Lorraine Bowen
Encyclopedia
Lorraine Bowen is an English
singer, songwriter and musician. Born in Cheltenham, Bowen was brought up in Chelmsford
, Essex
.
She studied music at the University of Surrey
, and then busked around London. She was a member of two bands in the 1980s: See You in Vegas and The Dinner Ladies, as well as performing regularly with Billy Bragg
on stage and on record. She has also made many appearances on BBC Radio 4
including John Shuttleworth
's show Radio Shuttleworth and the 1999 all-female sketch show Heated Rollers, starring Lynda Bellingham
, Gwyneth Strong
and Joanna Monro
. She has also written for Loose Ends.
She performs solo shows under name of The Lorraine Bowen Experience and her songs are quirky, funny and often with a sense of kitsch
. Themes include: food, film stars (one of her most popular songs is about Julie Christie
), mobile phones and launderettes. They have catchy choruses and she encourages audience participation.
Bowen also worked as a part-time music teacher in schools across Hackney but since moving to Brighton, she currently runs singing workshops at the Pavilion Theatre.
Her song "Julie Christie" appeared on the Better Than Chocolate
soundtrack
.
She sang the vocals on the Fantastic Plastic Machine cover of "There Must Be an Angel", which featured in the British sitcom Spaced
.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
singer, songwriter and musician. Born in Cheltenham, Bowen was brought up in Chelmsford
Chelmsford
Chelmsford is the county town of Essex, England and the principal settlement of the borough of Chelmsford. It is located in the London commuter belt, approximately northeast of Charing Cross, London, and approximately the same distance from the once provincial Roman capital at Colchester...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
.
She studied music at the University of Surrey
University of Surrey
The University of Surrey is a university located within the county town of Guildford, Surrey in the South East of England. It received its charter on 9 September 1966, and was previously situated near Battersea Park in south-west London. The institution was known as Battersea College of Technology...
, and then busked around London. She was a member of two bands in the 1980s: See You in Vegas and The Dinner Ladies, as well as performing regularly with Billy Bragg
Billy Bragg
Stephen William Bragg , better known as Billy Bragg, is an English alternative rock musician and left-wing activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, and his lyrics mostly deal with political or romantic themes...
on stage and on record. She has also made many appearances on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
including John Shuttleworth
Graham Fellows
Graham David Fellows is an English comedy actor and musician, best known for creating the characters of John Shuttleworth and Jilted John.-Early life:...
's show Radio Shuttleworth and the 1999 all-female sketch show Heated Rollers, starring Lynda Bellingham
Lynda Bellingham
Lynda Bellingham is a Canadian-born English actress, broadcaster and author, who is known for her distinctive husky voice.-Early life:...
, Gwyneth Strong
Gwyneth Strong
Gwyneth Strong is an English actress. She is probably best known for her role in the popular BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses as Cassandra, who was married to Del Boy's brother Rodney.-Career:...
and Joanna Monro
Joanna Monro
Joanna Monro is a British actress and former TV presenter who, in the 1980s, appeared on the BBC show That's Life! with Esther Rantzen....
. She has also written for Loose Ends.
She performs solo shows under name of The Lorraine Bowen Experience and her songs are quirky, funny and often with a sense of kitsch
Kitsch
Kitsch is a form of art that is considered an inferior, tasteless copy of an extant style of art or a worthless imitation of art of recognized value. The concept is associated with the deliberate use of elements that may be thought of as cultural icons while making cheap mass-produced objects that...
. Themes include: food, film stars (one of her most popular songs is about Julie Christie
Julie Christie
Julie Frances Christie is a British actress. Born in British India to English parents, at the age of six Christie moved to England, where she attended boarding school....
), mobile phones and launderettes. They have catchy choruses and she encourages audience participation.
Bowen also worked as a part-time music teacher in schools across Hackney but since moving to Brighton, she currently runs singing workshops at the Pavilion Theatre.
Her song "Julie Christie" appeared on the Better Than Chocolate
Better Than Chocolate
Better Than Chocolate is a 1999 Canadian romantic comedy movie shot in Vancouver directed by Anne Wheeler.-Plot:Maggie has recently moved out on her own, and has started a relationship with another woman, Kim...
soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
.
She sang the vocals on the Fantastic Plastic Machine cover of "There Must Be an Angel", which featured in the British sitcom Spaced
Spaced
Spaced is a British television sitcom written by and starring Simon Pegg and Jessica Stevenson, and directed by Edgar Wright. It is noted for its rapid-fire editing, frequent pop culture references and jokes, eclectic music, and occasional displays of surrealism and non-sequitur humour...
.
Discography
- Greatest Hits Volume One (1995)
- Greatest Hits Volume Two (1998)
- Bossy Nova (2000)
- Vital Organs (2006)
- Suburban Exotica (2010)