One of the most inventive and distinctive artists to emerge from Scotland, jazz-folk singer-songwriter Sophie Bancroft has drawn comparison to artists as classily diverse as Peggy Lee, Joan Armatrading, and Norah Jones. With her music used on hit TV drama 'Six Feet Under' , Sophie's songs about life can be fun, flirty, heart-wrenching, shocking and beautiful.
“Refreshing and utterly magical” The Herald

Currently

Mixing my new CD to be released in spring 2008,
details to follow.

SPRING WORKSHOPS 2008
To book a place contact info@sophiebancroft.co.uk
Workshops held in Pathhead, Midlothian - 30 mins from Edinburgh city centre.

VOCAL WORKSHOP WEEKEND: Sat 26th + Sun 27th Apr 2008, 10.30am- 4.30pm, £190, lunch provided - with top vocalists and tutors Sophie Bancroft and Niki King - www.nikiking.com, pianist Paul Harrison and double bassist Tom Lyne. Working with a range of modern singing styles - jazz, soul, pop, folk, rock - this workshop aims to bring out the individual quality in each students voice. B+B accomodation available nearby if required - please ask for details.
This workshop will include
· Vocal technique
· Connecting with the soul
· An understanding of vocal delivery and phrasing
· Essential basic music theory for singers
· How to work with musicians
· Mic technique
· Performance skills

VOCAL IMPROVISATION WORKSHOP: Sun 11th May 2008, 10.30am - 4.30pm, £95, lunch provided - with tutors and jazz educationalists Sophie Bancroft, Tom Lyne and Phil Bancroft. This workshop aims to explore and develop improvisation and phrasing skills.
This workshop will include
· Harmony and theory
· Ear training
· Phrasing
· Free and structured improvisations
· Finding your creativity
· Vocal technique

RHYTHM FOR SINGERS WORKSHOP: Sun 8th June 2008, 10.30am - 4.30pm, £95, lunch provided - with tutors and jazz educationalists Sophie Bancroft, Tom Lyne and Tom Bancroft. This workshop will enable an understanding and connection with rhythm essential for every vocalist.
This workshop will include
· Analysing rhythm
· Understanding different grooves
· Percussive work
· Learning songs in various grooves
· Time signatures
· Vocal rhythmic work

THE PATHHEAD CHOIR directed by Sophie Bancroft & Gina Rae
The second season of the choir will commence on Wednesday 9th April - NEW MEMBERS WELCOME
WEDNESDAY NIGHTS @ ST MARY'S CHURCH, 48a Main Street, PATHHEAD, EH37 5QB
Youth Choir - 6.15 - 7.15pm, £1 / Senior Choir - 7.30 - 9.30pm, £4 or £35 for 10 weeks
Youth Choir - 10 - 17 year olds / Senior Choir - 18 and over
Gospel, Jazz, Folk, Soul and RnB / Develop vocal technique / Sing great songs / Have fun!
info@sophiebancroft.co.uk

Please vist my page at Myspace.com

 For bookings please contact info@sophiebancroft.co.uk

DOWNLOAD MUSIC HERE


Online shop now open for CDs and fabulous T-shirts .

For all enquiries email here

Gigs

Last Updated: 27th March 2008
Performance + Workshop Dates 2008

Apr 12/13th: Vocal Jazz Workshop with Fionna Duncan, Aberdeen

Apr 25th: Cloudhouse Cafe, Stow, 7.30pm £20 incl. supper, www.cloudhousecafe.co.uk

Apr 26/27th: Vocal Weekend Workshop with Niki King, Pathhead, 10.30 - 4.30 each day, £190, www.nikiking.co.uk,
bookings: info@sophiebancroft.co.uk

May 11th: Vocal Improvisation Workshop, Pathhead, 10.30 - 4.30pm, £95,
bookings: info@sophiebancroft.co.uk

May 30th: Three Harbour Arts Festival tbc

Jun 8th: Rhythm For Singers Workshop, Pathhead, 10.30 - 4.30pm, £95,
bookings: info@sophiebancroft.co.uk

