Kent-based vocalist Katie has been singing since she could speak.
Katie's soulful voice has led her around the world with prestigious residencies in European cities including The cafe Populart, Madrid and a hop across the pond to play residences in Florida, including Heidi's Jazz Bar, Cocoa Beach.
Katie has guested and supported with acts such as Suzanne Vega and the late Blues guitar legend Luther Allison as well as Caravan, The crazy Arthur Brown and the fabulous Hullabaloo
On a more local note Katie has played in a number of local bands including Blues and Soul outfit Rubber Biscuit.
katie has trod the boards at The Marlowe theatre, the Gulbenkian, UKC and festivals including the Canterbury sound Festival, Lounge on the farm and Broadstairs Folk week. Further up North our Katie has tripped the light fantastic at Cambridge folk festival and The Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival, Colne.
Katie's original material is regularly played on BBC Radio Kent and on radio stations as far as Poland and Texas!.
Katie has recorded vocals with local songwriters including Luke Smith, Jack Pound and most recently with Andy Lester's Blue Train. Katie has also appeared on the Blues in Britain CD alongside Emily Druce and Wes weston.
Katie currently has a residency at the atmospheric Blues Bar, 'Ain't Nothin' But', London WC1 with King David, of Big Joe Louis and the Blues Kings.
Katie Bradley - In Detail
Katie’s love of the Blues means her voice has uncompromising feel of the early 19th Century Blues Women. A young Katie often spent Sunday afternoons listening to Muddy Waters, James Cotton, and Little Walter. It wasn't long before she picked up the blues harp, and fell under the spell of Blues harp greats such as, Sonny Terry and Sonny Boy Williamson II.
Katie has performed far and wide, in clubs, theatres and festivals throughout the UK, Ireland, Spain, France, Holland, Belgium, Germany and Florida USA.
Vocalist Katie Bradley was born into a family of singers and musicians in the creative hive that is East Kent. Katie was singing as soon as she could speak. Katie gave her first live performance at the age of 13, introducing her to a broad variety of musical styles and encouraging her to write her own material. The diverse musical influences that surrounded Katie as she grew meant she was as equally at home with the Folk from her mother, and Blues and Soul from her father, and not to mention the excellent harmony teaching from her sister Caroline.
Katie owes her jazzy lilt and shimmers to her admiration of the great Jazz singers; this is why you may hear loving echoes of Billie and Ella. Katie's own heart-felt voice sits somewhere in-between Bonnie Raitt and Alison Krauss. Katie has a myriad of styles that will surprise and thrill.
Katie often left Kent during her late teens, to go traveling through Europe. Where each stop, brought a new song to learn and a new musical style to consume. During her time on the road, Katie performed with local musicians and singers.
NIGHT SKY - THE DEBUT ALBUM
'one sees clearly only with the heart; Anything essential is invisible to the eye.'
The Little Prince-Antoine de Saint-Exupery
In 2003, Katie decided to make an album of songs with musicians who have helped shape her musical path back in Kent. The album is titled ‘Night sky’ each song encounters a new chapter in Katie’s life, and each song is different to the last. Drawing on personal experience Katie’s lyrics takes universal themes like hope and despair, love and hate, and juxtaposes them musically with intimations of melancholy or belief. When performed acoustically Katie's songs are intimate and intense. Her soaring vocals cut to the quick, and reveal the lyrical depths beyond the catchy melodies.
"I think you have to believe what you're saying
In order to make a song work, it's on this basis
That I pick or write my material.”
When performed with a band the songs take on a fuller form, with Katie's arrangements providing a broader base on which her songs flourish.
Her debut album NIGHT SKY moves effortlessly from the traditional Blues to her own blend of the contemporary, visiting Gospel and soul on the way. The album features a broad sweep of musicians including Ramona and Zinta Egle (Camine), Kevin Richards (High Brazil), Alex Williams (Psychotic Reaction), Mike Thorne, Luke Smith. David Mingay (FF5), Jim Bradley (Stormy Monday), James Ross (Five Fat Sheep), Ivan Thompson (Hullabaloo)
Katie attributes the musicians understanding of the delicate balance between music, tradition and modernism as a key factor in the overall feel of her album.
Katie is now performing new material both with a band and acoustically in Kent and London.
NIGHT SKY, the debut album from KATIE BRADLEY released 25/04/03.
ON KATIE'S ORIGINAL SOUND:
"Her keen ear provides a distinctive palette, and through engaging melodies and Lo-Fi backing she creates meaningful pictures of light and shade. Katie composes fresh and intelligent songs with a timeless relevance."
- Will Howard
