Winner of the prestigious ‘Bob Harris Emerging Artist Award, 2022’ With an irresistibly joyful, retro sound that’s rooted in 70s soul, via Nashville and the North of England, Sheffield’s Lauren Housley is the ‘Girl From the North’.

Along with her band, the Northern Cowboys, Lauren has been delighting audiences on both sides of the pond since she released her first album Sweet Surrender in 2015. She quickly garnered acclaim from fans, critics and fellow musicians. Her single Ghost Town Blues was playlisted by BBC Radio 2, where fans included Bob Harris OBE, whilst The Waiting Game, became Robert Elms’ track of the year on his BBC London show (‘Absolutely monumental’).

Lauren’s love of music started early: ‘It was like magic to me, that music could have such an impact on the way I felt. It became my therapy. Being a deeply empathetic person led me to channel my emotions into poems and songs, with a hope that they would bring some comfort, joy and understanding to people.’

Lauren independently released her second album The Beauty of This Life in 2017, to rave press reviews from Q, Uncut ‘Her voice is potent and the emotional directness of her songs is estimable’ and RNR Magazine ‘Lauren Housley’s blend of material is both thrilling and tender, propelled by a voice that stirs and soothes’. Music journalist and broadcaster Paul Sexton said: ‘What I love about Lauren’s voice, and the music she makes with her stellar band, is that she brings such pure, spontaneous soulfulness to everything she touches. Both on record and on stage, she’s the real deal.’

Robbie Cavanagh: Robbie performs melodic, haunting yet beautiful music, combining his intricate guitar playing with powerful, emotive lyrics. Following the release of his critically acclaimed debut album, ‘The State Of Maine’ in April 2014, Robbie has made a big impact on the country/Americana scene. Developing a dedicated and loyal following around the UK, Robbie writes poetic and starkly honest songs and performs them with a real passion and sincere honesty that other artists can only attempt to imitate.

 

Robbie will be releasing his new album ‘To Leave/To Be Left’ on October 13th. It captures Robbie’s incredible live performance in 11 stunning, self-penned songs that sail seamlessly through folk, country, pop, blues and soul.