Jun 21st : CD Launch Party venue tbc

Jun 24th: Tron Theatre, Glasgow International Jazz Festival with Liane Caroll and Fionna Duncan

Jun 24 - 28th: Tutor on Fionna Duncan Vocal Jazz Workshop during Glasgow International Jazz Festival with Fionna Duncan and Liane Carrol
http://www.fionnaduncan-workshops.co.uk/

Jul 28 - Aug 1st: Tutor on Fionna Duncan Vocal Jazz Workshop during Edinburgh International Jazz Festival with Fionna Duncan and Liane Carrol
http://www.fionnaduncan-workshops.co.uk/

Aug 8th: Pittenweim Festival - tbc

Aug 9th: TWO TALL GIRLS @ Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Acoustic Music Centre, 6.30 - 7.30pm
Aug 10, 11, 12th: TWO TALL GIRLS @ Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Acoustic Music Centre, 8 - 9pm

Aug 23 - 30th: Teaching on the Jazz Summer School in France with Liane Carrol

Oct 3rd : The Old Brewery, Cromarty

Oct 4/5th: Music Workshop, Cromarty with Amy Geddes + Tom Lyne.  Further info to follow.
bookings: info@sophiebancroft.co.uk

More dates to be confirmed, keep checking this space!

 

Reviews of CD 'Hot and Cold'

  • "Play it on your way out and let it rescue you from the ceiling when you get home. This album is hip, cool and simply beautiful." BIG ISSUE

  • "This elegant and meticulously produced CD inhabits the border territory between jazz and folk-country-pop, which suits Sophie Bancroft's cool, rather ethereal voice to perfection." THE OBSERVER

  • “Bancroft's tunes are very good indeed and, to these ears, becoming more irresistible as she goes on writing them. Her songs are being picked up by astute TV producers, so my opinion is shared.” THE HERALD

  • "the maturity, complete authority and confidence she brings to this her third outing as a solo artist." JAZZVIEWS.CO.UK For full review click here
    To see interview featured on Jazzviews.co.uk click here
  • Sophie Bancroft writes, performs and sings like someone that has been immersed in music all of their lives. Someone that is able to pluck themes and ideas from a number of acoustic genres, folk, blues and even classical and use them to inform a jazz style that is proper listening music, music that you can either allow to wash over you to take away the stress of the day, or music you can really pay attention to. FATEA.CO.UK

Photo by Louis De CarloPhoto by Louis De Carlo

Reviews for CD Modern Love:

"Sophie Bancroft has an impressive CV that covers jazz, pop and folk. She draws on all these diverse skills, weaving them through a captivatingly moody set of songs. There's an openness and transparency in her songs that communicate, and that's what it is all about."
(Jazzwise)

"In the best possible way, her diverse taste shows, sewn together by the wayward, arresting trajectories of her elastic, creamy voice. Echoes along the way range from Peggy Lee to Joan Armatrading, Alison Krauss to Bjork, in a boldly achieved balance of the classic and the contemporary."
(Sunday Herald)

"In an area somewhere between Rickie Lee Jones and the ambient sounds of Zero 7, the nicely varied electro-acoustic settings capture the mood of hazy langour."
(The Herald)

"Sophie Bancroft's voice will send shivers of sensuality up your spine" (Massive Magazine)


    News Briefs

  • Jazz singer-songwriter whose music has been used on major TV series ‘Six Feet Under’ .
  • Music has been extensively broadcast on BBC Radio 1, Radio 2, Radio 3, Radio Scotland and numerous American and European radio stations.
  • Performance career spanning major jazz, folk and contemporary music festivals around Britain, Europe and the USA including the legendary South By Southwest Festival in Texas.
  • CD tracks have reached top 10 positions in the Alternative Pop, Folk + Alternative Folk, Male Fan Picks and Contemporary Jazz charts respectively on music industry website broadjam.com.

    ww.verticalrecords.co.uk have released 'The Acoustic Affair: Twelve of the Best - Volume One' album featuring 12 of Scotlands finest acoustic performers: James Grant, Karine Polwart, The River Detectives, Clive Gregson, Carol Laula, Unkle Bob, Sophie Bancroft, Benny Gallacher, Karen Casey, Kieran Docherty, No.1 son and Sporting Hero.

