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Nuala & the Alchemy Quartet

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About Me

The Alchemy Quartet is a collaboration of front woman 23-year-old roots folk singer/songwriter, Nuala Honan, originally from South Australia, Devonian rhythm section Laura Marshall and James Bennetts, and Wilts Lassie Elizabeth Westcott.

The Alchemy Quartet are currently working on their debut album at J & J Studios in Bristol with Jim Barr, renowned producer and bass player for Portishead, which is due to be released Spring 2008. Here are some photos!!

Nuala has just returned to her home-land and Lizzy is heading over in the New Year. They are planning a tour of Adelaide and the East Coast from January to March to promote the current EP and the future album release, before they head back to the UK scene and the festival circuit with the full band.

They play a style that is essentially roots music, drawing on a range of genres from folk to funk, incorporating jazz and blues grooves, that all comes together in Nuala's original compositions.

2007 has been a very successful year for Nuala & the Alchemy Quartet, appearing main stage at several reputable festivals in the UK such as Wychwood Festival and Larmer Tree Festival (for the third year running), Shambala Festival, and have supported some great acts, most recently, UK artists King Creosote, Eddi Reader and Aussie Ash Grunwald. Their fan base has increased rapidly as our music has stretched from Australia to Great Britain, Asia, and Ireland.

Nuala & The Alchemy Quartet offer a show full of personality absorbed in a tight zealous mix of genre bending arrangements. The sassy vocals accompanied by fiddle and the overall percussive style of the music, demands the absolute attention of any audience.

You can find more information at www.nualaandthealchemyquartet.com


"As if that wasn't enough quality for one evening, we had a superb debut from Nuala Honan and her band. You may not have heard of her yet, but you will. Nuala is a really talented songwriter with a cracking young band behind her. Her engaging personality and boundless energy soon had the crowd behind her and it was the perfect up-tempo finish to a delightful weekend. She has the Show of Hands lads acting as personal mentors, so I think we can all assume that she's here to stay!" – Mutiny Music
"The ARC tent drew a massive crowd to watch Nuala Honan and The [Alchemy Quartet]. The lead singers vocal range and ability was nothing short of blinding as happy punters danced the last leg of what was simply a perfectly magical festival." – Larmer Tree Festival Review
“They were a five piece band with electric fiddle, bass, drums, percussiony bits (was the chap on the tom-toms really playing a wok at one stage?) and the charming Nuala herself - all frothy hair, winsome smile and a voice that would smack you round the ear when you least expected it. Part KT Tunstall, part Sandy Denny, with a little bit of early Alanis Morrisette thrown in - the songs were their own, they were varied and delivered with superb confidence.” – fROOTS Magazine
"closing act newcomer Nuala Honan, and her talented Retrobates, who had the crowds screaming for more" – Larmer Tree website
"This is just one of the finest bands anywhere, Nuala is an exceptional songwriter and has one hell of a voice, backed up by guitar, violin, bass & drums, not a name easily forgotten." Priddy Folk Festival Website
"Every year dozens od CDs arrive from well known and not so well known artists applying to appear at The Kilkenny Rhythm and Roots Festival. We listen to them all before drawing up a short list. The 5 track CD received from Nuala and The Alchemy Quartet stood out from the pack and we immediately issued an invitation to appear in Kilkenny. If the band were anywhere as good live, we were on a winner. The band were great, building an immediate rapport with Kilkenny audiences. This, combined with the wonderful voice of Nuala, is an act we will definitely be inviting back again." John Cleere, Festival Director, Kilkenny Rhythm and Roots Festival, Kilkenny, Ireland.


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My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 11/16/2005
Band Website: nualaandthealchemyquartet.com
Band Members:

Nuala Honan: (Vocals, Acoustic Guitar)
The incredible Australian songstress who's inspirational lyrics will change your life forever! She's an immensely talented singer/songwiter who never fails to get her audiences up on their feet and involved in the big party that is 'Nuala and The Retrobates! A truly inspirational artist. "One of kind"

Laura Marshall: (Bass)
'Bass Bird' gonna funk you up! The Sexiest Funky Groover this side of anywhere. She's Cool, She's Calm and She's most definately Collected!

'Lizzy Fiddle' Westcott: (fiddle)
What a folking legend! She never ceases to bound around with infinite glee! Always met with a million dollar smile, you'll know when you've been fiddled!


