Beccy Cole Presents ‘The Sheila Sessions’ Featuring Kate Ballantyne & Chris E. Thomas
A celebration of women in music
Singer Beccy Cole has earned 3 gold records and won countless awards including 7 Golden Guitars, all for singing Country Music. Beccy’s passion for the genre began as a youngster listening to Dolly Parton but when you peruse Beccy’s list of influences, the edge with which she has delivered her Country is better explained.
Artists like Pat Benetar, Chrissy Amphlett, Tina Turner, Patty Griffin, The Indigo Girls, Bonnie Raitt, Janis Ian, Carole King, Michelle Shocked, Melissa Etheridge, Shawn Colvin and many more have all played a part in shaping the style that Beccy has developed.
Apart from the appeal of the music, Beccy says the attraction is also to “Strong women with something to say.”
A close inspection of some of Beccy’s later recordings will reveal that she continues to hold these influences with versions of Carole King’s “Natural Woman,” 4 non Blonde’s “What’s Up,” Fleetwood Mac’s “Say You Love Me” and her haunting version of The Divinyls’ “Pleasure and Pain” which gained major radio airplay.
The success of these recordings have lead to The Sheila Sessions: A series of shows presenting Beccy with selected successful and talented women that feature new versions of some very memorable moments in female song history.
A very valuable addition to The Sheila Sessions is Beccy’s close friend and similarly influenced, Kate Ballantyne.
Kate’s accolades include Songwriters awards, two Golden Guitars, a MO award, an Independent Music Award, a major recording deal with Sony/BMG, numerous television performances, and collaboration with Jimmy Barnes and Troy Cassar-Daly. Alone and with beautiful vocal group, Bella, Kate deserves the amazing reputation that precedes her.
Also part of the Shelia Sessions is Chris E. Thomas. Although well known for her work as a session singer with a variety of artists including Wendy Matthews, Tina Arena, Brian Cadd and Adam Brand, it is Chris E’s trademark powerful voice and dynamic stage presence that sets her apart from her contemporaries. Chris E is also more than dab hand on guitar, mandolin and ukulele making her one of the most sought-after musicians for both live and studio gigs.
In short, 3 women on stools with guitars playing some very cool versions of some very cool songs, telling stories of early influences and adding originals that complete the stories.
Both Beccy, Kate and Chris E are known for their high energy and razor sharp wit; this is not excluded from The Sheila Sessions.
So ask Beccy if The Sheila Sessions is a Country show and she’ll say… “Not really, but you can’t take the Country out of the girl….”
The Songbirds DVD available now!
Over the past two years multi-award winning artists Beccy Cole, Sara Storer and Gina Jeffreys have toured together as the Songbirds. Hailed as the must see country concert to see, Australian audiences have enjoyed the hits from three of the most beautiful individual voices on stage and were treated to some very special “trio” performances of songs chosen by the girls from their own album collections.
After loads of fan requests from around the country the three long time mates have for the very first time recorded a special concert so that we can re live on DVD time and time again.
This DVD was recorded in Tamworth on January 22, 2009 at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre and also features performances from Troy Cassar-Daley, Kasey Chambers and John Williamson.
