This month – Bex Marshall returns home with more excitement about the ever-growing global respect for her considerable songwriting, playing and vocal talents
Bex Marshall came second Best British Blues Vocalist and her self produced album ‘The House Of Mercy’ came third in Best British Blues Album at the British Blues Awards 2013
She has also been asked to step in and sing Janis Joplin songs.. see below..
‘…..she has all those essential vocal frailties that make the difference between soul and soulful…‘ – Folk and Roots magazine UK
‘Bex deserves wider recognition for her spit and saw dust vocals and fluid resonator guitar licks…’ – Classic Rock Magazine UK
‘Janis Joplin, Joan Armatrading, Beth Hart, Bonnie Raitt….…..Bex Marshall’s voice draws up the ghosts of old blues women’s heartaches…’ – Outlaw Magazine US
‘ This is boogie-woogie roadhouse stomp at its best, elevated by precise musicianship, gutsy vocals and Marshall’s relentless unwillingness to do the same thing over and over.’ – David Maine, popmatters.com
‘ This is a very impressive album, which offers a miscellany of excellent, well-executed compositions and a fine showcase for the Bonnie Tyler-like vocals of Bex Marshall.’ – Lionel Ross, bluesinthenorthwest.com
After a stellar summer Tour in the States, followed by a Brazilian tour and a stunning presence in the 2013 British Blues Awards, Bex will be back in Europe in November for some shows! Dates are being booked to play in Holland and in the following months she will hit Cyprus,Germany Belgium and Holland again. Spring 2014 Bex will return to the U.S. and in July 2014 Bex has been asked to to join the Big Brother & The Holding Company and sing the songs of the legendary Janis Joplin.
U.S legends of the psychedelic 60’s
BIG BROTHER & THE HOLDING COMPANY
with special guest BEX MARSHALL
and
THE FORMER MEMBERS
featuring
DAVID BENNETT COHEN & BRUCE BARTHOL (Country Joe & The Fish)
GREG DOUGLASS (The Steve Miller Band & Hot Tuna)
ROY BLUMENFELD (The Blues Project)
The House Of Mercy…..the story
‘My husband and I live in a simple terraced house on a side street in North London, our house is called the House of Mercy……the story behind the name comes primarily from my husband’s re-search into the origins of The Borderline music club, where he worked as promoter/booker for many years and was outbid a number of times by large corporates when he tried to buy the venue.
St Barnabas Chapel was built in 1862 on Rose Street ( now Manette St.) in London’s Soho to compliment the women’s hostel Barnabas House on Greek Street. Two more houses were then built one opposite the chapel and were used as an orphanage and school the other built just behind the chapel to cater as a refuge for the expanding prostitute population. It was this house that was named as The House of Mercy and after a chequered history and being bombed during the Second World War, it was rebuilt as EMI’s publishing HQ and the restaurant and basement leased out and in 1986 became ‘ Break For The Border’ Tex/Mex eatery and the basement becoming The Borderline music venue.
Had the venue been sold to my husband the restaurant above the venue would have been named The House of Mercy and a dinner show music venue created.
When he finally was ousted from the club and his Borderline radio show came to a close, the new radio show and record label was named the House of Mercy and our house became a haven to the many musicians who used to play at the club.
Recording radio sessions became a regular occurrence, the touring musicians enjoying the vibe of the house, guitars, dobro’s and banjo’s hanging off the walls, I was playing with all comers and the jams around the kitchen table became legendary, one such memorable night had British blues hero Ian Siegal playing with Tennessee banjo picker Don Wayne Reno of Hayseed Dixie and his brother Dale on mandolin. B J Cole is a regular visitor bringing his vintage dobro with him jamming with all comers, the House of Mercy rings out with roots music on a regular basis, we are also blessed with music loving neighbours, so our sessions can roll on into the night, the stew pot on the stove and bottles of wine passing around the table.‘
Bex
Get ‘The House Of Mercy’ on iTunes
here
Get ‘The House Of Mercy’ on Amazon
here