Award-winning Texan Chet O’Keefe has forged new frontiers in Americana music, creating insightful lyrics, profound storytelling, sultry, smoky vocals and razor-sharp guitar playing that brings his songs to life with nostalgic effervescence. With an avalanche of country-western know-how, he is joined by Auburn’s Liz Lenten, an untypical English rose, whose latest album was recorded in Nashville and who,“in delivering melodic dramatic monologue, is among the best around” David Innes, R2 magazine.
Chet O’Keefe and Liz Lenten (from Auburn)were introduced by mutual friend and award winning producer, Thomm Jutz (Nanci Griffith, Mary Gauthier, and Mac Wiseman) in Nashville TN.
Chet O’Keefe
Chet O’Keefe is an American singer/songwriter now based in Terlingua Ranch, Texas, who has forged new frontiers in the realm of Americana music, creating an electrifying amalgam of insightful lyrics, profound storytelling, sultry, smoky vocals and razor-sharp guitar playing that brings his songs to life with nostalgic effervescence. Chet’s sound evokes the finest Merle Haggard dance-hall moments on “Take Me Down To The Liquor Store” and the sound of the dark woods on the mysterious, “Game Bird”.
The writer of ‘Ring the Bell’ a bluegrass #1 for The Gibson Brothers in 2010, as well as IBMA Song of the Year, Chet’s a first class guitarist and singer with an avalanche of tunes and country-western know-how in his back pocket.
His voice is at once ‘old as the hills and young as spring grass’; He sounds like a man who’s been around the block and is back to tell you about it. Indeed he has. Chet has toured with Nanci Griffith, Kinky Friedman, backed Bo Diddly and sung with John Prine.
In the words of Nanci Griffith: “Welcome to the magical world of Chet O’Keefe.”
“Chet O’Keefe is a singer/songwriter I hold in the highest regard. In today’s homogenized, derivative, deteriorating musical scene, he is a fixed point; a living lighthouse made of stone from the past, with a beacon for the future. Listen to this guy. He will change the way you look at the world.” Kinky Friedman, Governor of the Heart of Texas. (Jan 2016)
Liz Lenten
Liz, a very UN-typical English rose, (she describes herself as ‘a mongrel – descending from several places in Eastern Europe’) lives in the Wolds of Lincolnshire, and is the vocalist with Auburn, which has been captivating audiences around the country with their unique blend of Americana, soulful blues, roots music. Liz’s voice has been described as “so sweet it'll make your hair curl” and “husky, with an emotional frailty’.
With influences from Bonnie Raitt to Billie Holiday, and Dusty to Kate Bush, Liz's songs grab you melodically and tell stories of life’s ups and downs. Since achieving Indie Chart top 5 success with Cry in 2005, and then having a break from performing, (after becoming a Mum) in the last 3 years she has released 3 CDs to critical acclaim (nearly 60K plays on ReverbNation) and toured extensively including supporting artists Sophie Ellis Bextor, Jefferson Starship, Martin Carthy & Dave Swarbrick.
“…..in delivering melodic dramatic monologue, Liz Lenten is among the best around” David Innes, R2 magazine (UK - Nov 2015)
“…listening to Liz sing is like making eye contact…aurally…there is nowhere to hide from the raw emotion…..’” (Fan FB feedback)
‘Auburn makes wonderfully atmospheric music…..like the kind of country that first turned rappers on to Johnny Cash because he was such an OG’ Midwest Records (USA)
‘Liz was damn well channelling her (Dusty Springfield) at times…. It was like she was possessed!’ Jon Downes (Gonzo blogger)