'Jimbo Jett' Bennetts: (Drums)
Never quite sure what he's going to do, you'll sure be in for a suprise or two! The Chunky-groovesmith lays it down FAT, and combined with his entertaining direction you can expect all sorts of habdashery!

Influences: Friends, Family, Ani DiFranco, Tim Rogers, The Waifs, Fiona Apple, Cat Power, Dizraeli, Dancing to mad electro (except grani maybe..) Dancing in Wellies, Dancing generally, Laughing, Chocolate, Long Drives.
Sounds Like: 4 youngins with a bit o groove posing as folkies. Sounds like a sunny afternoon in a muddy field... and if you were in the field you'd be dancing. For the unimaginitive at times we sound similar to the following: Ani DiFranco, Janis Joplin, John Butler, Alanis Morrisette, Tim Rogers, KT Tunstall, The Waifs, Xavier Rudd, Damien Rice, Abbie Cardwell
Type of Label: None

My Blog

Review from Phoenix gig Friday 6th April

Rising heroes of the festival circuit NUALA & THE ALCHEMY QUARTET start their show as a trio. Nuala with her guitar and bubbly infectious personality accompanied by bass player Laura Marshall (bot...
Posted by Nuala & the Alchemy Quartet on Thu, 12 Apr 2007 04:57:00 PST

Coming to a Town near YOU!

Heads up cru...the alchemy quartet are finally gettin out on the road.. in june!!All i can disclose for now is the string of gigs sometimes known as a 'tour' will begin with a big ole bang at Mr Wolfs...
Posted by Nuala & the Alchemy Quartet on Wed, 21 Mar 2007 04:22:00 PST

Barnfield Theatre gig Cancelled

Hi everyone, i'm sorry to say the gig at the Barnfield Theatre in Exeter scheduled for this Wednesday has beenn cancelled due to unforseen events. All tickets will be refunded in full. Please take a l...
Posted by Nuala & the Alchemy Quartet on Mon, 12 Mar 2007 06:02:00 PST

Nuala on Vibraphonic Radio!!! TONIGHT!!

Bit late notice i know.... but i'll be popping in to have a chat with the guys of Future Sound of Exeter on Vibraphonic FM 106.2 beween 8 and 10 pm tonight. apparently it gets up to a 12 mile radius o...
Posted by Nuala & the Alchemy Quartet on Mon, 26 Feb 2007 10:02:00 PST

new year new fings.. check em out

Hey everyone!!! Blogging has been pretty slack i'm fraid, sorry bout that.. so NEW THINGS: most importantly and excitedly the new website is currently under construction, the lovely guys at sound in t...
Posted by Nuala & the Alchemy Quartet on Wed, 07 Feb 2007 04:21:00 PST

is that dog or pork in my noodles??

NI HAO!!!!woo! well we made it.. we're in the city of Guangzhao, china. We're sleeping on the most comfortable bedding this side of a cornish B&B.. i'm still strategising a way of taking one of the pi...
Posted by Nuala & the Alchemy Quartet on Sun, 01 Oct 2006 04:03:00 PST

For all you not at that party that didn't exist

If you were not in a field, not drinking, not eating lovely fresh home grown vegies, not playing, dancing or partaking in some beautiful musical creation on the weekend.. then you weren't at one of th...
Posted by Nuala & the Alchemy Quartet on Mon, 04 Sep 2006 10:31:00 PST

Cancellation - Love Music Hate Rasicm gig @ the Quay - Exeter

sorry to say that this gig won't be going ahead.. which is probably lucky cause i had it advertised for the wrong day! We were really looking forward to playing for love music hate racism... and with ...
Posted by Nuala & the Alchemy Quartet on Mon, 04 Sep 2006 10:25:00 PST

SHOWS IN CHINA!!

Wowsers! Finally Nuala & The Alchemy Quartet are off to share their music with the world outside the west country. We're off to China.. yep.. a whole 11 hour flight, which I (Nuala) am especi...
Posted by Nuala & the Alchemy Quartet on Wed, 30 Aug 2006 10:01:00 PST

music stuff up thanks to nuala... only for 24 hoursh

hey guys whilst trying to get some new songs to you.. YES NEW SONGS! i stuffed up.. i'll have it sorted within the next 24 hours.. sorry.. it'll be worth the wait everythings a bit exciting for us at ...
Posted by Nuala & the Alchemy Quartet on Thu, 06 Jul 2006 08:14:00 PST