Amplifier

Singer-songwriter Jackie Bristow is a southern girl at heart. Born and raised in Gore, this kiwi has found her wings. Beautiful songbird that she is, Jackie has flown halfway around the world with nothing more than her guitar and a dream.

Now living in Austin, TX, listeners can hardly discern her lilting kiwi accent when she sings her own brand of alt-country roots rock. After releasing her third album Freedom in New Zealand and Australia and touring in support of Shawn Mullins, Bristow returned to the USA in February 2011 as the opening act for internationally acclaimed guitar legend Tommy Emmanuel. Playing to sold out 1,500+ capacity theatres, Jackie is at home on the stage. 2011 was a very successful year in the US, touring and opening for some big names - Marc Cohn, John Waite, BJ Thomas, John Oates, Bettye Lavette, Joe Ely, Jimmy Lafave, Marcia Ball, Charlie Robison and Bob Schneider and in past years Daniel Lanois, Art Garfunkel, Phoebe Snow, Madeleine Peyroux, Jimmy Webb to name a few.

Her new album Freedom is steeped in powerhouse vocals, blazing guitars, and a storytelling narrative. Freedom has received national airplay and garnered generous praise from top critics. The Austin Chronicle calls Jackie Bristow "A class-act to watch" and Austin Music Entertainment says "Freedom ingratiates itself immediately with Bristow's slinking sexy, voice and her deftly blended rock-country-folk songwriting. She can do Texas Rock as well as the good 'ole boys." That may be true, but she can also reduce an audience to pin-drop silence as she sings an A Capella version of Aotearoa, a love song to her homeland. Whether singing about New Zealand or Texas, one thing is certain, Jackie Bristow knows how to dig deep and bare her soul.

Jackie has proven to be an artist that shows no sign of stopping. Music from Freedom is currently programmed into rotation at 7,000 different Starbucks locations nationwide. Her live performances have been captivating. One review on her February tour with Tommy Emmanuel on ChicoER (California) said "The show opened with New Zealand-born singer and guitarist Jackie Bristow. Opening for a musical giant like Emmanuel would seem a daunting task, but Bristow was relaxed as her soulfully seductive melodies reverberated within the auditorium. Her beautiful voice and earnest songs resonated with the audience, and they applauded her eagerly. Near the end of the show, Bristow joined Emmanuel on stage for an amazing duet that received a standing ovation".

TOUR DATES

Friday 17 February
The Bent Horseshoe, Palmerston North

Saturday 18 February
Resonator House Concert, Wellington

Sunday 19 February
Jetty Cafe, Petone

Tuesday 21 February
Navel Point Yacht Club, Lyttelton
with Mark Punch 

Wednesday 22 February
Ashburton Event Centre, Ashburton
Band show with Mark Punch 

Friday 24 February
Loan and Merc, Oamaru
withMark Punch

Friday 24 February
The Church, Restaurant Bar and Cinema, Dunedin
with Mark Punch

Saturday 25 February
Moonshiners Whiskey Festival, Gore
Band show with Mark Punch

Sunday 26 February
Desert Heart Winery, Bannockburn
with Mark Punch 

Saturday 3 March
Waitiri Creek Winery, Queenstown

Thursday 8 March
Artsouth, Gore

Friday 9 March
101 Cafe, Ponsonby, Auckland
with Donna Dean

Saturday 10 March
Uxbridge Arts Centre, Howick, Auckland