Dawn Kelly and Neil Bailey's MAGPIE22
Our music is a blend of acoustic melodies, thought-provoking lyrics and foot-stomping, feel-good songs which create our unique sound. Our recent trip to Nashville has given us lots of ideas, but our influences range from far and wide - West Coast grooves, African beats, Country licks, all find a home in the original songs of Magpie22.
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
Dawn Kelly and Neil Bailey make beautiful music together - music! Dawn Kelly began singing as a child at her Irish family's drinks parties - her mother prised any coins from her grubby little hands before chasing her back to bed... During the early 1980s, in new-wave/rock bands Newspeak and The Wait, she performed at venues all over London including The Rock Garden, Gossips and the Batcave in Soho. Her hair has never fully recovered from the rapid-changing colours and styles that matched her colourful musical interests... In the 1990s, together with fellow members of world music band, Rainbow Nation, she played live at Kingston Green Fair, Strawberry Fair in Cambridge and Deepdale Jazz festival in Norfolk, and recorded 'Shadow & Soul', an original album co-written with Simon Ferrigno. Now residing in Bristol, she has been working with a talented collection of musicians to explore her songwriting ideas and enjoy performing live.
Neil started playing guitar in his mother's womb. Before he could walk, he mastered acoustic, electric and 12 string.At the tender age of 13 he entered the studios to lay down some lead guitar for the folk band 'Charlie Crow' and since then he's never looked back. Over the following years Neil formed and played with a many bands, appearing on TV ,Radio (The John Peel Show), touring in Europe and playing many festivals along the way. Neil has also supported such bands as:- Sam Brown (Pink Floyd, Jools Holland), Sonja Kristina (Curved Air), Willy Porter, Ezio ,King Kurt ,......the list goes on...
In the early 1990's Neil toured his sublime guitar and bad taste in hair and hats across Germany.
After taking several years 'out', to 'share growing up',with his son, he put together his own project, Quietman Presents, releasing the album 'Power Of The Moon'.
While honing his own songwriting skills he tripped over Dawn and discovered that they were literally 'singing from the same page'. Instead of fighting over it, they have now put together a collection of their songs for live performances and a new set of recordings. Watch this space!
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
Over the years, between us, we've played almost any kind of venue/gig you can imagine. From Festivals and concerts to pubs and clubs, Radio, T.V., tours etc. But the memory that will always stay with me is the dream that was Dawn's, and that was the two nights that we played at the iconic 'Bluebird Cafe' in Nashville, Tennessee.https://youtu.be/K1jq22VmIEE
Your musical influences
Heroes...........'We can be heroes just for one day'. You know what? I believe that everyone has the right to twinkle x
What equipment do you use?
Dawn :- Her Beautiful Unique Voice, 'Lindo Dove' Acoustic Guitar, Percussion.
Neil. :- 'Ovation' Acoustic & Twin Neck Acoustic Guitars, 'Lindo Neptune' Acoustic Guitar, Resonator Guitar, Harp Guitar, Lap Steel, Peavey EVH 'Wolfgang' Electric Guitar, Custom 'Fender Jazz' Psychedelic Electric Guitar & occasional Vocals.
Anything else?
Magpie22 is the musical love-child of Dawn Kelly & Neil Bailey, two UK singer-songwriters.Their love of indie-folk, blues, Americana and country has inspired them to write songs that audiences can relate to, enjoy, and celebrate.Dawn is also a published writer and she brings her love of words to her songwriting - every song tells a story. Neil lives and breathes his guitars, and it shows in the level of his playing and song-writing.
