“I need to find a way to bottle this day.”
Sometimes a moment washes over us, offering such contentment that we wish we could capture it… store it away to draw on in another time and place.
When Jenny Biddle sings this lyric in her song ‘Village By The Sea’, you realise that’s what she’s done – bottled that moment of reflection forever in music.
The ability to resonate with her audience is just one of the many skills this talented folk/blues songsmith lays claim to. Others include a true mastery of the piano and her jaw dropping skills on guitar.
Destined to walk a musical path from a young age, a brief encounter with the ukulele at just 4 years old lit the fire for Jenny’s obsession. Moving on quickly to a lifelong love of the piano at age 5, followed by a passionate and ongoing affair with the guitar from the age of 9, original compositions soon followed… accompanied by a steady stream of awards.
Already this year, Jenny came Runners Up in the Tamworth Country Music Festival Busking Championships (non-country category). Last year she took first place in the Melbourne’s Songwriter’s Competition 2010, and the Korumburra Buskers Championships, weeks after winning the prestigious title of Melbourne’s Best Busker 2010 a triumph made even more impressive by the fact that she’d only moved to the southern capital a few months before.
Having already won Just Guitars’ ‘Best Artist Award’ at 2009’s Port Fairy Folk Festival and with debut album Chest Of Drawers moving into the Top 50 on the Triple J Unearthed charts, recognition of Jenny’s talents by both public and industry alike is quickly growing.
Live, Jenny Biddle bewitches you. Having played over 200 gigs every year since 2006, and supporting music legends like Cotton, Keays and Morris, it’s clear that this is an artist who has developed the confidence and ability to deliver a show full of musical passion and flair.
When on stage with her full band, audiences are treated to a rich, vibrant, ‘fat’ sound, the group adding depth and power to Jenny’s already beautiful songs. As a solo performer… it’s another story altogether.
Removed from the confines of structure, Jenny finds the freedom to truly express herself, her songs given the space to travel in previously unexplored directions with listeners encouraged to share the ride.
It’s an engaging experience and one that draws in fans who bear witness to Jenny’s musical dexterity, soaking up a musician who is at one moment humble in her abilities, before suddenly letting rip with a blistering guitar attack that resembles Ian Moss in full flight.
The 2009 release of Chest of Drawers was met with high praise universally. Reviews described it as “… quite simply remarkable” (Trad & Now magazine) and “Beautiful, no-nonsense folk music, with one of those great emotive voices that echoes just a touch of world-worn huskiness.” (Dom Alessio – Triple J)
This positive response led to the selection of her song ‘Freezing Time’ for Trad and Now’s compilation ‘Pick Of the Crop CD 3 – 2010’, while the title track from the album was handpicked to feature on the ‘Homegrown Roots Vol 4’ compilation, alongside songs from legendary musicians Paul Kelly, Jeff Lang and Ross Wilson.
A Jenny Biddle performance is something special, full of energy, passion and humour. It’s one of those unique moments that you’ll want to find a way to bottle. A time when everything falls into place in the right order and life feels that little bit more magical.
Jenny’s a master of her craft – one whose talents and tenacity will surely elevate her to the next level in a hurry. Catch her now… before another moment passes by.