Lyn Bowtell

Lynette Jean Bowtell (born 1976 or 1977) is an Australian country singer-songwriter from Kleinton, Queensland. She has won Nine Golden Guitars at the Country Music Awards of Australia, she was a songwriter and singer for the trio, Bella (2002–2006) and from 2015 has been a member of Australian supergroup, Bennett Bowtell Urquhart, alongside Kevin Bennett and Felicity Urquhart. Bowtell has also had a solo music career.

Lyn Bowtell
Alt/Country Artist Lyn Bowtell Live at Tamworth Country Music Festival 2014
Background information
Birth nameLynette Jean Bowtell
Born(born 1976/1977
Kleinton, Queensland, Australia
GenresCountry
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
InstrumentsVocals, guitar
Years active1996−present
Associated actsBella, Bennett Bowtell Urquhart
Websitelynbowtell.com

Life and career

Early life

Lyn Bowtell (born 1976/1977),[1] grew up a farmer's daughter, with two older siblings, at Kleinton on the Darling Downs.[2] Both of her 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.[2]

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 she 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.[3]

1995-2001: Southern Steel and Star Maker

In 1995 Bowtell won the Queensland Champion of Champions award.[1] In 1996 Bowtell joined the group Southern Steel in Toowoomba, which consisted of Duncan Toombs on guitar, Andrew Toombs and Joel Oakhill on bass guitar and Mik McCartin on drums.[4] Southern Steel released their debut studio album, Headed South, in that year.

In January 1997 Bowtell attended the CMAA College of Country Music, held over two weeks, in Tamworth ahead of its annual Country Music Festival where she won the Star Maker Quest.[5][6] Following that win, she released two singles, "The One You Love" and "Searching for Jane", co-written with Margie Mason.[1] In the next year Bowtell won the Female Vocal section of 1998 Victorian Country Music Awards.[1] She continued to tour with Southern Steel until they disbanded in 2001 and then moved to the New South Wales Central Coast.

2002-2006: Bella
Main article: Bella (Australian band)

In 2002 Bowtell joined Kate Ballantyne and Karen O'Shea and formed the country music trio Bella in Newcastle.[1] The group were active until 2006, they released a studio album, Gravity and won two golden guitar awards for Vocal Group or Duo of the Year in 2004 and 2005.[7] The latter win was for "About a Girl", which was written by Bowtell.

In May 2005 her father Noel Rodney Bowtell died, aged 62.[8] After Bella disbanded she had a break from her music career and undertook a Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Education degree at Newcastle University.[9]

2011-present: Solo Career, The Voice and Bennett Bowtell Urquhart
Main article: Bennett Bowtell Urquhart

In 2011 Bowtell returned to her musical career, joining Beccy Cole on her tour, as a rhythm guitarist, backing singer and opening act.

In March 2012 Bowtell released her debut solo studio album, Secret Songs. She followed with her second album, Heart of Sorrow, in July 2014. 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 for Heart of Sorrow.[10] She won Best Alternative Country Album.[11]

In 2015 Bowtell was appointed Artistic Director of the CMAA Academy of Country Music.[12] Also in that year Bowtell formed the supergroup, Bennett Bowtell Urquhart with Kevin Bennett and Felicity Urquhart. In January 2017 Bowtell was nominated for seven Golden Guitars at the Country Music Awards of Australia, five with her group Bennett, Bowtell & Urquhart and two 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 Britt.[13]

In 2017 Bowtell successfully auditioned for the sixth season of The Voice Australia with her cover version of "Fields of Gold", and had all four judges turn. Bowtell joined Team George, but was eliminated in the battle rounds. She released an extended play, which included "Fields of Gold".

