October Browne's latest album is a return to her British folk roots. Growing up in London at a time when acoustic music was in vogue and the guitar of Davy Graham had influenced everyone from Paul Simon to Led Zeppelin had a lasting influence on her. Every guitarist aspired to play a reasonable version of Graham's tune Anji, but the guitarists were all guys.
October didn't want to be the chick that hung around the guitar players - she wanted to be the guitar player. She wasn't a singer and that was unusual for a woman at that time. Having learned to play Anji well enough to impress most of the blokes around her she went on to write an original piece inspired by the famous A minor riff.
Doing a floor spot before the legendary Graham one night he came up to her and introduced himself, telling her he loved the tune and invited her backstage.
This inspired her to keep playing fingerstyle guitar and writing tunes.
After several years spent in Harlem, New York City, studying jazz,
she decided that Canada was the coolest place on the planet (literally) and after hearing the band Rare Air she switched gears
and moved there.
She continued to gig playing guitar mostly accompanying singers and fiddle players.
One night the leader didn't show up for the gig and October found herself thrust into the singing role despite never having sung before.
Encouraged by the positive response she received she sang a few songs on every gig until eventually she found herself fronting bands and doing solo gigs.
She formed the band Morgaine Le Fay with Jamie Snider, Pat O'Gorman and Andy Stochansky and played across Canada and the U.S. for seven years releasing two recordings.
She also played in the band LOKA with Loretto Reid, Anne Lederman and Kelly Hood.
Having shared stages and stories with her early heroes such as John Renbourn and Fairport Convention she continues to play guitar in a variety of roles.
For the past 4 years she was guitarist and lead singer for the international touring show 'The Magic of Ireland'. In addition to her performing role she was Musical Director for the show, playing all over Europe.
In 2006 her composition Waterford girls was chosen as the first track on the Borealis Records release 'Six strings north of the border'.
She appears on compilations with artists ranging from George Michael to Bruce Cockburn.
This year she was given a CIUT radio Lenny Breau Porcupine Award for 'Quetzel' her most recent CD of guitar instrumentals.
October plays guitar, mandolin, cittern, bodhran and fiddle.
She has 3 CDs of her own and is in the process of recording the fourth.
