| biography
Even
though Irene Jackson has been performing and writing since the
early 70's, she didn't release her first independent recording Foolishly
Fantasizing until 1993. After so many years, why did the first recording
take so long? “I’ve always been a late bloomer” she says. “I don’t think I was a great writer until I really had something to write about!” In 1997, she completed another CD, Motor Scooter, which has had airplay on college radio stations across the US and Canada, and the CBC. She has been performing and promoting her most recent recordings for the last 6 years throughout the Pacific Northwest, and in the summer of ‘99 completed a short tour of California. Her unplugged CD, undressed was released this past summer and the newest CD, Catnip, was released in December 2000. But songwriting is only a part of her musical palette...Irene has also written theme music for a number of television series’, including the internationally syndicated home repair show Home Check With Shell Busey, the SpeedVision series Canadian Biker Television, the WTN series At Home With Herbs, a local arts and entertainment magazine show, Go! and the canine series Doggin' It. From 2002 until 2007 CH Television in Victoria BC carried her music as the theme and general music package. She been well established as a guitar teacher on Vancouver Island since 1989, as well as maintaining a webpage for songwriters on the internet. As her songwriting continues to flourish, Irene continues to produce her own recordings through her company, MOONSTONE PRODUCTIONS. "Jackson's introspective, refreshingly cheerful Folk Pop recalls the glory days of James Taylor and Carole King. The sweet-voiced Canadian sings about the pleasures and pains of ordinary life in a quotidian way that draws favorable comparisons to a less countrified Nanci Griffith." Listen.com “Irene Jackson has a sweet voice and she writes interesting, well-crafted songs which are a pleasure to hear. She should be better known to listeners in Canada and abroad...Jackson's lyrics tell their stories well, her melodies carry the words well, and her voice is at times sweet, lyrical, powerful, and sensual...The focal point of Jackson's talent is as a lyricist. Jackson's lyrics are tight and often quite visual, carrying her stories forward with a certain grace..." Bob MacKenzie, SoundBytes Irene was born in Vancouver BC and raised in the suburb of Richmond, graduating from Steveston High School in 1975. She has been a performing songwriter since the coffeehouse days of the 1970’s, performing locally on and off while continuing to work and raise a family. Since 1983, she has made Victoria BC on beautiful Vancouver Island her home. |
recent
career highlights
Charles Dickens Pub, Victoria, Chapters Bookstore, Victoria, Lulu's Beehive, Los Angeles, Exile Books & Music, Los Angeles, Steveston Salmon Festival, Steveston, Borders Books & Music, San Fransisco, Chapters Bookstore, Richmond, Madison's Coffeehouse, Seattle, Sooke Folk Club, Sooke, Blends Coffee, Victoria, Portside Room, North Vancouver, Cafe Deux Soleil, Vancouver, Thursday Night Live Coffeehouse, Vancouver, Savoury Island Pie Company, West Vancouver, Xanthine's Coffee & Tea, Squamish, Victoria Folkfest, Victoria, Seattle Folklife, Seattle, Westwood Racquet Club, Nanaimo, Bar None Cafe, Courtney, Java Coffeehouse, Victoria, Richmond Art Gallery, Richmond, BC Songwriter's Showcase, Langley, Persimmons Deli, Steveston, Cowichan Folk Guild, Duncan, Chapters Bookstore, Langley, Chapters Bookstore, Surrey, London Farmhouse, Richmond...and many more! |
