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Karen O'Shea
www.karenoshea.com
Photo's of Tamworth 2003 Gig Guide
Click here for Song Sample
Click here Karen O'Shea at The Festival of Whales

Karen is now part of the Trio Bella. Click here for Artist Report

http://www.shownet.com/achievers

Photos - 2003 Achiever Award from Bob Howe

Photos - Achievers Awards from Terry Phillpot

Video and Photos of Karen Oshea on GMA

Thank you for your support and kind words throughout 2003. The highlight for me was getting together with my friends Lyn Bowtell and Kate Ballantyne and launching BELLA.
We have had a very positive reaction to the group and are looking forward to 2004.
On behalf of Lyn and Kate I would like to wish you all a “Merry Christmas and Best Wishes” for the new year.

Anam Cara now changed to " Bella" (meaning beautiful)
These stunning singers with awesome voices have already proven themselves as individual performers. All three have recorded successful solo albums, won major awards and released chart topping singles.
Lyn, Karen and Kate blend their unique voices with powerful harmonies to create something spectacular indeed.

Karen has become a finalist in the
Telstra AUSTRALIAN INDEPENDENT COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS
to be held in Mildura Saturday 4th October 2003 in three categories...

APRA/AMCOS Independent Country Music Single of the Year for "Prayers For You"
Independent Album of the Year for her CD "WISH"
Independent Female Vocalist of the Year for "Prayers For You"

Karen O'Shea, Josh Canning and Lyn (Photo Courtesy of Dick Marriott)


(Photo by Kath Viney)

IKaren O’Shea has been mesmerising her audiences with her amazing vocal talents since an early age. She has been working professionally in her home town Darwin since leaving school.

The first group was a show band called ‘The Sublimes’. Their repetoire consisted mainly 50’s 60’s rock and roll (which at the time was having a huge resurgence) and included costume changes. From there she joined a trio called ‘Thin Arthur’ covering songs from Chakka Khan to Patti Labelle to Heart to Tina Turner and John Farnham and Roxette (to name a few).

Karen then went Sydney (for 3 years) and worked with an original band called ‘Sydney Sound Machine’ and then ‘The Temple Of Groove’. An 8 piece funk cover band doing James Brown, Earth Wind & Fire, The Brand New Heavies and Prince among others. Then came the touring with Richard Clapton as backing vocalist before returning back to Darwin.

On returning home Karen took to singing jazz as part of the ‘Phil Stacey Trio’ before meeting ‘Cat In The Hat’ duo partner Janet Hay. This duo covered almost all styles and genres from the old to the new. With Janet on piano Karen tried her hand at percussion (Tamborine, shakers etc.) The duo received an invitation from the Australian High Commissioner in Brunei to go over and perform. Whilst there, they were asked to play for the Sultan’s (second) wife’s birthday.

In the last couple of years Karen has also had some success on the country scene playing in Tamworth during the festival and few others (festivals).

In the 12 years (or so) she has been singing professionally Karen has supported numerous artists including Randy Crawford, Wilson Pickett, James Morrison, Christine Anu, Jimmy Barnes, CBD and some of Australia’s rising country stars.

Karen has appeared as a guest artist on both Bert Newton’s GMA show and the Denise Drysdale midday show, catching the attention of both audiences. Karen was also awarded the coveted Frank Ifield International Spur Award for Best New Female Performer 2001.

Having had so many opportunities to sing a diverse range of songs, there is no doubt that Karen could sing almost anything and she just loves to sing.

Karen O'Shea's awesome performance
at Canterbury Country
by Maureen Smith
When an audience sits in transfixed silence at the end of a song, seconds before they erupt into applause because no one wants the lingering resonance of the music to stop, you know that you are in the presence of an extraordinary performer. This is Karen O’Shea.

On Thursday night, Karen transformed the auditorium of Canterbury-Hurlstone RSL Club into a concert hall.

Resisting the urge to erupt on stage with the loud upbeat opening number usually favoured to grab the attention of a club audience, Karen chose to present a lilting ballad accompanying herself with a simple guitar arrangement. Such is the pure beauty of her voice and her quietly confident stage presence, that Karen had the audience’s undivided attention from the very first note.

From the beautifully controlled performance of “Prayers for You” and “She Broke Your Heart” to the upbeat energy of “Just a Little Bit more” and “My Love Goes that Far” Karen thrilled with her versatility and vocal skill.

The ultimate test of a performer’s uniqueness is when they can take a “classic” and make it their own. Karen’s interpretation of “Autumn Leaves” was spine-tingling. Every note was flawless, every nuance perfect. Emotionally and musically the song was hers and the audience was blown away!

"Independent Female Vocalist Of The Year 2002" for "She Broke Your Heart"
Tiara Award winner "Best Female Vocal" 2002" for "My Love Goes That Far"
both tracks included on Karen's latest CD "WISH"

New single "Prayers For You"
* No1 Track on NFS 76 *
released to radio stations December 2002.

NFS Comment
"Prayers For You", is an absolute standout. The song lyrics by Craig Bickhardt are powerful and riveting,
and Karen's vocal is flawless. It doesn’t get any better than this.

*** A Great Christmas Gift Idea ***

Karen's latest CD "WISH"

featuring the brilliant voice of Karen O'Shea with some of Australia's finest musicians.

12 tracks of superb "Award Winning" contemporary Country Music. Produced by Rod McCormack (legend)

Support Australian Artists and Talent

CD available online from HMV, Country Music Shack, Quinn's Country

in store from St Mary’s Sound Center (02) 9623 4262 and on order from most Record Shops

further purchases details - Links and more

http://www.karenoshea.com/html/order.html

For an autographed copy order direct http://www.karenoshea.com/html/form.html

http://www.karenoshea.com/html/cc1.html

Enquiries about Mildura appearances can be directed to David on 0409 55 99 17

Wish can be purchased online from www.QuinnsCountry.com (secure environment for Credit Card payments).

More info on Karen available at: www.KarenOshea.com

Kindest regards

David Quinn

A Star Rising - #7 in Europe

Karen O’Shea winner of the “Frank Ifield Award for Best New Female Performer 2001” has been mesmerising Australian audiences with her live performances this year. Karen is now proving herself a world class vocalist.
Karen’s single “My Love Goes That Far” (a 3 track EP from her forthcoming album) produced by the very talented Rod McCormack is number seven this week on the E.M.S charts. The recording reflects all the class, sophistication and elegance that is inherent in Karen both personally and musically.
Frank Ifield was delighted to receive the news from Europe of her performance in the charts on his birthday. “From the minute I first heard her I knew she was of international standard” said Frank “I received this news at the same time as I found out my good friend Allan Caswell was in the E.M.S charts with “On The Inside” at number seventeen. “What a wonderful birthday present” said Frank.
Karen O’Shea is an exceptional vocalist and performer with the ability to grab your attention and hold every note. Now European audiences can truly appreciate this wonderfully talented young Australian.