Alys
"Alys displays familiarity and confidence on the guitar, which comes from having developed her own style of playing. Her strong voice, which almost seems to contradict her small frame, is distinctive, refreshing and truly captivating."
The Northern Irish 27 year old first picked up her fathers 12-string acoustic guitar at 13 and made it her mission to learn to play. Looking back, that chunky guitar was almost as big as her, but it served its purpose well!
Alys started song writing almost as soon as she started playing, and currently has an extensive and varied catalogue of songs.
Alys found a connection in acoustic music that would truly grab her, and although she has successfully spent time in various other acts (her rock band ‘tribryd’ performed at Guilfest festival the same weekend as Blondie!), she has always continued to perform acoustically.
Alys completed her first solo acoustic recording in May 2004. The self-financed CD titled ‘Et Al’ was integral in helping her gets more gigs and a fan-base.
2 tracks from this recording were included on the ‘breaking artists’ section of free compilation CD’s released in 3 UK national newspapers. This introduced Alys to a new audience. She was subsequently contacted from new fans all over the country, which were seeking more information or to buy a CD.
Alys also gained a place in the first round of the Emergenza Acoustic Festival.
She won this round (picking up a nice new Takemine guitar along the way!) and went on to win the UK final!
In Dec 2004, Alys flew to Barcelona to take part in the European Final.
The little singer-songwriter also had two tracks from her ‘Et Al’ CD included on Folk You Music’s compilation CD. She recently played at their benefit event in Leicester Sq, London.
More recently Alys has finished a 5-track recording ‘Lordle’. This is a rawer, rockier sound, and very much a solo effort, more representative of her live performances and new material, which has developed into a more contemporary and alterno-folk sound.
Alys is always playing in and around London and Ireland….showcasing her latest recording and the new songs she almost continuously seems to be writing.
