LIVE DATES

12th MAY
The Great Escape Festival
Fitzherbert's, Brighton (3pm)
(Solo set)

22nd JUNE
Loves, Weston
(Solo sets)

20th/21st JULY
Woodburner @ Secret Garden Party Festival
(Solo set)

31st AUGUST
The Pheasantry, London
part of Aimua and Friends Series
(Acoustic Trio sets)

2nd SEPTEMBER
Live and Unamplified Weekend Festival
St. Margaret's House, London
(Solo set)

13th SEPTEMBER
Julia Biel's Versions
King's Place, London (10.30pm)
(duo with Ben Hazleton)

"a voice of supreme subtlety and honeyed depth. Her mesmerizing voice and magnetic stage presence should encourage many to follow where she leads... about to hit the big time."

THE GUARDIAN


APOLOGIES TO ANYONE TRYING TO GET IN TOUCH. THIS EMAIL ADDRESS HAS BEEN DOWN SINCE THURSDAY 10TH MAY. AS SOON AS IT IS BACK WE WILL ANNOUNCE IT HERE AND ASK YOU TO RE-SEND YOUR ENQUIRY. For general enquiries: info@juliabiel.com


ANDITSOUNDSSONICE GIG REVIEW:

I wrote a previous post having heard a couple of Julia Biel's tracks via YouTube. Thanks to a gig she did at Hoxton's Underbelly; I'm writing this post having seen her live.

With a full band.

Let's just say that the game has now changed.

And not just because I'm ever-so-slightly obsessed with live music either. But mainly because the 10 track set completely validates everything that the two YouTube vids previously hinted at: Julia Biel is an artist to watch.

Here's why:

As cliche as it is to say that her voice is captivating; her voice is captivating. So much so that jazz singers of recent years are not the crowd with which her voice should be lumped. Not because it's a copy of Sarah Vaughan's- because it isn't, nor because she sounds like Nina Simone- because she doesn't. But instead because it stands alone in a way that voices had to back then. Super big words, I know, but go and see her live and you'll agree. You'll probably also agree that as well placed as her voice would be among a back drop of 1940's Jazz, it would make just as much sense on a hip-hop beat, a house track, reworked by Jamie XX... A list which I imagine can and will go on.

Secondly, Julia's 2005 success gained from her debut album 'Not Alone' was followed by a hiatus during which she rediscovered and redefined her sound, which led to a wealth of new material of which 10 tracks made up the Underbelly set. The 10 track underbelly set showcased her approach to song composition and as a result, I now have no doubt in my mind that this is one of the main things that sets Julia apart. Now rather than do this approach a complete injustice by proceeding to describe it, I'll just redirect you to the video that begins this post. It's your best bet.

And lastly there's the fact that I'm ever-so-slightly obsessed with live music and with a band comprised of Seb Rochford on drums, Neil Charles on bass, Marco Piccioni on lead guitar and Dave Pearson on rhythm guitar; I was basically rendered speechless for the majority of the night.

I remember watching Later With Jools Holland some years back and seeing Amy Winehouse in the early stages of her career sing 'In My Bed' from the album Frank. The feeling I felt then is the same feeling I felt that night downstairs at the Underbelly. And something about the way that the once noisy crowd at the multi-artist night hushed as if the headliner they'd come out to see had finally taken to the stage tells me that I won't be the only one!

Sarah Gyasi