RECORDING ARTIST • SONGWRITER

RECORDING ARTIST
SONGWRITER

“… Crafting some of the most beautiful, compelling Americana today.”

“Jackie Bristow seems primed for success on the now global Americana scene with beautifully composed music and straight from the heart lyrics.”

“Bristow is a true original well worth your attention.”

“Blending Neil Finn’s airy pop smarts with Patty Griffin’s emotional directness and vibrancy.”

“And in the moving ‘Fallen Youth’ she gives Emmylou Harris a real run for her money.”

“Chances are that should you play this to somebody that listens to the crop of new/new-ish female country stars and they would scratch their heads and say in turn, ‘Gillian Welch…err no, Lucinda Williams… err no, Alison Krauss… o.k. I give up.’ Are they in for a pleasant surprise.”

“This album gets into your head, your heart and your muscles…. SHOT OF GOLD is simply stunning.”

“This is the Jackie Bristow that Jackie Bristow was always destined to be. She lets the river flow through her veins and allows herself to be carried along in its gentle but powerful current. There is respect for its awesome force, but no fear.”

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LIVE photo, Jackie Bristow and Barry Saunders dec 2023

GOOD MILES TO GO

WITH BARRY SAUNDERS

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In the ever-evolving landscape of contemporary music, few collaborations spark as much intrigue and promise as the union between Jackie Bristow and Barry Saunders. With the upcoming release of their single “Good Miles to Go,” set for March 1 in New Zealand and a day earlier in the USA, this duo is poised to captivate audiences with a blend of artistry that bridges continents and genres.

Jackie Bristow, a name synonymous with soul-stirring Americana, has carved a niche for herself between Wānaka, New Zealand, and Nashville, Tennessee. Barry Saunders, with his roots deeply embedded in New Zealand’s music scene as the voice and pen behind The Warratahs, brings to the table a wealth of experience highlighted by gold and platinum albums and multiple Tui awards.

Their collaboration is not just a meeting of musical minds but a confluence of experiences, styles, and stories that promise an auditory experience as rich and layered as their individual careers.

Jackie’s life was turned around in 2020 as she was visiting New Zealand when the Covid-19 lockdown hit. Unable to return to her home in Nashville while in her homeland, she has been “making the best of the crazy world” by focusing her creative energy in new directions. A silver lining was Jackie connecting with Barry Saunders, singer and principal songwriter for the legendary country band The Warratahs. A genuine Kiwi music hero. And an amazing friendship and music partnership was made. Jackie and Barry have been playing shows around New Zealand and are releasing their debut collaboration, the new single – “Good Miles to Go,” on March 1, 2024.

Good Miles to Go” stands as a testament to the resilience and creativity sparked by unprecedented times. Written by Saunders and produced alongside Bristow, the single encapsulates the essence of their musical journey, underpinned by the expertise of engineer, mixer, and master Alan Galbraith. The anticipation for its release is heightened by the promise of a video premiere on February 29, 2024, offering a visual counterpart to its compelling narrative.

Musically, the single promises to be a harmonious blend of Bristow’s seductive Americana and Saunders’ iconic Kiwi storytelling, creating a soundscape that is both familiar and refreshingly new. The collaborative spirit of the project shines through, promising a track that not only resonates with their loyal fanbases but also with those on the lookout for music that transcends geographical and genre boundaries.

As “Good Miles to Go” readies for release, the anticipation builds not just for the song but for what this collaboration heralds for the future of music. Jackie Bristow and Barry Saunders, through their partnership, remind us of the power of music to connect, heal, and inspire, even in the most uncertain times.

Their journey together, marked by shared stages across New Zealand and the creation of music that speaks to both their talents, sets the stage for a project that is more than just a single. It is a celebration of resilience, creativity, and the enduring power of collaboration in music. “Good Miles to Go” is not just a song; it’s a milestone in a journey that promises to be as captivating as the landscapes that inspired it.

OUT NOW!

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‘OUTSIDER’ VIDEO PREMIERE ON

JACKIE B AND THE MINI BAND

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SHOP ALL PRODUCTS

The lure of the road has always been a defining motivation for singer-songwriter Jackie Bristow.
She took her first musical steps in Gore, in the South Island of New Zealand, honed her craft in the pubs and clubs of Sydney, Australia, and found her voice in the United States, where she has continued to enhance her reputation as a soulful, seductive independent recording artist and dynamic live performer.

