With a musical maturity rarely seen in one so young, 18 year old Melbourne guitarist Stephen Bowtell’s passionate and soulful playing truly defies his age.
Stephen has an instinctive “feel” for the blues and displays technical mastery of the guitar rarely seen in players twice his age.
This boy can truly make a guitar sing! His intensity, outrageously fluid lines, sensitivity and emotional dynamics have stunned audiences - leaving them wanting more!
Primarily self-taught, Stephen picked up his first guitar at age 6, had a few lessons at school when he was 10 but found formal teaching too restrictive. Stephen went on to “teach himself” by listening to the blues guitarists he admires and applying himself to hours of daily practice. His influences, as a guitarist, include: Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Allman Brothers, Robin Ford, Geoff Achison and slide wizard Derek Trucks to name a few.
Elements of all these styles come through in his playing and his original tracks provide a modern and fresh “next generation” twist on classic styles of blues.
MAIN INFLUENCES:
- Albert King
- Allman Brothers
- B.B. King
- Derek Trucks
- Geoff Achison
- George Benson
- Jimi Hendrix
- John Lee Hooker
- Johnny Winter
- Robben Ford
- Robert Cray
- Rory Gallagher
- Stevie Ray Vaughan
- Wolf Mail
Stephen has toured in most states of Australia over the past 3 years, supporting greats such as Joe Camilleri, Canadian player Wolf Mail, Mal Eastick and Doug Williams and was mentored by Geoff Achison throughout early 2007.
Stephen played at the 2008 Australian Blues Festival in Goulburn as one of the emerging young players this festival helps to promote. Stephen’s EP is played on community radio stations in the USA and Australia Wide.
In January 2009 the 6 piece “Stephen Bowtell Band” will be taking to the road with shows planned in Melbourne, Gippsland and up the East Coast of NSW to Sydney finishing at the Tamworth Music Festival. Joining them for this tour is Adam Eckersley, front man of respected NSW blues band “Bluezone”.
The show will feature material by the Allman Brothers, Stephen’s original tracks, Bluezone favourites as well as some classic blues greats. It’s a big band – with 2 drummers, 2 guitars, bass and keys, which makes for a big sound and an electrifying show. Be prepared for something different – this kind of stuff is rarely played in blues venues in Australia! Not to be missed.
“I first heard of Stephen Bowtell’s musical prowess by reputation, and that is always an impressive start! He seems to me to be possessed of that rare and elusive ‘it’ factor which most of us practice for years trying to find.”
Geoff Achison
“Gifted! This boy was born to play guitar!”
Doug Williams
“PHENOMINAL”
Wolf Mail - USA
PLEASE NOTE*** THIS WEBSITE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING RE-DESIGNED - FOR PREVIEWS OF STEPHEN'S MUSIC PLEASE GO TO:
http://www.myspace.com/
