Lyn Bowtell

Early life

Lyn Bowtell grew up a farmer's daughter on a small farm on the Darling Downs.

Both of Bowtell's parents were musical; her father Noel sang and played accordion, piano, organ and drums with his father and brother for the ‘old time dances’ and her mother Glenys sings and plays piano accordion, auto-harp and bag-pipes.

"I have some lovely memories of CWA perfectly cut sandwiches, staying up til 2am while the people danced continuously to the music… Pride of Erin’s, Waltz’s… and old halls with hard wooden seats I would eventually fall asleep on – after a dance on my father’s feet."

Bowtell grew up in a musical household, listening to her parents playing music all over the house. "After dinner was over with Mum & Dad would often get out the accordions and I loved to listen, or play along on a pot or pan."

Bowtell’s professional musical journey had its beginnings in the country music clubs of the Darling Downs; at age 13 she competed in her first country music festival talent quest, 'The Big Doo at Brymaroo'.

She went on to join both Dalby and Toowoomba Country Music Clubs where she was an active member for most of her teenage years, her supportive parents driving her all over the East Coast of Australia to meet up with friends they had made and to compete in talent quests at festivals such as Charters Towers CMF and the Gympie Muster.

Career

Bowtell won the coveted Qld Champion of Champions in 1995 and then went on to win the prestigious Toyota Star Maker competition in 1997 at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

After winning Star Maker Lyn toured up and down the East Coast for 3 years with her band Southern Steel (Duncan Toombs - Guitar, Andrew Toombs/Joel Oakhill - Bass, Mik McCartin - Drums) before deciding to make the move to the Central Coast of NSW where the music scene was more vibrant. Southern Steel eventually disbanded in 2001.

Lyn went on to pursue a solo career but instead ended up coming together with close friends, Karen O'Shea & Kate Ballantyne to form multi award winning Country/Pop trio Bella.

Bella recorded an Ep 'Tumbling Down' in 2003 and an Album 'Gravity' for Sony/BMG winning two CMAA Golden Guitars in 2004 & 2005 for Best Group.

After the death of her father Noel in May 2005 and a long struggle with Bella's Record Label over the follow up release to 'Gravity', Lyn took a break from her music career and pursued a Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Education degree at Newcastle University.

In 2011, with her marriage ending in divorce and her studies abandoned Lyn returned to her musical life, joining long time friend Beccy Cole on the road for her 'Pre-Loved', 'Songs and Pictures' and 'Beccys Big Hits' Tours as Rhythm Guitarist, Backing Singer and opening act.

Since then Lyn has released two solo albums and an EP, Secret Songs (WJO) in 2012, Heart of Sorrow (Maven/Sony) in 2014 and EP 'Calling You' (Checked Label Services) in 2017.

Bowtell has written with Janis Ian, Kim Richey, Gina Jeffreys, Beccy Cole, Rod McCormack, Phil Buckle (Southern Sons), Jerry Salley, Felicity Urquhart, Kevin Bennett, and Jasmine Rae.

Lyn was a senior tutor at the CMAA Academy of Country Music for a number of years, having been a graduate of the inaugural Country Music College (as it was then called) in 1997.

In 2015 Bowtell was appointed Artistic Director of the CMAA Academy of Country Music.

Lyns latest musical project is an Australian Country Music 'Supergroup' with fellow artists Kevin Bennett and Felicity Urquhart, 'Bennett,Bowtell & Urquhart' released their Debut self-titled Album at Tamworth Country Music Festival 2016.

Lyn Bowtell and Southern Steel : Album

Singles

Star Maker : Single

Bella : Albums

Singles

Lyn Bowtell : Albums

Singles

Lyn Bowtell : EPs

Singles

Bennett, Bowtell & Urquhart : Album

Singles

Awards

Bowtell is a Toyota Star Maker winner Mo Award winner a 2013 APRA Song of The Year finalist ('Beautiful Liar') and was nominated for three Golden Guitars in the 2015 Country Music Awards of Australia in the Best Female Artist, Vocal Collaboration of the Year, and Best Alternative Album of the Year categories for her latest release ‘Heart of Sorrow’ winning the Golden Guitar for Best Alternative Country Album 2015.

Lyn also won two previous Golden Guitars in 2004 ('Tumblin' Down' - J.Salley) and 2005 ('About a Girl' - L.Bowtell ) with her former band Bella.

Lyn won the 2016 ICMA Video Award for her video clip for 'Heart of Sorrow' at Tamworth Country Music Festival 2016

Lyn was nominated for 7 Golden Guitars in the 2017 CMAA Golden Guitar Awards, 5 with her Roots/Country group Bennett, Bowtell & Urquhart and 2 for collaborations with Adam Harvey , and with Catherine Britt and Beccy Cole,winning Best Group or Duo and Best Alternative Album with Bennett,Bowtell & Urquhart and Vocal Collaboration with Catherine Britt and Beccy Cole.

This brings Lyns Golden Guitar Award tally to six.