Like Joni Mitchell, Shawn Colvin and Bonnie Raitt, Jackie has created a body of work that will endure, finely shaded songs that are at once personal and universal, recording with her long-time musical partner, Australian-born guitarist and producer Mark Punch.

American Songwriter has hailed Jackie as “crafting some of the most beautiful, compelling Americana today”.

Her wanderlust informed her writing on four previous albums – Thirsty (2002), Crazy Love (2007), Freedom (2010) and Shot of Gold (2015) – and again on her fifth, Outsider, which is due for release on March 4, 2022.

While building on the strengths of her previous albums, Outsider finds Bristow drawing inspiration from the music of the American South — particularly the myriad sounds of her adopted home, Nashville.

“Nashville feels like a melting pot in a hub of creativity,” says Jackie. “Being exposed to such great American music has really inspired me.”

Jackie put the finishing touches to Outsider while staying in New Zealand after its first Covid-19 lockdown in 2020. While in her homeland she has been “making the best of the crazy world” by focusing her creative energy in new directions.

A planned New Zealand Back to the Roots tour in 2021 fell by the wayside because of Covid restrictions, so Jackie used the time to develop a new youth songwriting programme called SongCatcher. The first programme yielded a single in November 2021, It’s Christmas, written and recorded by Jackie B and the Mini Band, a group of youngsters from the Queenstown area.

“Life changes,” Jackie says. “When one door closes another opens. You can’t sit and dwell on the setbacks. You’ve got to believe in yourself and keep moving forward.”

This unwavering positivity and global outlook have served her well in an industry where there are more hard knocks than greatest hits, enabling her to form lasting relationships with a wide range of influential personalities.

Her exquisite songcraft and compelling live performances have seen her share the bill and a personal connection with many of the world’s musical elite, including Bonnie Raitt, Boz Skaggs, Chris Isaak, Tommy Emmanuel, Steve Miller Band, Foreigner, Art Garfunkel, Phoebe Snow and John Waite.

And, always, the road calls.

The lure of the road has always been a defining motivation for singer-songwriter Jackie Bristow.
She took her first musical steps in Gore, in the South Island of New Zealand, honed her craft in the pubs and clubs of Sydney, Australia, and found her voice in the United States, where she has continued to enhance her reputation as a soulful, seductive independent recording artist and dynamic live performer.

Like Joni Mitchell, Shawn Colvin and Bonnie Raitt, Jackie has created a body of work that will endure, finely shaded songs that are at once personal and universal, recording with her long-time musical partner, Australian-born guitarist and producer Mark Punch.

American Songwriter has hailed Jackie as “crafting some of the most beautiful, compelling Americana today”.

Her wanderlust informed her writing on four previous albums – Thirsty (2002), Crazy Love (2007), Freedom (2010) and Shot of Gold (2015) – and again on her fifth, Outsider, which is due for release on March 4, 2022.

While building on the strengths of her previous albums, Outsider finds Bristow drawing inspiration from the music of the American South — particularly the myriad sounds of her adopted home, Nashville.

“Nashville feels like a melting pot in a hub of creativity,” says Jackie. “Being exposed to such great American music has really inspired me.”

Jackie put the finishing touches to Outsider while staying in New Zealand after its first Covid-19 lockdown in 2020. While in her homeland she has been “making the best of the crazy world” by focusing her creative energy in new directions.

A planned New Zealand Back to the Roots tour in 2021 fell by the wayside because of Covid restrictions, so Jackie used the time to develop a new youth songwriting programme called SongCatcher. The first programme yielded a single in November 2021, It’s Christmas, written and recorded by Jackie B and the Mini Band, a group of youngsters from the Queenstown area.

“Life changes,” Jackie says. “When one door closes another opens. You can’t sit and dwell on the setbacks. You’ve got to believe in yourself and keep moving forward.”

This unwavering positivity and global outlook have served her well in an industry where there are more hard knocks than greatest hits, enabling her to form lasting relationships with a wide range of influential personalities.

Her exquisite songcraft and compelling live performances have seen her share the bill and a personal connection with many of the world’s musical elite, including Bonnie Raitt, Boz Skaggs, Chris Isaak, Tommy Emmanuel, Steve Miller Band, Foreigner, Art Garfunkel, Phoebe Snow and John Waite.

And, always, the road calls.