Album Notes

New album \"How\'ve You Been (all this time)? released on October 6th

Guitarist Paul Tasker & singer Iona Macdonald became Doghouse Roses in late 2005 after one too many nights listening to old music whilst drinking red wine. They soon developed a sound that lies in the spaces between The Pentangle and Fairport Convention, with a nod to Gillian Welch on the way. Doghouse Roses have released two EPs to date and a single, “Greener the Grass / Years” preceding their full-length debut, “How’ve You Been (All This Time)?”

The first Doghouse Roses EP was recorded in their kitchen after gigging extensively around Scotland, England and The Netherlands. Released in September 2006, this EP featured five original songs, one instrumental and the traditional folk song “Nottamun Town”, previously recorded by such legends as Bert Jansch, Fairport Convention, Jackie Leven and Roger McGuinn. The quality of this eponymous debut was recognised when noted folk music site FATEA named it runner-up in the Best Single/EP of the Year category of its annual awards that year.

In September 2007, Doghouse Roses released a second EP, “Folk & Blues part 1” and embarked on a 25 date European tour with US “folk-noir” band, the Willard Grant Conspiracy. Tasker & Macdonald appeared as Doghouse Roses in the support slot and played as members of the headlining Willard Grant Conspiracy at sold out shows in England, The Netherlands, Belgium, Austria and Germany. These included London’s Luminaire, the End of the Road Festival in Dorset, Groningen’s Take Root Festival, The Chelsea (Vienna) and the Rotor Salon in Berlin.

Along the way, Paul & Iona have also shared stages with Seth Lakeman, Rodrigo Y Gabriella, Kris Drever, Kathryn Williams, Jackie Leven and Cara Dillon.

Both Tasker and Macdonald are accomplished performers in their own right - Paul Tasker began playing the guitar after hearing legendary guitarist Bert Jansch in a Glasgow working men’s club in the early 1990’s. In 2004, as songwriter and guitarist for Sal, Paul won a coveted Danny Kyle Award at the Celtic Connections festival, and has recently played on albums by Davie Lawson (Smoked recordings, NL), and Neil Sturgeon (the Goldenhour)

Iona Macdonald has gained acclaim as a distinctive and accomplished singer with “vocals reminiscent of such folk luminaries as Sandy Denny and Linda Thompson” (Americana UK, Feb 2007). Her growing reputation has led to Macdonald being much in demand as a session singer, and recently performed with Howe Gelb and featured on the Willard Grant Conspiracy Pilgrim Road tour She and Tasker recently spent time in the studio with 60s icon Nick Garrie, working on his first album in 40 years since the release of the “lost classic”, ‘The Nightmare of J B Stanislas’, and are members of Glasgow songwriter Ally Kerr’s band, as well as the Willard Grant Conspiracy.

The duo completed their first full length album of 10 original songs, “How’ve You Been (All This Time)?” with producer/composer Malcolm Lindsay, who has previously written and arranged for The Delgados and The Willard Grant Conspiracy., Among numerous credits for TV and film music, Lindsay scored the Ewan Macregor film, “Young Adam”, with David Byrne.

“Greener the Grass”, a single from the album was released in May, and gained widespread radio play and reviews:


“…a country ballad with guile and grace….Greener the Grass is unashamedly Sandy Denny tastic, which is a fantastic thing (4/5)” – The List (Scotland)

“an inspired performance….exquisite (4/5)” – Scottish Sunday Mail

“ …it’s called alt-folk…this Scots duo are going places” – The Daily Record

“…bohemian folk– pop flavours….stark acoustic splendour” – www.folking.com

“…a formidable debut record….a folk-filled dream” - Is This Music magazine

“..This is folk blues as it should be…..I could listen for hours” - FATEA