Foy Vance

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Foy Vance

Foy Vance (2013)
Background information
Born Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland
Genres Alternative
Occupations Musician, songwriter
Instruments Vocals, guitar
Years active 2006–present
Labels Glassnote Records
Associated acts Ed Sheeran, Bonnie Raitt, David Holmes
Website http://www.foyvance.com

Foy Vance is a musician from Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland, recently signed to Glassnote Records. Vance has toured as a support act to fellow British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran [1] and his music has been featured on numerous TV shows. On August 26, 2013 he released his new full-length album, Joy of Nothing, which has been met with universal critical praise, being called "a gorgeous collection of open, uplifting songs, which showcase [Vance's] magnificent songwriting skills."[2][3]

Music career

2006-2011: Early Career and Hope

Vance's first single "Gabriel and the Vagabond" was released on 18 December 2006 on Wurdamouth Records. The single's B-side was "Indiscriminate Act of Kindness". The songs "Homebird" and "Gabriel and the Vagabond" were both featured in the second season of the US TV drama Grey's Anatomy.[4]

"Indiscriminate Act of Kindness" is featured in a TV commercial for Great Ormond Street Hospital, which was aired in the UK up until Christmas of 2006.[5] Foy often uses alternative tunings for his guitar. For example, on the song "Indiscriminate Act of Kindness" he uses the tuning CGDGCe.[citation needed] Foy has previously released two limited edition EPs on Wurdamouth Records, Live Sessions and the Birth of the Toilet Tour and Watermelon Oranges.[6]

On 21 July 2007 Foy's debut album Hope was self-released via Wurdamouth Records.[7] The album obtained some critical acclaim within the United Kingdom with the album track "Two Shades of Hope", which contains a hidden recording of Foy's daughter Ella singing "You are my sunshine" at the end.[8] His piano player is London based composer Jules Maxwell.[9]

In early 2008 Foy was invited to perform at a number of prisons in England; this included New Hall's women's prison and Full Sutton maximum security prison in York.[10]

In 2010 Foy, along with David Holmes, composed the music for a short film by director Terry George, and as a result was offered a part in the director's next feature film, Whole Lotta Sole, as a busker. The short film, entitled The Shore, won a 2012 Academy Award.

2011-2012: The Melrose EP

On 31 January 2011 Vance went to Los Angeles to finish the recording of The Melrose EP with David Holmes. During his trip to L.A., Vance put on a special show for fans.[11]

As part of Belfast Music Week 2011, Vance hosted a hoedown branded as "Foy Vance and Friends". It featured a spread of Foy's close friends from Belfast who joined him on the stage. The event sold out Ulster Hall in Belfast.

During 2012's South by South West Festival in Austin, Foy was programmed as part of Brooklyn Vegan's tribute event to Daniel Johnston.[12]

On 27 August 2012 Vance released his newest EP, entitled The Melrose EP on Communion Records. The EP featured four new tracks which were produced by David Holmes. The EP makes up the score of Terry George's Academy Award winning film The Shore and the lead track from the EP, "Be The Song" has featured on episodes of Private Practice, House, Vampire Diaries and Arrow in the US, as well as in the feature film Warm Bodies.[13][14]

Vance performed at BBC's Proms in the Park in Belfast on 8 September 2012.[15] Afterwards, in late 2012, Vance was selected as one of the support acts for British artist Ed Sheeran's UK tour. As well as his support slot on the tour, Vance came on stage during Sheeran's main set to duet on his song "Kiss Me" from the album +.[16] Vance then went on to support Sheeran on the US leg of his tour, where the pair again duetted on Sheeran's track "Kiss Me".[17] Sheeran has also been known to cover Vance's song "Guiding Light," which often closes Vance's headline sets.[18]

2013-Present: Joy of Nothing

In early 2013 Vance signed with Glassnote Records and finished work on his new album, Joy of Nothing, which was released 26 August 2013.[19] The album announcement was accompanied by a music video for the song "Joy of Nothing" which featured Vance and his daughter, Ella.[20] The album includes vocal features from Bonnie Raitt and Ed Sheeran,[2] the latter of whom has already expressed his excitement for the upcoming release.[21] On 10 June 2013 Vance released a 22-minute documentary titled Recording Nothing which shows the writing and recording process for the album.[22]

Foy performed at Tennents Vital on 15 August 2013 along with headliners Snow Patrol, and also toured with Bonnie Raitt throughout the United Kingdom.[23][24] He and Ed Sheeran recently traded cameos, with Sheeran joining Vance on stage at the Bowery Ballroom on November 4, 2013 and Vance joining Sheeran at Madison Square Garden on November 7, 2013.[25][26]

On November 12, 2013 Joy Of Nothing won the inaugural Northern Ireland Music Prize for best album. Other nominees included Tired Pony, Girls Names, and Two Door Cinema Club.[27]

Television

Foy was involved in the exclusive Other Voice in Dingle, Ireland in 2007.[28] Foy took part in a Channel 4 series called 4Thought.tv. Here Foy speaks about how profound the Hymn "Amazing Grace" is, and how it impacted him hearing a vagabond at Ground Zero, New York, playing this song.[29] Channel 4 created a documentary about Foy. This shows Foy talking about all aspects of his career from growing up, playing shows around toilets in Ireland, playing a show in New York with Pete Townshend, to organically recording his debut album Hope.[30] In September 2011, Foy joined Snow Patrol on the BBC's Later with Jools Holland, to perform their single "Fallen Empires".[31] On 4 June 1994 Foy appeared as Andrew Strong of The Commitments on the TV talent show Stars in Their Eyes.[32]

