Owen Plant

Jamaican-born troubadour Owen Plant lives in the Bay Area in California where he writes and performs his music and from whence he tours and peers out at the world. His writing style is reminiscent of introspective singer/songwriters from the '70s but also incorporates his Caribbean-ness on the regular. Owen's strong vocals evoke the emotional depth of Cat Stevens and the soulful passion of Bob Marley and you can hear Paul Simon and Leonard Cohen in his guitar work. Elevator pitch alert! - Imagine Bruno Merz (not Marz - not that there's anything wrong with that!), John Mayer, Ray LaMontagne, Jack Johnson and Ziggy Marley around the campfire - but it's one Jamerican with a beard when it's cold and stubble when it's not. Rasta Folk? Reggae Pop? Singer/Songwriter Dub/Ska/Americana? No catchy hybrid genre yet coined (all submissions are welcome).

Owen has released many albums and EPs, both solo and with bands, since 2000.  He most recently fronted the Sunshine Brothers, an upbeat Santa Barbara band now on hiatus. For the most up-to-date Owen Plant music and news go to www.owenplant.net

Praise for the Sunshine Brothers and Owen Plant:

"On the whole, Live By the Sun could easily fall into the Jack Johnson school of mellow-minded musicology'but dig deeper and you'll find an amazing array of sounds and influences (Toots and The Maytals, Jimmy Cliff, Cat Stevens, Paul Simon, James Taylor). The album flows beautifully from opener 'Rum Song' to closer 'Cerasse Tea,' interweaving its world beat, reggae, surf pop, and folk styles into a coherent whole. Plant's comforting lyrics and mellifluous vocals are key to the Brothers' Jamaica-meets-Santa Barbara simpatico.  When all's said and done, Live is the perfect Santa Babylon summertime record." - The Santa barbara Independent, review of "Live by the Sun."

"On the Santa Barbara front, my enthusiastic thumbs up are wagging at the Sunshine Brothers. Formed in 2004 by Jamaican-born lead singer Owen Plant, the Brothers have been gaining some serious steam since dropping their debut full length, Live By the Sun, last spring. Now firmly rooted in town, the seven-piece have been keeping busy playing shows all around town, including a couple jam-packed dates at SOhO. Most importantly, the band's infectious mix of Jack Johnson-y pop melodies, Rasta riffs, and Jimmy Buffett's sun-soaked party-loving attitude add up to something that is decidedly Santa Barbaran'without sounding forced, clichéd, or ripped off. Combine that with the guys' fun-loving, dance-worthy live shows, and it's no wonder Sunshine Brothers have become synonymous with having a good time." - The Santa Barbara Independent.

"... the soul of reggae, the uplift of Motown, the fun of pop, and the wisdom of folk. like old love songs on vacation, a bright and lazy morning, sipping coffee, writing letters to your sweetheart and your congressman, and then heading to the beach to surf. It (the album) sounds good. Like sunshine." -Cameron Hood of Ryanhood