ROB COWEN & THE DISSIDENTS profile picture

ROB COWEN & THE DISSIDENTS

About Me


Hailing from the Yorkshire moors, singer-songwriter Rob Cowen fronts a band that preaches impossibly addictive epic folk. Part poems, part Spector-like anthems, these are swaggering songs from this country's heartlands, unforgettable in-your-face fairytales of social conscience, society and survival, drawing comparisons with the likes of Elbow and Arcade Fire. Rob released a debut solo album in 2004 (featuring Danny Thompson) to wide critical acclaim, garnering a 4 star review in 'Q' magazine and national radio play, but it wasn't until he hooked up with his band 'The Dissidents' in 2008 that his songs found their true home. Fresh from recording demos for their album, ROB COWEN & THE DISSIDENTS have appeared on BBC Introducing... and received support from stations across the USA. With summer festivals and a bunch of club gigs in the offing, 2009 continues to be epic.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 10/24/2005
Band Website: www.robcowen.net
Band Members: The Dissidents. You know who you are.

***EMAIL ME: rob [at] robcowen.net***
Influences: Oh, you know...Dylan, Arcade Fire, Lennon, Death Cab, Radiohead, Springsteen, Waits, Drake, Michael Chapman, Leonard Cohen, The Clash, The Doves, Bright Eyes, Elbow, Paul Simon, John Martyn, Martin Carthy, Nick Cave, Nic Jones, Johnny Cash, The Beatles, The Stones, KofL, Warren Zevon, John Prine, Ray LaMontagne, Ricky Lee Jones, John Lee Hooker, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Steve Earle, The Band, Little Feat, Rick Danko, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Wonder, Steely Dan, Steeleye Span, Pavement, DJ Food, Mercury Rev, Thea Gilmore, Bonnie Prince Billy, Joan Baez, Joni, Velvet Underground, Reed, Bish, Neil Young, CSN, Black Crowes, Lemonheads, Gretchen Peters, James Taylor.
Sounds Like: God's own Jukebox.
Record Label: Unsigned

My Blog

New versions of HEARTACHE and DOWN IN THE HEARTLANDS

Hi folks,Just a quick update as things are a wee bit busy at the moment. All good, all very exciting for you RC & the D fans. New mixes of Heartache and Down in the Heartlands are on the page. Tuck in...
Posted by on Fri, 22 May 2009 04:53:00 GMT

MAD MARCH NEWS

www.sellindgemusicfestival.co.uk/music-profile.php?id=90***R OB COWEN & THE DISSIDENTS are confirmed at the Sellindge Music Festival in Kent on the weekend of the 6th/7th June. We are hitting the acous...
Posted by on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 11:26:00 GMT

BBC Introducing...

BBC Six Music legend Tom 'Introducing...with Tom Robinson' Robinson has chosen 'Alice In Sunderland' to play on his Saturday or Sunday show. Tune in to catch it:DAB digital, TV and online.Sky 0120Free...
Posted by on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 03:11:00 GMT

NOVEMBER NEWS

Hello folks To keep you in the loop and in response to emails from some very nice (if slightly scary) fans from across the pond, I have not forgotten you. I would love to do a tour in America and I am...
Posted by on Wed, 12 Nov 2008 02:16:00 GMT

PREVIEW TRACKS FROM LITTLE URBAN OPERA ALBUM

Fix up. Rough mixes of 6 tracks from 'Little Urban Opera' are now on my page. These are: Storm ComingState Of EmergencyAlice In SunderlandDenmark StreetHard Times In The CityLittle Urban Opera Tuck in...
Posted by on Thu, 16 Oct 2008 02:17:00 GMT

Recording vocals with a man who has a rubber neck

While Charlie is maxing up the forthcoming Operators album at Olympic Studios (which will feature some raucous BV's from yours truly - well it's only fair, most of The Operators are on the f...
Posted by on Tue, 05 Aug 2008 09:25:00 GMT

ALBUM NEWS

Good news for all you Rob Cowen folk - the (long awaited) album is nearing completion. Demos have already been garnering support from radio and there will be all manner of launch events to coincide. A...
Posted by on Tue, 08 Apr 2008 01:36:00 GMT

Things have changed

Newsflash. Backslash, a wee bit of information for knicker-waving Rob Cowen fans. After months of wrangling about "artistic direction" and "commercial viability", I have finally resolve...
Posted by on Wed, 13 Dec 2006 02:01:00 GMT

What's Happening Brother

...as Marvin once sang. It's been a quick few months that have involved all manner of rapid madness and beautiful bizarre-ities. There was a party on (where else) Denmark Street held by a bunch of guy...
Posted by on Thu, 30 Nov 2006 10:12:00 GMT

"Storm Coming" E.P and zen taxis

When youre mentally crawling on bleeding knees, whacked-out tired and ready to dissolve into the pavement, philosophical salvation can seem as hard to catch as an on-time train. With no fault attribut...
Posted by on Wed, 06 Sep 2006 09:42:00 GMT