Kate Jackson (singer)
Encyclopedia
Kate Jackson, is a British
singer who was formerly the lead-singer with The Long Blondes
. She now performs under the name Kate Jackson Group with David Venn, Steven Marsden, Richard Phillips and Duncan Morrison.
in Bury St. Edmunds
, Suffolk
and took leading parts in the school's performing arts shows. In the late 1990s, she moved to Sheffield
to study English
and History
. Soon after graduating, Jackson began writing and performing with fellow graduates of the city's universities forming The Long Blondes
. Whilst the band were unsigned, she studied fine art
and also worked at Freshman's Boutique, a vintage clothing
shop in Sheffield
. This interest in vintage clothing became a distinctive feature of the image of The Long Blondes. Jackson herself describes her style as "Bonnie Parker meets a Carry On
girl".
In 2006, Jackson was ranked number seven in the NME
'Cool List'. Jackson responded to this accolade with: "They probably thought they didn't have enough girls. It was so overrun with boring boys, they needed someone to bring a touch of glamour." The NME described her as having the "arrogant strut of Chrissie Hynde
and the acidic tongue of a Dickens
hero
ine."
Jackson is a passionate spokeswoman for Sheffield. In an article in The Observer
, she spoke about a project initiated by the magazine Go called Cooling the Towers which proposed lighting up the former cooling towers to symbolise what Sheffield stands for, rather than demolishing them. "One suggestion was that the towers would light up as cars passed on the M1
, one a tower of red lights and one a tower of white. Go Sheffo petitioned the city council with these suggested uses but met with mute response. So the secret potential of the towers may tragically never be realised."
split in October 2008, Jackson began working a solo record with former Suede
guitarist Bernard Butler
. Songs included are "Velvet Sofa From No.26", "16 Years" and "Dancing In My Bedroom". In March 2010, she published the track "Homeward Bound" on her Myspace
page.
Jackson was a guest singer on the Scottish band 1990s
' Kickstrasse, on their Kicks
album of March 2009.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
singer who was formerly the lead-singer with The Long Blondes
The Long Blondes
The Long Blondes were a five-piece English indie rock band formed in Sheffield, United Kingdom in 2003 by Dorian Cox , Reenie Hollis , Emma Chaplin , Kate Jackson and Screech Louder .After several critically...
. She now performs under the name Kate Jackson Group with David Venn, Steven Marsden, Richard Phillips and Duncan Morrison.
Biography
Jackson attended Culford SchoolCulford School
Culford School is a coeducational HMC and IAPS public school for pupils age 3–18. Founded in 1881, it is situated in Culford, four miles north of Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, England.-History:...
in Bury St. Edmunds
Bury St. Edmunds
Bury St Edmunds is a market town in the county of Suffolk, England, and formerly the county town of West Suffolk. It is the main town in the borough of St Edmundsbury and known for the ruined abbey near the town centre...
, Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
and took leading parts in the school's performing arts shows. In the late 1990s, she moved to Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
to study English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and History
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
. Soon after graduating, Jackson began writing and performing with fellow graduates of the city's universities forming The Long Blondes
The Long Blondes
The Long Blondes were a five-piece English indie rock band formed in Sheffield, United Kingdom in 2003 by Dorian Cox , Reenie Hollis , Emma Chaplin , Kate Jackson and Screech Louder .After several critically...
. Whilst the band were unsigned, she studied fine art
Fine art
Fine art or the fine arts encompass art forms developed primarily for aesthetics and/or concept rather than practical application. Art is often a synonym for fine art, as employed in the term "art gallery"....
and also worked at Freshman's Boutique, a vintage clothing
Vintage clothing
Vintage clothing is a generic term for new or second hand garments originating from a previous era. The phrase is also used in connection with a retail outlet, e.g...
shop in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
. This interest in vintage clothing became a distinctive feature of the image of The Long Blondes. Jackson herself describes her style as "Bonnie Parker meets a Carry On
Carry On films
The Carry On films are a series of low-budget British comedy films, directed by Gerald Thomas and produced by Peter Rogers. They are an energetic mix of parody, farce, slapstick and double entendres....
girl".
In 2006, Jackson was ranked number seven in the NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
'Cool List'. Jackson responded to this accolade with: "They probably thought they didn't have enough girls. It was so overrun with boring boys, they needed someone to bring a touch of glamour." The NME described her as having the "arrogant strut of Chrissie Hynde
Chrissie Hynde
Christine Ellen "Chrissie" Hynde is an US musician best known as the leader of the rock/new wave band the Pretenders. She is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and has been the only constant member of the band throughout its history.-Early life and career:Hynde is the daughter of a part-time...
and the acidic tongue of a Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
hero
Hero
A hero , in Greek mythology and folklore, was originally a demigod, their cult being one of the most distinctive features of ancient Greek religion...
ine."
Jackson is a passionate spokeswoman for Sheffield. In an article in The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
, she spoke about a project initiated by the magazine Go called Cooling the Towers which proposed lighting up the former cooling towers to symbolise what Sheffield stands for, rather than demolishing them. "One suggestion was that the towers would light up as cars passed on the M1
M1 motorway
The M1 is a north–south motorway in England primarily connecting London to Leeds, where it joins the A1 near Aberford. While the M1 is considered to be the first inter-urban motorway to be completed in the United Kingdom, the first road to be built to motorway standard in the country was the...
, one a tower of red lights and one a tower of white. Go Sheffo petitioned the city council with these suggested uses but met with mute response. So the secret potential of the towers may tragically never be realised."
Solo career
After The Long BlondesThe Long Blondes
The Long Blondes were a five-piece English indie rock band formed in Sheffield, United Kingdom in 2003 by Dorian Cox , Reenie Hollis , Emma Chaplin , Kate Jackson and Screech Louder .After several critically...
split in October 2008, Jackson began working a solo record with former Suede
Suede (band)
Suede are an English alternative rock band from London, formed in 1989. The group's most prominent early line-up featured singer Brett Anderson, guitarist Bernard Butler, bass player Mat Osman and drummer Simon Gilbert. By 1992, Suede were hailed as "The Best New Band in Britain", and attracted...
guitarist Bernard Butler
Bernard Butler
Bernard Joseph Butler is an English musician and record producer. He first emerged in the early Britpop era with Suede. He has been hailed by some critics as the greatest guitarist of his generation, as well as one of Britain's most original and influential guitarists...
. Songs included are "Velvet Sofa From No.26", "16 Years" and "Dancing In My Bedroom". In March 2010, she published the track "Homeward Bound" on her Myspace
Myspace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page.
Jackson was a guest singer on the Scottish band 1990s
1990s (band)
-History:They were signed to Rough Trade Record Company when they were spotted at only their sixth gig, and have released two albums so far, Cookies and Kicks....
' Kickstrasse, on their Kicks
Kicks (album)
Kicks is the second album from the Scottish indie rock band 1990s.-Track listing:#"Vondel Park" - 3:48#"Tell Me When You're Ready" - 2:42#"I Don't Even Know What That Is" - 2:53#"59" - 3:51#"Kickstrasse" - 2:55#"Everybody Please Relax" - 3:24...
album of March 2009.