Brief biog...

"For those who like a little more edge to their

 acoustic-driven tales of love and life" Musician

Firmly rooted in the indie-acoustic singer/songwriter genre, Al Start's exceptional songwriting style and charismatic performances set her apart from the rest.

Al's melodies are sweet, soulful and incredibly catchy; her strong guitar style provides the perfect balance.

These are beautifully crafted songs with themes we can all identify with, yet with refreshingly different subject matter. Delivered with personality, humour and passion; certainly not your average love songs!

Kids biog...

I have been playing music in schools for about 3 years now. I run singing assemblies in schools around Brighton & Hove, where we sing songs I have written with loads of signs and actions to make them really fun and easy to learn. I am known as “Sign Up for Singing”.

I also teach guitar, Djembe (African drum), keyboard and songwriting & composition for a project called “Soundmakers”.

I love writing songs for children and draw my inspiration both from the topics that they are studying at school and my 22 years experience of play-working with children. There’s nothing more rewarding than a hall full of 6 year olds bellowing out my songs with grins all over their faces!

I have 2 children’s albums and a book&CD available to buy from the shop.

10 fascinating facts about Al:

1. I have a hedgehog living in my coal bunker 

2. We named her Mrs. Brambles and she likes cat food for her dinner

3. My favourite colour is purple

4. My best dinner is roast chicken…mmm yummy!

5. I cannot touch my nose with my tongue, sadly

6. When I was little, I was chased across a field by a hungry pony that ate my sausages…I am now slightly nervous around horses

7. My new favourite instrument is the little ukulele

8. I taught myself to play the guitar when I was 12

9. My hero was The Fonz (who's my hair hero too)

10. I love all kinds of music, and singing is the thing that makes me happiest in the whole world!

Full biog...

Lone Coyote Records (UK) is proud to introduce Al Start. With smooth vocals that have been compared to a mix of Tracey Thorn and kd lang, and a strong guitar style worthy of Ani Di Franco or Joan Armatrading, the sum total is a breath of fresh air! Firmly rooted in the acoustic singer/songwriter genre, her exceptional songwriting style and charismatic performances set her apart from the rest. 

Recording history

Hailing from Brighton, funky "Little London" by the sea, Al Start has been writing and performing since she was 12. Music and Art were always her focus; by day she was a metal sculptor; by night a gigging singer-songwriter! Her twenties were dogged by ill health; and it wasn't until 2000, when she was given the all-clear from radiotherapy treatment, that she was finally able to get stuck-in to a serious music career.

She didn't waste any time, and put aside her welder and headed into the studio! Her first album, "Lammas" (2000), released with Al’s sister & band, Toucan, brought rave reviews and full-houses all over the South of England. 

"The perfect warm summer soundtrack to a love affair on the beach in Brighton." 
Pink Paper

Al went back to music college in 2002 and won a distinction for the Advanced Songwriting HND at the Brighton Institute of Modern Music, (BIMM). She was chosen by BMG record executives to attend the infamous residential songwriting week with Chris Difford (Squeeze). Here she excelled, and co-wrote with top industry writers such as Helen Boulding (Alex Parks), Matt Deighton (Oasis/Mother Earth), John Hammond-Hagan (Liberty X) and Jill Sobule to name but a few. She has now been invited back by Chris three times. 

This was followed by a solo EP, "Sea of Stars" (2003). Sales rocketed as did her national fan base, whilst supporting international artist Horse on her UK tour (2004). Five UK tours later, her first solo album, "GO" (2006) , received rave reviews and she sold out venues across the UK.

"Reminiscent of The Beatles in their White Album period… Go also channels the 
drowsy ghost of Kirsty MacColl. Slick, well-produced and sexy as hell, 
this is modern music with a heart." 
Rainbow Network

Her next album, "I Heart History" (2008) was a collection of true stories inspired by Brighton Museum's fascinating collection of local history. Written in a six month research residency, Al's music rocked the archives - and the galleries, as she played two live gigs in the museum and the songs were part of the exhibition On the Pull at the Museum throughout 2008. 

"No weak fillers. No dud tracks. This is a truly original album 
sung with the familiarity of an old friend." GScene

Throughout this time Al was branching out into children’s singing. Working at two local schools she took singing assemblies and taught original songs combined with sign language to an enthusiastic bunch of little singers! Such was the demand, 2009 saw three releases.

"Excellent Songs for Children vol. 1" (2009) is a great collection of nutty songs for children, closely followed by the much anticipated "Excellent Songs…vol. 2" which has more of a folk flavour and some great musicians playing on it. Al is passionate about inspiring kids to sing; and believes that if the songs themselves are fun to sing, children are far more likely to join in and enjoy music.

The newest addition to the family is "Excellent Songs for Children" Book and CD. With hilarious illustrations by Shanni Collins, it brings the songs to life and enables children and their grown-ups to sing along, improve literacy skills and really immerse themselves in the music.

Gigs and tours

"Some girls were just born to perform." DIVA

Al Start has great stage presence and is a lively, passionate performer; she has toured extensively across the UK, Europe and in the USA.

Venues include:

London:

• The UCL Bloomsbury

• Troubadour Club 

• 12 Bar Club

• Mean Fiddler

• The Kashmir Klub

• Big Note Acoustic Club

• Dublin Castle

• Bull & Gate

Brighton:

• The Brighton Centre

• Brighton Dome

• Pavilion Theatre

• Sussex Arts Club

• Komedia

• Concorde

• Sallis Benny Theatre

• Joogleberry Playhouse

• Pressure Point

UK: 

• Liverpool: Cavern Club, Carling Academy

• Manchester: Life Café, Mint Lounge, Taurus

• Birmingham: Glee Club 

• Bradford: The Love Apple 

• Sheffield: Boardwalk 

• Huddersfield: Lawrence Batley Theatre

• Leeds: Brudenell Social Club

• Aberdeen: The Lemon Tree 

• Edinburgh: Queens Hall 

• Glasgow: Barrowland, Tron Theatre 

• Dublin: The George, Temple Bar Music Centre

And in the USA

• the infamous Club Passim - Cambridge, MA

• Chasers Bar & Provincetown Inn - Cape Cod

• Freddy’s - Brooklyn

• Rockwood Music Hall - Manhattan

• Mo Pitkins House of Satisfaction - New York

• ABC Café - Ithaca, NY.

Festivals include: 

• Euro Pride, Trafalgar Square, London

• The One World festival Hampshire

• Rhythms of the World festival

• Women In Tune Wales

• London Mardi Gras

• Birmingham Pride

• Pride in Brighton & Hove

• Dublin Pride

• Libertas (YLAF) Festival York

• Glasgay - Scottish gay arts festival

• Homotopia and Wimfest, Liverpool.

• Women’s International Arts Festival Provincetown, USA

Tours…

• 2004 – "Coveted" Tour. Opening for Horse

• 2005 – "Girlsworld" Tour with Nat Ripepi & Belinda O’Hooley (June)

• 2005 - "Winter Acoustic Tour" with Belinda O’Hooley (Nov/Dec)

• 2006 – "Mini Adventure" Tour with Belinda O’Hooley (Feb)

• 2006 – "USA/UK GO Tour" Solo (Oct/Nov)

• Plus summers 2008 & 2006 in Skala Eressos, Lesvos, Greece

You can listen on the website, and watch Al live in session! If you like what you hear, get in touch! Please email or call for booking, further information and full press pack.