Biography

Kelly Bayfield brings a perfect blend of classic Laurel Canyon singer-songwriter and folk singing traditions from both sides of the Atlantic. Her pure voice is unmistakably English, but finds itself equally at home with Americana, jazz, pop or country.

Classically trained in voice and piano as a youngster, Kelly was taking lead roles in full- scale operas and choral works by the age of fourteen, which led to her studying music at Wells Cathedral School. It was a love of traditional and popular music that later drew her down a different musical path, yet all these influences provide inspiration and come together effortlessly in her music.

Kelly has been singing, writing and collaborating for several years with established artists (Honey & The Bear, David Edward Booth, Kev Walford) around her home county of Suffolk, UK. With regular appearances on BBC radio and frequent performances at folk and Americana festivals both in the UK and Sweden, Kelly has now firmly secured herself as a solo artist with the release of her critically-acclaimed debut solo album, Wave Machine.

To create Wave Machine, Kelly joined forces with David Edward Booth, who co-wrote, produced, and recorded it throughout lockdown at his studio near Framlingham in Suffolk. The album also sees the appearance of guest musicians, including the late Paul Sartin, Phil Beer, Beth Porter & Ben Please, Toby Shaer, Nick Zala-Webb, Ruth Wall and Scott Neubert (Nashville) alongside collaborations with artists in Sweden, where the album was mastered by Joe Vegna.

“One of the finest debuts you’ll hear in the folk meets Americana fields of music…” Get Ready To Rock

“A staggeringly confident set, with both musical breadth and depth… a delicate but strong voice that delivers lyrics with feeling… the brooding slow build start and the poetic lyrics of Wave Machine just scream classic… Hitchhiker is full of life lessons and a little Americana grit, balanced with Carole King warmth and Laurel Canyon sunshine… Sing with its breathtaking vocal… Kelly’s writing makes the personal universal and profound, as real life breathes real life into the performances. Kelly and David Edward Booth build incredible songs around the words, weaving an array of musicians into magic…” Fatea

“One can only wonder where her next album will take us; for now ‘Wave Machine’ stands as one of the most important debut albums released for some time.” Pennyblack Music

“Bayfield’s songbird vocal beguiles with great depth of feeling…4*” RnR

“twice through Wave Machine & I was hooked” folking.com

“a fine body of work. 8/10” Americana UK

“shades of classic Laurel Canyon” Folk Radio

“beautifully produced…the arrangements are flawless” Folk London 

“A beautiful, sultry female voice (close to Nora Jones, or Alison Krauss)…a soothing cranial balm, and some joyous gospel interludes are aural paracetamol.”

Americana UK

 

“She takes a charming lullaby that shines like a ragged band of angels.”

RnR