Artist description Solo act, since 1993. Have discovered this to be something of a rarity in Celtic music in the US; most groups are male-led and/or male-supported; seldom does a woman set out to perform on her own in this genre.

Music Style Celtic / Folk

Musical Influences Scottish groups (Old Blind Dogs, Dougie MacLean, Andy M. Stewart, Loreena McKennitt, Jean Redpath, etc.)

Similar Artists A mix of Cat Stevens and Joan Baez. Do a strong Native American influence in my music, being part Cherokee myself.

Artist History Had sung all my life, starting in choir as a child in parochial school. Took up guitar @ Age 43 because I thought it would be cool, taught myself how to play. Started writing music almost at once, and if it seems music comes naturally to me, it's in the blood -- I'm a great-grand-niece of Richard Wagner, with all the accompanying insanity that gene carries!) My idols are Robert Burns and Van Morrison, although recently I've been mad for Andy M. (stands for MacGregor) Stewart, and the Old Blind Dogs.

Group Members Zoe Alexander, Vinnie Ventura (my guitar and constant traveling companion). That said, there are also several "unoffical members of the 'Band'": I am fortunate to live in a little community called Pine Valley about 30 miles out of Austin, Texas, where lives Eldridge Goins, drummer for Carolyn Wonderland, and where have recently moved several popular Celtic musicians including James "Cedric" Hazlerig and Rick "Hawk" Morrow, two-thirds of the group known as the Bedlam Bards; and an up-and-coming new face on the scene, Scott Boswell, not forgetting my beloved partner, Mark Kobdish, drummer extraordinaire. We are all within walking distance of one another and enjoy helping one another out doing back-ups on our individual recordings. Great bunch of folks, lovely to know, a real pleasure to work with, I am honored to have their names added to the lists of credits on my newer songs!

Instruments Acoustic Guitar

Albums Bardsong. (WIP: Moonflower; preview CD: Quarter-Moon)

Press Reviews ". . . Zoé Alexander has a mellow, whisky-throated, folk-voice . . . that lies somewhere between Cat Stevens, Judy Collins, and Joan Baez" (says one of Zoé's friends). . . "One of the few (Scottish) performers that can effortlessly out-sing the bagpipes, then drop down to a whisper you can hear across a football field." (Another one of Zoé's friends) . . . "Zoé has a vocal range that can take her from The House of the Rising Sun to The Star Spangled Banner, and nail every note along the way dead into the wall . . . and yet real easy on the ears." (Doug Beaton, Clan MacLeod). . . "Zoé's music is entertaining and creative, her excitement adds fun to any event. With her voice and her guitar she can bring you from tears to joy in matter of a few words . . . especially in songs she writes herself -- full of humor, love, laughter, pathos . . ." (Joanna Campbell - close friend, dancer, wife of Tom Campbell, world-class piper). . . "We didn't know what was missing at the festival until we heard your voice coming across the morning air -- it was like the missing piece to the puzzle." (David Morehead, patron, Hawkwood Fantasy Faire) . . . "My people are thanking me for hiring you to perform." (Anonymous Ren-Faire Director, location just north of Houston, Texas) . . . Of recently released recording "Bardsong," Her ". . . natural talent and enthusiasm jumps off the oxide, like a tiger in pursuit of its dinner. Excellent, just plain excellent." Rock Domineck, WJPF-AM, WXLT-FM, (Southern Illinois Radio Stations).. . . Overheard in passing: "The guitar is merely incidental -- her voice is her instrument." (after St. Andrew's Festival/Celtic Faire, Houston, 1995). . . "She'd rather write and sing her own stuff than do somebody else's, but she'll go to the ends of the earth for an old song nobody else is doing anymore" . . . "She has a folk and traditional repertoire -- both Celtic and American -- that rivals many long-time veterans of the circuit, and she's written probably as many more that sound as old as those in the traditional genre." . . . "I'd drive all the way to Houston to hear Zoé Alexander sing" (at concert in MT. Vernon, TX, April 1996). . . "Zoé rocks!" (Patron @ Hawkwood Fantasy Faire, 1996) "Make her do her Native American stuff -- she's got a couple of original pieces that'll send the hair up on the back of your neck and your toes to tapping at the same time!" (... Patron @ Exaclibur Fantasy Faire, 2002.) "She sings real good -- and real loud -- hire her so she can pay back all the money she owes us." (Zoé's parents)

Additional Info Rhyme and Reason, the Poems, Songs and Stories of Zoe Alexander ($15+$1 P&H)

Location Smithville (Bastrop), TX - USA

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