In January 2019 Bowtell was nominated for three Golden Guitars at the Country Music Awards of Australia for her work with group Bennett, Bowtell & Urquhart. The group won Vocal Collaboration of the Year for "Every Hello". In September of that year 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.[7]

Personal life

In January 2000 she became engaged to Duncan Toombs, band mate and guitarist in Southern Steel.[1] The couple married but later divorced.[1] Bowtell has had an alcohol addiction and reflected, "Going through a divorce, living with alcoholism – living with someone who's going through those songs is not easy and you, yourself, become addicted to or part of that behaviour."[1] As of October 2014 she was living in the Maitland suburb of Morpeth with Damon Morton, who also co-wrote five tracks for her album, Heart of Sorrow.[1] By 2017 she was living in nearby Greta.

Discography

Albums
Title Details
Secret Songs
  • Released: 23 March 2012[14]
  • Label: Lyn Bowtell
  • Format: digital download, CD
Heart of Sorrow
  • Released: 11 July 2014[15]
  • Label: Lyn Bowtell
  • Format: digital download, CD

Extended Plays
Title Details
Calling You
  • Released: 15 September 2017[16]
  • Label: Checked Label Services
  • Format: digital download, CD, streaming

Singles
Year Title Album
1997 "The One You Love"[1] non album singles
"Searching for Jane"[1]
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)[17]		 non album single
2017 "He Burns"[18] Calling You
2018 "All My Life"[19]
"Fields of Gold"[20]
2019 "Sing Me a Story"
(with Luke O'Shea)[21]		 There in the Ochre

See also

Awards

Country Music Awards of Australia

The Country Music Awards of Australia (CMAA) (also known as the Golden Guitar Awards) is an annual awards night held in January during the Tamworth Country Music Festival, celebrating recording excellence in the Australian country music industry. They have been held annually since 1973.[22]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1997 Lyn Bowtell Star Maker Won
2015 Heart of Sorrow Alternative Country Album of the Year Won
2017 "F U Cancer" (with Catherine Britt) Vocal Collaboration of the Year Won
2020 "Sing Me a Story" (with Luke O'Shea) Vocal Collaboration of the Year Won
Heritage Song of the Year Won
  • Note: wins only

References
  1. Dawson, Dave (20 October 2014). "Dave's Diary – Lyn Bowtell CD Review". Nu Country. Archived from the original on 7 February 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  2. "Bella's Final Celebration of Friendship and Song". InTtouch Magazine (4). 1 September 2015. Archived from the original on 14 March 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. "Biography". Lyn Bowtell Official Website. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  4. Leeson, Josh (20 January 2017). "Lyn Bowtell preparing for awards blitz in Tamworth". Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  5. O'Brien, James (24 November 2003). "New Country Music Supergroup – Bella". Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). ABC New South Wales. Archived from the original on 28 February 2004. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  6. "Brief History of Star Make r". History of Country Music. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  7. "Past Award Winners". Country. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  8. "The Ryerson Index". Ryerson Index Inc. Retrieved 31 January 2021.. Note: User must add 'Bowtell' into the Surname search parameter and 'Noel' into the Any Given Name(s) parameter.
  9. Milligan, Nick (16 October 2014). "Country trio Bella reunites for special shows". Maitland Mercury. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  10. "Golden Guitar Awards Unveil 2015 Finalists List". theMusic. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  11. Milligan, Nick (25 January 2015). "Greta singer-songwriter Lyn Bowtell wins Golden Guitar". The Maitland Mercury. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  12. "Lyn Bowtell appointed to Academy Director's Role :: Country Music Australia". country.com.au. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  13. CRAIG, HALEY (28 November 2016). "Tamworth Country Music Festivals 2017 Finalists announced". The Northern Daily Leader. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  14. "Secret Songs". Apple Music. March 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  15. "Heart of Sorrow". Apple Music. July 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  16. "Calling You". Apple Music. September 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  17. "F U Cancer (single)". Apple Music. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  18. "He Burns (single)". Apple Music. September 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  19. "All My Life (single)". Apple Music. March 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  20. "Fields of Gold (single)". Apple Music. June 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  21. "Sing Me a Story (single)". Apple Music. September 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  22. "Past Award Winners". Retrieved 2 November 2020.
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