely very cool woman’s ability.' - Liverpool Sound & Vision
 
'Jo Bywater seems to flit very comfortably between Nick Drake-esque pastoral, Polly Harvey’s gritty blues and the odd shade of Nirvana Unplugged – Americana UK

Bandcamp: www.jobywater.bandcamp.com/
CDBaby: www.cdbaby.com/cd/jobywater3
Amazon: www.amazon.co.uk/Chasing-Tales-Jo…er/dp/B00EP3YT0K
iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/album/chasing…s-ep/id691069252

Where and when can you hear us?

The show currently goes out on the following stations:

106.9FM WHCR - Monday 7-8PM www.whcrfm.com
Vixen 101.8FM - Monday 8-9PM www.vixen101.co.uk
Beverley FM - Tuesday 7-8PM (repeated Sunday 6pm) www.beverleyfm.com
Drystone Radio - Thursday 8-9PM 


The Music Max Plays

The Folk Hour plays folk music in all it's guises:
- Acoustic Music
- Folk Rock 
- Folk Blues
- Alternative Country
- Americana

Folk Music means different things to different people, it flows naturally from people's lives. It's an inseparable mix of words and music, it's music about life. It has been around from the earliest times and still gives voice to the deep feelings and unspoken needs of our times.

Live Guests and Local Music

On the Folk Hour we like to promote local, up and coming artists and bands by featuring their music, promoting their gigs and where possible getting them to perform live in the studio on the show.

www.thefolkhour.com

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