"Lovely singer/songwriter Kate Rowe had the audience eating out of her hand from the first note from her guitar. Her own sweet melodies, lovely voice and charming presence delighted the audience."
Cygnet Classifieds, 15/7/10
Kate Rowe is an award-winning Australian singer-songwriter. Her songs and performances are characterised by powerful narratives, catchy melodies and a quirky sense of humour.
Kate Rowe has been writing and performing songs for ten years, but did not always plan to be a songwriter. She has also worked as a French teacher, English teacher, shop assistant, children’s party fairy, radio presenter, author and illustrator.
Kate grew up in Sydney and received a First Class Honours in French from the University of Sydney. Having always enjoyed writing, Kate was inspired to begin writing her own songs after seeing Australian folk group The Waifs perform. Moving to France to teach English at the Sorbonne University in Paris, Kate began performing her songs at small Parisian house concerts, and continued singing upon her return to Australia in 2001.
She moved to the Blue Mountains in NSW, and learned folk guitar styles with songwriter Nigel Foote. With musician Julien Castegnaro she created a band called Rodeo Dodo, which won the BluFm89.1 Singer/Songwriter Award in 2004. Going solo in 2005, Kate released an EP, 3 Songs, took singing lessons with vocal coach Anne Maree Wilshire, and continued working part-time on her music.
Her first album “The Simplest of Things” was released in 2007. Produced by John Stuart at Sound Heaven Studios in the Blue Mountains, it was described as “fresh and delightful” by Capital News magazine, and won the 2007 BluFM89.1 Award for Outstanding Contribution to Country Music. It received radio airplay around Australia, along with the follow-up single “Song for Frank” in late 2007.
Kate won a Lennon Award in the 2009 John Lennon Songwriting Contest for her children’s song “Space Rabbits of Brocklevoons”. She was also shortlisted twice in the 2009 Australian Songwriters’ Association (ASA) Awards (for “Jindabyne” and “Song for Frank”) and was a finalist in the 2009 Victorian & National Country Music Awards (for “Talk to You”).
Kate’s performances in the last two years include appearances at the Blue Mountains Music Festival (NSW), Apollo Bay Music Festival (VIC), Cobargo Folk Festival (NSW), Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival (NSW), and Fairbridge Folk Festival (WA). In 2009 she completed her first Australian tour with fellow songwriter Ryan Morrison, and was the opening act for The Spooky Men’s Chorale on their highly successful UK tour. She has a growing reputation as a songwriter who appeals to all ages, and has developed a children’s show with Ryan Morrison alongside her regular show.
Kate’s second album “Nature’s Little Game” was released in July 2010. Described as "a cracker of an album" by Folk Trax, it was recorded at Sound Heaven Studios and produced by John Stuart, Ryan Morrison and Kate. Kate toured Australia again with Ryan Morrison between August and December 2010, performing at approximately fifty concerts, schools and festivals around the country.
She was named Songwriter of the Year in the 2010 Australian Songwriters Association Awards, and also won three categories in the same awards: Folk/Acoustic, Lyrics, and Spiritual (joint 1st place).
Plans for 2011include performances at the National Folk Festival in Canberra, and a second tour of the UK supporting the Spooky Men's Chorale. |
