If there is a sound more captivating than Thea Gimore in full voice in concert then I've yet to hear it, and I doubt my sensibilities could cope with it if I did. Terrific songwriter too.

Sang back-up vocal for RT (there I've named him. First time this year?) in the '80's.

Teamed up with hugely under-rated Clive Gregson at around about the same time and made several beautiful albums.

Now solo. Last time I saw her was some years ago supporting RT (Twice! In one post!) at Warwick Arts Centre. Spellbinding voice.

I have mentioned Kim before on the blog - what a fine voice she has, and she's a terrific songwriter too...

yesterday her name meant nothing to me, then a strange combination of my fondness for blogs by grouchy English comic book writers and the most fascinating football club led me to this

Leeds United by Ms Palmer.
I now have four (digital) albums to explore.

North Devon's finest young female singer-songwriter is also a superb guitar player. This clip doesn't do her justice, on either score, but gives you a flavour of what she's capable of. At a local Bluegrass festival in my neck of the woods, she blew away a crowd of expert pickers with her chops on the guitar, the strength of her songs, and the simple honest approach she has to singing them. Highly recommended, especially if you can catch her live.

Lost for Words (Live)

alive and well and in fine voice performing to a pitifully small crowd (30 maybe) in Belfast at the beginning of October. No less impressive than when I last saw her 15 years ago, including a very affecting slow blues version of 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' alongside the usual suspects. I suggest downloading the track 'Ancient Rain'. New album on the way apparently.

And under the category of ones to watch, can I mention again the fantastic, but unfortunately named, First Aid Kit?

And where, pray, is this festival where such delights are to be found?

was mentioned in the original post and I agree with Retropath. I don't have her latest offering but I have all the rest....The Captain being my favourite. Just recently I found her doing a cover of Crowded Houses "Better Be Home Soon". Stripped right back, this is an excellent cover and can be found on the bonus disc on The Captain if anyone is interested.

I give you sisters Donna and Vikki from The Waifs. Actually, the vocal is a bit like Kasey Chambers....I wonder if all Australian girls sing like this?

Kasey Chambers Barricades and Brickwalls CD and put it in the car. Played it to death a few years back and had forgotten about it so thank you Retropath. My favourite ladies are possibly more well known - Sinead O'Connor,Natalie Merchant and Mary Chapin Carpenter being top of the list - the latter I would also place at the top of the list of songwriters male or female. Less lauded but very good is Bettye LaVette whose voice is as soulful as they come. By the way thanks for the tip on Mary Coughlan - for some reason I thought she was a bit diddley diddley so if this is a good example I might just have to invest in some of her stuff.

I think Kathleen is one of the best female singers around. I'm not entirely sure why she isn't more popular
Here she is with her band with a song off her second album.

I adore her voice and I think this song is spectacular (even if the video posted is on the 'basic' side). There's more of her on YouTube (including live stuff).

Also a very erotic song, I would suggest. To hear her sing 'I had a man in every town, I thought of you each time I tore off my gown' against that delicate backing carries a real charge.

Recommended!

I remember 1st hearing her on John Peel's show & have listened to her records ever since. We have managed to see her three times - in Liverpool where she was backed by two African throat singers, a more 'traditional' folky set in Sale and a gig with drummer Jim White at Mancheter Uni. All the records are good especially the Blackened Air & Dogs (off the top of my head).

that Gillian Welch hasn't yet made an appearance on this subject. Granted, her voice isn't immediately stunning like some of those mentioned, but something in her timbre is so evocative yet multi-faceted.

Then of course there is Bjork. 'Polarising' might be a generous description, but I can't think of anyone that has the same vocal presence as her, a unique sense of being unhinged and in total control simultaneously.

Nina Simone's Feelin' Good could lift the hairs on a dead man's arm. Those who have seen the teaser for season four (I think) of Six Feet Under will no doubt agree.

As for Ms Chambers, I'm slightly confused by the response to her overseas. Are we talking about the same girl? I appreciate that her voice has its fans (it's certainly polarising, with yours truly erring on the less-fond side), but surely a singer and the songs she sings cannot be divorced? I admit to not having heard her latest, Rattlin' Bones, but most of her earlier material struck me as extremely dull.

There are better female singers in Australia, of this much I am certain. Unfortunately, you'll struggle to find anything of them OS, as the Australian music industry is more interested in promoting the awful Missy Higgins and crushingly bad Delta Goodrem as representative of Australian talent. You might find some Clare Bowditch, who has an air of a smoother, more domestic Gillian Welch, or Sarah Blasko, whose tones flit between icy and subtly emotive with delicate grace.

introduced me to Dar Williams - just one of six million reasons why I love her.

- great shout. Great album - was fortunate to get given a 2 cd sampler of all the artists on Daptones records. She undoubtedly is the star of the label but the other artists are as equally impressive.