Phamie Gow is described by Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC The Planet) as a 'young prodigy' . Singer, pianist, harpist (acoustic and electronic), accordionist, whistle player, composer, producer. By the age of twenty eight, four C.D's under her belt, Winged Spirit, Lammermuir, Dancing Hands and Moments of Time, and is about to release her fifth solo album, La Vida Buena - The Good Life. She has performed with the likes of Philip Glass, Ashley MacIsaac, Band of Horses, Carlos Nùñez, Alasdair Fraser, Davy Spilane (Riverdance), Eric Rigler (uillean pipes - Titanic, Braveheart) and the list doesn't stop there! Karen Matheson (Capercaillie), Phil Cunningham, Pete Seeger, and many more. Phamie has also formed some beautiful collaborations with harpists around the world such as, Alan Stivell (France),(Italy), Bajaly Suso (Gambia, Africa), Ravi (England), William Jackson (Scotland).
Winner of the 'Danny award' in Celtic Connections (1999) the 'prix de composition de la ville de Dinan' - composition award 2002 - France, and the Tap Water Award - 'best music act in the Fringe 2002' August 2002. Winner of the 'Matt McGinn' award 2003, 'Best newcomer'. Phamie performed in Broadway, New York with many International artists including the living legend Pete Seeger. She was asked to play for his holiness the Dalai Lama, in a sell - out concert in Edinburgh`s Usher Hall to an audience of 2,500 people. ***** The Scotsman. Phamie`s most recent solo piano album, Moments of Time is featured on a regular basis on Classic FM (the UK`s national and most popular classical radio station) where they talked about her as being `a definate rising British star`.
Awesome, original, funky, rythmical and melodic, exciting are words used to describe her performances (on the harp). Forget about your preconceptions about the harp being for fairies! In her hands she is pushing forward the frontiers of this ancient instrument and is changing peoples perceptions about this instrument. Phamie is also performs on her Camac harp from France who made her unique multi - coloured electro harp, which is now called Madame Papillon (Mrs Butterfly). Gone is the ball gown for this hip new harpist. Enter this contemporary virtuoso who takes your breath away with her skill, who is so at one with her instrument that audiences are transfixed, visually as well audibly. She looks quite spectacular as she engages with the instrument controlling a 'harp with attitude', her heels stamping out the beat consumed by the breakneck speed of some reel. Sometimes she is actually playing two melody lines at the same and others she is using the harp as a percussive instrument. She is truly breaking new ground. Gow can write 'a killer tune' wrote Rob Adams, The Herald, 'worthy of a Phil Cunningham or William Jackson master melodicists both'.
Whether she is playing in a session with Phil Cunningham or opening for giants such as a Kepa Junkera, or Seamus Heaney and Liam O' Flynne, Main Auditorium, Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, Phamie Gow is at her happiest performing. Hailed as 'one of Scottish music's most exciting young talents' Sue Wilson, Sunday Herald, Phamie entertains with humour, interest and charm.
This disarmingly charming young musician/composer has been commissioned for film, dance and theatre companies, has given many workshops in festivals and conservatoires around Europe and Latin America. Her piano compositions have been used in university studies and concert halls, and Phamie is a part time tutor for piano at the Royal Academy of Music and Drama, Glasgow where she graduated in 2001. One of Phamie's song was sung by the Young Traditional Musician of the year 2004, James Graham, and was featured on his his debut album, Suibhal. Phamie also conducts masterclasses and workshops on how to compose.
And .... a final string to her bow is the new sound of her ensemble, an energetic, dynamic and exciting set up. Phamie works with different musicians all the time to help keep the music always fresh. Just now she has a line up with double bass, drums, perscussion, guitar, and always there are musical guests and new collaborators. Some collaborations she has created were with Carlos Nùñez (Galicia in Spain), Kepa Junkera (Bilbao in Spain), Karine Polwart who sang Phamie's song, Goodbye to the sea and sailors, as featured on Phamie's latest album, Dancing Hands.
She has appeared on 12 different albums, and her first C.D 'Winged Spirit' (Wildfire Records) is a solo album which shows Phamie playing harp, piano, accordion, whistles, as well as singing. 'She demonstrates admirable creativity and originality' wrote Aibhlin McCrann and continuing. 'Phamie Gow in this multi - faceted recording has shown that she is a creative force worthy of our attention'.
Critics have described her second album 'Lammermuir' (Greentrax Recordings) as 'a masterpiece of Scottish music' (Willi Rodrian - Radio Lora. Germany). Lammermuir is Catriona Black (Scotsman 'full of sparky originality and sends a tingle up your spine'Gaelic Music Column). This was given a 5 star review from The Scotsman.
Her third self produced album, Dancing Hands demonstrates a new sound, and is very up-lifting, fresh, and accessible. Phamie chose to work with 8 different fantastic musicians such as Ricky Steele (double bass), Tom Richardson (guitar), Fraser Fifiled (soprano sax, whistle), James Graham (Yound Tradtional Musician of the year 2004), Mattie Foulds (drums), Andy Webster (guitar), Karine Polwart (voice), and a Spanish percussionist, Javier Villar Morales. There is also a bonus track on the album which is a colloboration with DJ Daniel, and gives an example of another new project which is forming.
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