A big talent and a clear, sweet voice with songs to match.
On stage, winning audiences with her sincere stage presence that can warm the words of any song, many she has written herself, Annie is filling a niche in her unique style.
Collier USA
MUSIC BIO
My heroes have always been
Hoyt Axton; The Statler Brothers and Merle Haggard. My song writing inspirations!
Some have described Ann Pascoe as the one of the best country singers currently within the New Zealand shores. She is certainly an authentic country girl who was born on a back country sheep farm, milked cows after her marriage, and raised five children.
It was only in the last few years after listening to lyrics of Merle Haggard, the Statler Brothers, and Hoyt Axton, and always having been a writer; and also a poet (of simple verse) that it seemed a natural progression to write country song lyrics.
“I started writing songs and wanted someone to sing them, but nobody seemed keen. I thought I should do them myself,” she says. She took singing lessons and learned the basics of singing, then stylised to country music.
Her first public singing was in September 2001, singing with a live band at a country music club and Pascoe hasn’t looked back.
She is passionate about the musical genre and is mystified by the lack of interest and support of country music by mainsteam radio stations and also the general public in New Zealand. While stating the “hay bale” images that are conjured up when country music is mentioned does it a disservice, Pascoe thinks it is time to look beyond that and really listen to the music.
“I would be happy to listen to 20 minutes of rap music, if only the radio stations would play a share of country,” she says.
And, one suspects, Pascoe isn’t joking.
“Country music (in New Zealand, anyway) has a stigma and the mainstream won’t touch it - but it’s huge. Why isn’t it on mainstream radio? I do think it needs an upgrade as far as image is concerned, but I think it should be treated with respect. Mind you, country music is used to taking the mickey, which is a shame. Maybe the wheel will turn.”
The ability of country music to slow down and tell a story is what appeals to the musician. There are many different types of country music, including the popular country rock/pop which has pushed the genre in front of the public thanks to artists like Shania Twain.
Pascoe is unsure of Twain’s claim to country, but admits country rock is great music and has moved with the times. If only the general public would move with the times too, and give country music more credit.
Pascoe is exposed to a huge range of country music through her work with The Little Country Radio station (107.7fm) (NZ Country Music Network Ltd.) The station - one of six dotted around NZ - is based in Stratford, its transmitter installed atop the Taranaki Backpackers Lodge and it plays country music 24 hours a day from Kiwi through to American artists. At least six to eight CDs appear in her mailbox each week from independent artists wanting airplay: “I hear some really good music.”
Since her debut she has produced four albums of which her latest creation "'I'm Doing Fine" in 2006 has been receiving excellent feed back, with world wide airplay. Two duets with Dennis Marsh feature on this album too.
Currently her name as an independent artist figures on the world wide country music radio playlists, and charts compiled from this have often seen her up in the Top Five on the ECMA charts Top 100 and she gives full credit to Canada's Hillcrest multi-artist releases introducing her to the wide world of country music radio stations. And also Amercian songwriter Roy G. Ownbey who gave her his songs to sing. And for the fifth album, Ann accepted another American songwriter, Glenn Erickon's kind offer of his songs, and four of them are included on this album.
Over the years she has supported both American and NZ touring artists, including Terry Smith, Charley Groth, Shirley Raye, Bill Murphree, Australia's Allan Webster, NZ's Dennis Marsh, Roger Tibbs, Joy Adams and Dennis August and features in festivals with her own band OLDOGS, and other shows around New Zealand.
Becoming a finalist of three in the Female Country Artist of the Year 2009 was another milestone for this New Zealand country singer!
Reviewers have said listeners who like Patsy Cline will like Ann Pascoe's music and describe it as having solid traditional country sounding vocals, with faultless Nashville music behind her.
Latest albums: "The Best of Ann Pascoe"; and "Country Sunshine" with some of your favourites!
To order
The Best of Ann Pascoe
Check out titles
Ann Pascoe & OLDOGS
Ann Pascoe and OLDOGS, Kevin Joyce, Noddy Curd, Charlie Winter , Mark Corbett and Joe Martin.
Ann Pascoe & OLDOGS
The OLDOGS band got its name from an album of the same name 'Old Dogs' put out by Jennings, Bare, Tillis and Reed.
Their songs vary from comical to serious, and deal mainly with growing old and realizing that the music industry has moved on.
Looking for a name for the band some two years ago, and having been listening to the Old Dogs album it seemed a natural progression to become OLDOGS - the stylised version.
All talented musicians in other bands, lead guitarist Kevin Joyce, drummer Noddy Curd, Charlie Winter, keyboard, and bass player Mark Corbett back Ann in their foray into country music festivals.
"A tight group" as in the musical way! And "refreshing" have been comments on Ann and the band's performances when they perform material from Ann's albums, do some country rock and clown around with some Old Dogs song!
Hailing from New Zealand, Ann Pascoe is a true Country Lady! Periodically someone has a "God given" message (in music, in poetry, in art etc) they just HAVE TO SHARE!!! This artist (I view) has one of those messages through the combination of her beautiful vocals with the lyrics of the songs she elects to sing!..... The fact is that when we, the receiving audience, has it DELIVERED to us, it awakens our testament to FAITH, LOVE, HOPE. "Where Words Fail...Music Speaks" and Ann's music proves that without a doubt.
Steve Butts, Country Roads,
Florida, USA
Lead guitar Drums Keyboard Bass Steel guitar
Kiwi ProAm...Finalist Female Country Artist of the Year 2009.
