Lorraine Bowen (born 31 October 1961, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England) is an English singer, songwriter and musician.[1] Born in Cheltenham, Bowen was brought up in Chelmsford, Essex.
She studied music at the University of Surrey,[1] 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.[1]
She performs solo shows under name of The Lorraine Bowen Experience and her songs are quirky, funny and often with a sense of kitsch.[2] 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.[2]
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.