The Gig Cartel - Artist profiles: Lauren Housley & The Northern Cowboys

Lauren Housley, is an award-winning singer and songwriter hailing from Yorkshire and a young female artist and recent mother of two who has already made her mark with three independent albums and two BBC Radio playlist hit singles. Housley’s innate talent of writing beautiful, engaging songs, was born from the intuitive craft of earthy storytelling and delivered with an emotive knock out vocal performance at their core.

Early 2022, she decided to focus on developing her live show and going full tilt with the addition of The Northern Cowboys to being a 6 piece with key members Thomas Dibb and Mark Lewis. The Live Band rapidly developed into a recording and performance led music outfit with a new sonic departure, garnering two nominations at the 2024 UK Americana Music Awards for her song “High Time” (WON) and Live Act Of The Year. On 23rd September 2023 The Band played the finale set for the Thirty Tigers Gospel Brunch as part of AmericanaFest in Nashville, drafting in local musicians Jeff Coffin on Sax (Dave Matthews Band), Andrew Golden on Trumpet (Lauren Daigle) and Drummer Chris Brice (Meg McRee, Fancy Hagood). Following this return to Nashville the band have also been invited to play the prestigious festival SXSW in March 2024, Austin, TX.

Housley will be leaving a trail of joy with her ‘Rousing’ new shows,  introducing songs from the next release as Lauren Housley and The Northern Cowboys and some classics.  Influential Blog, ‘Holler’ included the band in their TOP 10 artists seen at the Black Deer Festival 2023 whilst others witnessing the band referenced the performance as a UK female vocal fronted version of Nathaniel Rateliff & The Nightsweats  -  be prepared to be uplifted and moving those hips and leaving with some lyrics to think about.

Housley's first three albums, Sweet Surrender in 2015, The Beauty of This Life in 2017 and current album ‘Girl From the North 2021, which was produced a fresh and eclectic sound around the central theme of one rediscovering herself and her roots: "To move forward we sometimes have to go back. I wanted to prove to myself that it doesn't matter where you are in the world, you can make great music." Lauren confides, "Returning to my hometown of Rotherham a few years ago, after leaving at the age of 18, seemed like the most bizarre decision I'd ever made. It was never part of my 'plan' but it has in fact enabled me to reassess my life and career goals and move forward in a way that feels true to myself."

She has consistently  garnered acclaim from fans, critics and fellow musicians alike. Her single “Ghost Town Blues”’ was playlisted by BBC Radio 2, where fans include Bob Harris OBE, whilst “The Waiting Game”, became Robert Elms’ favourite track of the year on his BBC Radio London Show (“Absolutely monumental”). Rave press reviews included Q, Uncut “Her voice is potent and the emotional directness of her songs is estimable” and RNR Magazine “Lauren Housley’s blend of material is both thrilling and tender, propelled by a voice that stirs and soothes”. Music journalist and broadcaster Paul Sexton sums it up with: “What I love about Lauren’s voice, and the music she makes with her stellar band, is that she brings such pure, spontaneous soulfulness to everything she touches. Both on record and on stage, she’s the real deal. Live, Housley was invited to perform at the 02 Arena in London as part of Bluesfest, alongside some of the artists that have inspired her, including Van Morrison & Tedeschi Trucks Band. As well as opening for Vintage Trouble, Jack Savoretti and Van Morrison, Lauren has also performed with some of her favourite female contemporaries including Yola and Klara Soderberg (First Aid Kit).