Discography

Album

  • Hope (2007), Wurdamouth Records
  • Joy of Nothing (2013), Glassnote Records

EPs

  • "Blueprints EP" (2000)
  • Live Sessions and the Birth of the Toilet Tour (2005)
  • Watermelon Oranges (2006)
  • Gabriel and the Vagabond (2006)
  • Be with me Remix by The Free Association (2008)
  • Portraits of the Artist (2009)
  • Time Lays Low (2009)
  • Live with the Ulster Orchestra at the Waterfront Hall Belfast (2009)
  • Melrose EP (2012)

References

  1. ↑ "Concert review: Foy Vance at Islington Assembly Hall | The Upcoming". Theupcoming.co.uk. 14 March 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Alex (10 June 2013). "Foy Vance new album: Joy of Nothing (+ documentary) | Folk Radio UK". Folkradio.co.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2013. 
  3. ↑ http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/article/5951/album-review-joy-of-nothing
  4. ↑ "Music Showcase - Just Added - Foy Vance - I Got Love". BBC. 4 September 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2013. 
  5. ↑ "Foy Vance: Irish soul music and Indiscriminate Acts Of Kindness". Cross Rhythms. 14 January 2008. Retrieved 17 June 2013. 
  6. ↑ "Foy Vance | Watermelon Oranges Ep EP Review". Contactmusic.com. Retrieved 17 June 2013. 
  7. ↑ British Broadcasting Corporation (7 February 2007). "Northern Ireland - Across The Line". BBC. Retrieved 17 June 2013. 
  8. ↑ foyvance.com
  9. ↑ Taylor Bruce (21 April 2008). "Foy Vance: The Homebird's Chorus :: Music :: Features :: Paste". Pastemagazine.com. Retrieved 25 June 2013. 
  10. ↑ Erwin James (4 July 2008). "Erwin James reports on the effect musicians visiting prisons may have on the inmates | Culture". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 June 2013. 
  11. ↑ "Introducing Mr. Foy Vance". Thepublicqueue.com. Retrieved 17 June 2013. 
  12. ↑ "BV Presents Daniel Johnston's 'Space Ducks' SXSW Launch Party w/ Daniel, Built to Spill & many more performing". Brooklynvegan.com. Retrieved 17 June 2013. 
  13. ↑ "Foy Vance – Melrose EP release – Communion". Communionmusic.co.uk. 19 July 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2013. 
  14. ↑ Warm Bodies Movie (2013) Soundtrack (1 February 2013). "Warm Bodies Soundtrack List | Warm Bodies Movie (2013)". Songonlyrics.com. Retrieved 22 June 2013. 
  15. ↑ ATL. "Across the Line: Foy Vance releases 'Melrose' EP". BBC. Retrieved 17 June 2013. 
  16. ↑ Callum Moorin (14 October 2012). "Ed Sheeran w/ Foy Vance and Passenger". cmoorin.co.uk. Retrieved 17 June 2013. 
  17. ↑ "Live Review: Ed Sheeran with Foy Vance and Rizzle Kicks at Rams Head Live, Baltimore, MD – 29th January 2013 | There Goes The Fear, a UK/US Music Web site". Theregoesthefear.com. 26 February 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013. 
  18. ↑ AdidasOriginals91 (16 September 2012). "Ed Sheeran - Guiding Light (LIVE beim SWR3 New Pop Festival 2012 in Baden- Baden)". YouTube. Retrieved 22 June 2013. 
  19. ↑ Glassnote Records. "Joy Of Nothing". Foy Vance. Retrieved 17 June 2013. 
  20. ↑ LeePL (25 February 2013). "Foy Vance - Joy Of Nothing". YouTube. Retrieved 17 June 2013. 
  21. ↑ "Twitter / edsheeran: very fortunate to have been given an early copy". Twitter.com. Retrieved 22 June 2013. 
  22. ↑ "Foy Vance". Recording Nothing. Retrieved 22 June 2013. 
  23. ↑ Across The Line. "Blogs - Across the line - Snow Patrol headline Vital with guests Foy Vance and Kodaline". BBC. Retrieved 22 June 2013. 
  24. ↑ Natalie Xenos (13 June 2013). "Joy Of Nothing - Foy Vance". Culturefly. Retrieved 22 June 2013. 
  25. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEaVD5aiKbE
  26. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyldF0155wY
  27. ↑ http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/foy-vance-wins-inaugural-northern-island-music-prize/056710
  28. ↑ "Other Voices | Foy Vance". Othervoices.ie. Retrieved 17 June 2013. 
  29. ↑ "Foy Vance - Why is Amazing Grace so amazing?". 4thought.tv. Retrieved 17 June 2013. 
  30. ↑ foyvancemusic (12 August 2009). "Foy Vance - 4Play". YouTube. Retrieved 17 June 2013. 
  31. ↑ "Twitter / foyvance: Singing with Snow Patrol on Later with Jools". Twitter.com. Retrieved 17 June 2013. 
  32. ↑ "BFI | Film & TV Database | STARS IN THEIR EYES[04/06/94] (1994)". Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk. 16 April 2009. Retrieved 17 June 2013. 

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