Reviews
Bright Young Folk
"A musical instinct that points true north"
Folk Radio UK
"A masterclass of brilliance"
Folk Phenomena
"Kim Lowings has a great folk song voice. Somewhat Traditional yet quite invigorating"
Folking
"It’s a hard heart who wouldn’t be smitten with Lowings’ engaging and often breezy disposition"
The Woodman Folk Club
"A masterclass of stagecraft, songwriting, lead & harmony vocals, musicianship, arrangement and fun"
FATEA
“Folk songs can get a bit bogged down in wronged maidens and drowned sailors; these made you want to drum your heels and swirl through very English fields.”
Kim Lowings
Solo
Born and raised in the West Midlands, Kim Lowings has built up a national reputation with its roots at the heart of the country. She is perhaps best known for her work with The Greenwood and ‘folk supergroup’ The Company Of Players. Using the piano, guitar and trademark mountain dulcimer, she sings songs of love, loss and rebellion; tales old and new. Each with a modern twist and a purpose. Described as "beautiful and enchanting” by Living Tradition and "Absolutely captivating” R2 Magazine.
Kim Lowings & Andrew Lowings
Duo
Daughter and Father duo Kim and Andrew Lowings have been writing and collaborating together since 2011. The pair have become well established on the British folk circuit and together form half of the band Kim Lowings and The Greenwood. As a duo they are able to showcase their songwriting skills and the intricacies of their acoustic sound with a warm and captivating stage presence. The sound draws together mountain dulcimer, guitar, bouzouki and piano to resonate with Kim’s lyric writing and arrangements of traditional folk song. The breadth and quality of their material enables the duo to appeal to folk venues and festivals of all shapes and sizes.
Kim Lowings and The Greenwood
Band
With a fresh approach to traditional folksong, Kim Lowings and The Greenwood have firmly rooted themselves into the British folk scene. Their sound is “punchy and authentic” (Mike Harding) and cleverly combines original songs with familiar traditional tales highlighting the continued relevance of tradition today. Singer-songwriter Kim Lowings heads up the four piece with a grace and charisma that draws you in, reminiscent of troubadours of old. Greenwood musicians Andrew Lowings, Tim Rogers and Dave Sutherland bring together their creativity and experience earning the reputation of “Stourbridge’s finest music export since the Mitre-fuelled heady days of late 80s indie-rock.” (Three Chords and the Truth UK)
MEET THE ARTIST
I was always interested in music from an early age. I loved taking part in choirs, exploring harmony and joining bands of all kinds (orchestra, rock band, big band). I continued with this passion for musical education through sixth form and onto university. I studied at Dartington College of Art with a semester abroad at Lasalle in Singapore. I missed my graduation ceremony to spend some time with family in Seattle, USA. This was really the pivotal moment and when I realised I wanted to be a full time musician. I met some incredibly inspiring people while I was out there and discovered the beauty of the mountain dulcimer at an open mic night in Greenwood. The band name is in memory of that time.
But the band didn't happen right away. I came back to the UK and started venturing out to folk clubs around the Midlands in early 2011. It was a fascinating insight into how folk tradition is celebrated. For my early shows, I recruited my Dad and other friends and family members to collaborate with me. There was something unique about collaborating with my Dad on songs and he has played a huge role in my development as a writer and performer. We still work together now as a duo and as part of The Greenwood. The other longtime Greenwood members include Tim Rogers who has worked with many bands as a drummer and percussionist across genres and Dave Sutherland who is often drafted in to play double bass for many fantastic musicians. He is also a stellar songwriter.
I have been very lucky to work on some exciting collaborations in the past few years. The Company Of Players project was a particular career highlight. Jess Distill from folk trio Said The Maiden brought together a dynamic ten-piece folk ensemble to write and explore Shakespeare's contemporary relevance. The original line up comprised of Jess Distill, Minnie Birch, Chris Cleverley, Lukas Drinkwater, Hannah Elizabeth, Sam Kelly, Daria Kulesh, Kelly Oliver, Kathy Pilkinton and myself. The resulting album Shakespeare Songs features two songs that I brought to the project - Gather Round and Song Of The Philomel and also a collaborative song Jessica's Sonnet that I co-wrote with Sam Kelly (words by Kelly Francis). We played some incredible live shows across the country including The Other Place at The Royal Shakespeare Company. You can find the album HERE.
Fast forward to the present. I am now a Mum, a music tutor and excited to be continuing the journey of live music with fresh material being explored for potential touring and studio work. It is an interesting time for musicians, promoters and audiences as we re-emerge from this Covid-19 crisis. I am certain that music keeps us connected.
Stay safe and well,
Kim