Members here have sometimes questioned whether Team BF looks into the forum and this week's news perhaps provided further evidence that it does...

Comments, not always favourable, have been passed regarding the quality of the tour support acts, but this year's could be rather interesting.

Although vocalist/pianist Judith Owen was unknown to me, my eyes popped a bit when I saw that her band includes guitarist Waddy Wachtel (who played on The Bride Stripped Bare, of course), bassist Leland Sklar & drummer Russ Kunkel!

Over the past 40 years these guys have played with a real who's who (e.g. James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Nicks etc.), although I'm guessing it may be a while since they filled a support slot.

Liked what I heard on Ms Owen's website and found a cheap copy of her latest CD Ebb & Flow (which features the touring band, i.e. the aforementioned trio plus percussionist Pedro Segundo) on Amazon.

Assuming that the CD lives up to expectations, it looks like it may be worth turning up a little earlier than usual for the forthcoming shows.

If Waddy Wachtel and Russ Kunkel actually play in the band that opens for BF it the upcoming Brit Tour, then BF should get them to play in HIS band!

According to her website Messrs Sklar, Wachtel and Kunkel are indeed in her touring band to support BF with.

http://www.judithowen.net/on-tour-with-bryan-ferry/

BF better show up with a strong voice if he doesn't want JO to eclipse him at his own gigs.

And comparing her band (with Wachtel, Kunkel, and Sklar) with the latest version of Roxy Lite is really no contest.

Apologies to True2Life if my original post read more like rumour than fact; perhaps I should have tried to cut & paste one of her tour flyers (which list her band members), which have popped up on social media.

I don't think there's too much danger of Ms Owen eclipsing BF, though, DCJ; she has a pleasant enough voice, but doesn't appear to have the stage presence of, for example, Beth Hart (who I'll be seeing in London on the eve of BF's Oxford gig).

Not too much evidence of Wachtel on the Owen CD either; after three listens I'd say her band's jewel is bassist Sklar...

Smudge:
I hope for all those who go to one of the May/June Brit Tour concerts that BF's voice is stronger than when I saw him last October. Yes, he was suffering from throat problems back then and perhaps that is not an indicator of what his voice will be like in May. But he has a lot of concerts lined up in a short period of time and that won't make it any easier on his vocal chords.

JO is not someone who is of particular interest to me as a performer/singer. But this recent performance provides a sense of her vocal abilities. And the band is tight!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq50rWzFP4s

If BF shows up and sings his entire set list in a gruff throaty semi-whisper, then he could easily be eclipsed by JO IMHO...

Ms Owen and her band played an entertaining opening set of 30-40 mins in Oxford last night. The leader had a nice line in humorous patter between numbers and the band was as tight as a shark's bum, despite there being few solos; Leland Sklar is a supremely good bassist.

All of them bar Russ Kunkel, who was nursing a back injury, came to the merch stand between sets and happily posed for photos and signed autographs.

Waddy Wachtel told me that when he worked with Sir Elton John, the first thing that Sir Elton told him was that TBSB is one of his favourite albums of all time! It would be great if BF felt able to bring WW on stage for one of those songs before the tour ends (Royal Albert Hall please? lol)...

Ebb & Flow was available to buy on CD (£15) or LP (£25), but should be available cheaper online for those who have the time to wait.