Lyn Bowtell
Lyn Bowtell is an Australian country singer-songwriter from Kleinton, Queensland, Australia. She has won multiple golden guitars at the Country Music Awards of Australia and was a part of the group Bella and is part of the group Bennett Bowtell Urquhart.
Lyn Bowtell | |
|---|---|
 Alt/Country Artist Lyn Bowtell Live at Tamworth Country Music Festival 2014 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Kleinton, Queensland, Australia |
| Genres | Country |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1996−present |
| Associated acts | Bella, Bennett Bowtell Urquhart |
| Website | lynbowtell |
Life and Career
Early life
Lyn Bowtell grew up a farmer's daughter on a small farm on the Darling Downs. Both of Bowtell's parents were musical; her father Noel sang and played accordion, piano, organ and drums with his father and brother for the ‘old time dances’ and her mother Glenys sings and plays piano accordion, auto-harp and bag-pipes.
Bowtell's musical journey had its beginnings in the country music clubs of the Darling Downs; at age 13 she competed in her first country music festival talent quest,The Big Doo at Brymaroo.
As a teenager, Bowtell was active in The Dalby and Toowoomba Country Music Clubs. Her parents drove her to numerous talent quests along the East Coast of Australia, including the Charters Towers CMF and the Gympie Muster.[1]
1995-2001: Southern Steel and Star Maker
In 1995 Bowtell won the Queensland Champion of Champions award.[2] In 1996, Bowtell joined the group Southern Steel, which consisted of Duncan Toombs on Guitar, Andrew Toombs and Joel Oakhill on Bass and Mik McCartin on Drums. Southern Steel released their debut studio album Headed South in 1996.
In January 1997, at the Tamworth Country Music Festival Bowtell won the Toyota Star Maker; the most successful and prestigious talent quest for Australian country music singer.[3] Following the win, Bowtell released two singles, "The One You Love" and "Searching for Jane" written by Lyn and Margie Mason.[2] In 1998, Bowtell won the Female Vocal section of 1998 Victorian Country Music Awards.[2]
Bowtell continued to tour with her band Southern Steel until it disbanded in 2001 and Bowtell moved to the Central Coast of NSW.
2002-2006: Bella
In 2002, Bowtell joined Kate Ballantyne and Karen O'Shea and formed the country music trio Bella. The group were active until 2006, released two studio albums and won two golden guitar awards for Vocal Group or Duo of the Year in 2004 and 2005.[4]
In May 2005, Bowtell's father Noel passed away and she took a break from her music career and pursued a Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Education degree at Newcastle University.
2011-present: Solo Career, The Voice and Bennett Bowtell Urquhart
In 2011, Bowtell returned to her musical career, joining long time friend Beccy Cole on her tour, acting as a rhythm guitarist, backing singer and opening act.
In March 2012, Bowtell released her debut studio album, Secret Songs.
In July 2014, Bowtell released her second studio album, Heart of Sorrow.
In 2015 Bowtell was appointed Artistic Director of the CMAA Academy of Country Music.[5]
In 2015, Bowtell formed the group Bennett Bowtell Urquhart with Kevin Bennett and Felicity Urquhart.
In 2017, Bowtell successfully auditioned for the sixth season of The Voice Australia with the song "Fields of Gold", and had all four judges turn. Bowtell elected to join Team George. Bowtell was eliminated in the battle rounds. This was followed by an EP, which included "Fields of Gold".
In September 2019, Bowtell joined Luke O'Shea on the song "Sing Me a Story", which won Vocal Collaboration and Heritage Song of the Year at the 2020 CMAA Awards.[4]
Personal life
Bowtell accepted a marriage proposal from fiancée Duncan Toombs on stage at the 2000 New Year's Eve festival at Pittsworth near Toowoomba.[2] The pair married and are now divorced
Discography
Albums
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Secret Songs |
|
| Heart of Sorrow |
|
Extended Plays
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Calling You |
|
Singles
| Year | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | "The One You Love"[2] | non album singles |
| "Searching for Jane"[2] | ||
| 2012 | "Beautiful Liar" | Secret Songs |
| "Sing Along" | ||
| 2014 | "Heart of Sorrow" | Heart of Sorrow |
| 2015 | "Happy" | |
| "Selfish Heart" | ||
| 2016 | "F U Cancer" (Catherine Britt featuring Kasey Chambers, Beccy Cole, Josh Pyke, Wes Carr and Wendy Matthews)[9] |
non album single |
| 2017 | "He Burns"[10] | Calling You |
| 2018 | "All My Life"[11] | |
| "Fields of Gold"[12] | ||
| 2019 | "Sing Me a Story" (with Luke O'Shea)[13] |
There in the Ochre |
Awards
In January 1997, at the Country Music Awards of Australia, Bowtell won Toyota Star Maker.
In 2004 and 2005, Botwell won Vocal Group or Duo of the Year at the Country Music Awards of Australia with the group Bella for the songs "Tumblin' Down" and "About a Girl".[4]
In January 2015, Bowtell was nominated for three Golden Guitars at the 2015 Country Music Awards of Australia; Best Female Artist, Vocal Collaboration of the Year, and Best Alternative Album of the Year categories for her Album Heart of Sorrow[14] and won the Golden Guitar for Best Alternative Country Album.[15]
In January 2017 Bowtell was nominated for seven Golden Guitars at the 2017 Country Music Awards of Australia, 5 with her group Bennett, Bowtell & Urquhart and 2 for collaborations with Adam Harvey and with Catherine Britt. Bowtell won Best Group or Duo and Best Alternative Album with Bennett, Bowtell & Urquhart and Vocal Collaboration with Catherine Britt.[16]
In January 2019 Bowtell was nominated for three Golden Guitars at the 2019 Country Music Awards of Australia for her work with group Bennett, Bowtell & Urquhart. The group won Vocal Collaboration of the Year for their song "Every Hello".
In January 2020 Bowtell was nominated for three Golden Guitars at the 2020 Country Music Awards of Australia alongside Luke O'Shea for their song "Sing Me a Story". The song won Vocal Collaboration and Heritage Song of the Year.
References
- "Biography |". Lyn Bowtell. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
- "Lyn Bowtell CD Review". nu country. October 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- "Brief History of Star Maker". History of Country Music. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- "Past Award Winners". Country. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- "Lyn Bowtell appointed to Academy Director's Role :: Country Music Australia". country.com.au. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
- "Secret Songs". Apple Music. March 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- "Heart of Sorrow". Apple Music. July 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- "Calling You". Apple Music. September 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- "F U Cancer (single)". Apple Music. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
- "He Burns (single)". Apple Music. September 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- "All My Life (single)". Apple Music. March 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- "Fields of Gold (single)". Apple Music. June 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- "Sing Me a Story (single)". Apple Music. September 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- "Golden Guitar Awards Unveil 2015 Finalists List". theMusic. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
- Milligan, Nick (25 January 2015). "Greta singer-songwriter Lyn Bowtell wins Golden Guitar". The Maitland Mercury. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
- CRAIG, HALEY (28 November 2016). "Tamworth Country Music Festivals 2017 Finalists announced". The Northern Daily Leader. Retrieved 27 September 2017.