    Hot And Cold tracks 'Hot And Cold' and 'Cruel Or Just Kind' have reached the Folk top 10, Jazz top 10, Europe top 10 and UK top 10 on www.broadjam.com

Previous Performances

2008
Jan 20th: CELTIC CONNECTIONS, City Halls,
Jan 27th: Vocal Harmony Workshop, Pathhead,
Feb 15th: Birnam House Hotel,
Mar 6th : The Jazz Centre, Edinburgh

2007
Tune Up Tour
January 23rd: Lochside Theatre, Castle Douglas
January 24th: City Halls, Glasgow
January 25th: An Lanntair, Stornoway, Isle Of Lewis
January 27th: Sunart Centre, Strontian
January 28th: Eastgate Theatre, Peebles
January 29th: Byre Theatre, St Andrews
April 28th: Collieston, Aberdeenshire
May 31st : Bongo Club, Edinburgh
June 9th: Leith Festival, Leith
June 20th: The Lot, Edinburgh
June 23rd - 30th: JazzCamp West, California, USA
Aug 17th: TWO TALL GIRLS @ Edinburgh Fringe Festival
Aug 18th: TTG @ Edin Fringe Festival
Aug 19th: TTG @ Edin Fringe Festival
August 25th to Sept 1st: Teaching on the Jazz Summer School in France with Liane Carrol
Sep 22nd: TTG @ Merchant City Festival, Glasgow
Oct 27th: Martyn Bennett Day Workshops,
Nov 11th: Vocal Improvisation Workshop,
Nov 23rd: Sophie Bancroft & Andi Neate @ Heriot-Toun Studio, Heriot,
Nov 24th: Sophie Bancroft & Andi Neate @ The Old Brewery, Cromarty,
Dec 1st: Queens Hall, Edinburgh, 7.30pm, Jan 6th: Singer-songwriter Workshop,

2006
Jan 15: Celtic Connections, Glasgow
Jan 19: Celtic Connections, Glasgow
April 1: The Jazz Centre, Edinburgh
June 27th: The Ramshorn Theatre, Glasgow
July 31st : The Hub, Edinburgh
 August 10th: Acoustic Music Centre, St Brides, Edinburgh Fringe Festival
August 11th : The Belladrum Festival performing in Martin Green's 'The Green Machine
August 26th : ABC, Glasgow, supporting Bert Jansch

2005

26th Feb: Henrys Jazz Cellar, Edinburgh
29th April: An Tobar, Mull.
June 3 & 4, Henry's Jazz Cellar, Edinburgh.
June 21, 7.30pm
Tutors Concert for FDVJW
with Fionna Duncan & Jay Clayton, Ramshorn Theatre, Glasgow
June 29, 8.30pm
The Halfmoon, Putney, London
August 1 , 1pm
The Hub, Edinburgh International Jazz Festival
August 17, 18 + 19, Henry's Jazz Cellar, Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Sept 2,
The Loft, East Grange,
Sept 3,
Lyth Arts Centre, Lyth,
Nov 25,
The Tron, Glasgow
Nov 26, 27, 28,
Burnsong Festival, Dumfries and Galloway.

2004

21st Feb: Henrys Jazz Cellar, Edinburgh
12th Mar: Henrys Jazz Cellar, Edinburgh
18th Apr: Tron Theatre, Glasgow
22nd May:Orkney
5th Jun: Henrys Jazz Cellar, Edinburgh
29th Jun: Ramshorn Theatre, Glasgow
5th Aug: Edinburgh International Jazz Festival
8th Aug: Edinburgh International Jazz Festival
9th to 12th Aug: Edinburgh Fringe Festival
21st Aug: Edinburgh Book Festival
27th Aug: Edinburgh Book Festival
30th Sep: Tolbooth, Stirling
28th Oct: Henrys Jazz Cellar, Edinburgh