Farrell Spence profile picture

Farrell Spence

Making grown men weep in their beer since 2005.

About Me

“Farrell Spence delivers an album of sweet backwoods ballads charting the claustrophobic relationships and stunted dreams of isolated prairie town life: "Nothing ever happens in a town called hell". She's no Judith Chalmers that's for sure. It has a dusty wind blown lonesome flavour with clear and crisp playing of acoustic and steel guitar and occasional fiddle; sweet sounding but at the same time an indie album that steers clear of schmaltz and over production."
-Andrew Duwall - The Line of the Best Fit (England)
“ A Town Called Hell - A stunning debut album from Canadian-based singer-songwriter Farrell Spence, whose songs of life on the edge are both real and completely compelling. Real songs, real feelings / raw songs, raw feelings…this is an album for those of us who know the world around us is not and is never going to be perfect, but for as long as we have the Farrell Spences of this world giving us just that flicker of hope in their vocals that maybe, just maybe, there's a chance it might just get better, we should support and cherish the music they make that gets the rest of us through. A stunning debut and a collection of songs that deserved to be heard."
-Malcolm Carter - Penny Black Music Magazine (England)
“FARRELL SPENCE is a Canadian songwriter who produces occasional moments of majestic beauty on her debut album, A Town Called Hell. Ghostly and atmospheric soundscapes serve as an almost perfect foil to her delicate delivery and chiming, overlayered guitar tracks. Weaving autobiographical tales over her musical canvasses bringing to mind the earlier work of The Cowboy Junkies, Spence demonstrates real imagination and musical vision”.

-Sean McGhee – Rock n’ Reel Magazine (England)
"Farrell’s voice and song writing will attract many Americana fans."
-Andy Riggs - Americana UK (England)
"A Town Called Hell conjures up the perfect soundtrack to this world. It's melancholy ambience goes far deeper as it explores landscapes both real and within the psyche. A Town Called Hell can't be found on any map, but Spence has been there. If there is a silver lining to be found from her experiences there then it's in her unearthly and beautiful songs."
-Don O'Mahony - The Evening Echo (Cork, Ireland)
"There is something far deeper and soulful in her sound than simple ballads and lullabies. This is art that does what art is meant to do. "
-Bill McNamara, Host, Thundering Word (Vancouver, BC)
"A Town Called Hell is a great record on so many levels. The songs, the singing, the distinct mood it puts me in. The flavors are well thought out and comprise a great dish. As I gave this record a first listen I found myself reaching for the liner notes to see who was in the producer's chair, only to discover it was Farrell herself. Not only producing, but engineering and mixing the entire record in a studio she put together in her apartment. Quite an accomplishment. "
-John Raham, Producer/Engineer. Ogre Studios (Vancouver, BC)
"Folk-like lullabies, country ballads, all topped with a delicate touch of blues hiding somewhere deep... It's an exceptional record for its own style, because it seems that Farrell seems to be an exceptional artist."
-Taclem Folkowa - Folkowa Art (Gdansk, Poland)
"Her intimate lyrics are perfectly delivered with so much grace and beauty that it completely captivates the listener like only the highest quality vocalists can."
-Dave Walker - Free Souls Recordings (Cornwall, England)
"A Town Called Hell is the first release for Canadian singer, Farrell Spence. It is a CD that sounds off country and bluegrass atmospheres typical of Folk/Americana/Roots sound, but marked by the angelical and unique voice of Farrell, beautiful and damned."
-Alessandro Sgritta - Musical News Magazine (Rome, Italy)
“Farrell Spence, voce mozzafiato!” (Translation:" Farrell Spence, breathtaking voice!”)
-Roma e Dintorni - Il Manifesto (Rome, Italy)

To purchase A TOWN CALLED HELL click below and buy from CD Baby or iTunes:


My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 12/15/2004
Band Website: farrellspence.com
Band Members: Farrell Spence (Vocals and Guitar)
Paul O'Callaghan (Guitar and Piano)
Johannes Grames (Electric Guitar)
Donna Partridge (Vocals)
Influences: Neil Young, Gillian Welch, Rickie Lee Jones, The Cowboy Junkies, The Roches, Kate Bush, Emmylou Harris, Loretta Lynn, Isaac Guillory.
Sounds Like: Neil Young, Iris Dement, The Cowboy Junkies, Mazzy Star, Hope Sandoval, Cat Power, Aimee Mann, Beth Orton.
Type of Label: None

My Blog

CBC goes the way of American Idol and holds a contest for new Hockey Night in Canada theme.

Unbelievable! CBC is now thinking of holding a contest where contestants (Indie musicians across Canada) are asked to work their buns off (for free) to produce a new theme for Hockey Night in Canada t...
Posted by Farrell Spence on Sat, 07 Jun 2008 11:14:00 PST

Way to go CBC! This is so depressing...

From today's Winnipeg Sun:The Hockey Night in Canada theme song will be shut out next season, according to the composer of the song. The agreement between the CBC and the composer, Dolores Claman, exp...
Posted by Farrell Spence on Fri, 06 Jun 2008 09:59:00 PST

New review from The Line of Best Fit

http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/2008/06/02/farrell-spence-a- town-called-hell/...
Posted by Farrell Spence on Fri, 06 Jun 2008 09:55:00 PST

Amazing Review in Penny Black Music Mag - UK

Wow.  This really made the weekend for me. http://www.pennyblackmusic.co.uk:80/MagSitePages/Review.aspx ?id=5845...
Posted by Farrell Spence on Mon, 12 May 2008 09:29:00 PST

...and Featured Artist on CMR Nashville...

Who knew Tuesdays could be this sweet? Thanks to CMR Nashville and Tom Fahey for featuring my album and some of my songs on the station on April 18th!   Broadcasting 24/7 out of Edinburgh, Sco...
Posted by Farrell Spence on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:43:00 PST

My tunes on Whole Wheat Radio - Listen Online...

I'm on Whole Wheat Radio! Break out those little blowey things that spring out and make a tonne of racket... For those of you who haven't heard of  Whole Wheat Radio, it's a net-station that broa...
Posted by Farrell Spence on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:17:00 PST

Ford Models is looking for new girls!

  When I was 15 years old, my girlfriend Karina and I were approached by a thirteen-year-old girl whilst shopping at Polo Park mall back home in Winnipeg. We were likely shopping for the same 8...
Posted by Farrell Spence on Mon, 07 Apr 2008 09:42:00 PST

Canadas Polar Bears - Falling Between The Cracks?

More than half the world's polar bears live in Canada. That's something to be proud of, but it's also a major responsibility. Polar bears are internationally recognized as a threatened species--their ...
Posted by Farrell Spence on Sun, 27 Jan 2008 07:36:00 PST

...and on a happy note!

Go Cate Blanchett! Cate has been nominated for an Oscar as BSA for her role as Bob Dylan in "I'm Not There".  Her performance as one of six incarnations of Bob Dylan in this recent film release w...
Posted by Farrell Spence on Wed, 23 Jan 2008 08:12:00 PST

Rest in peace, Heath.

You'll be missed....
Posted by Farrell Spence on Wed, 23 Jan 2008 07:59:00 PST