Chantel McGregor is set to perform at Manchester Academy 3 on Saturday in a joint headline gig with Elles Bailey.
The Manchester gig is the latest in a storied career which has seen her scoop multiple awards, pick up critical acclaim and release a series of albums.
Chantel McGregor dropped her debut album Like No Other in 2011. The album garnered quick critical acclaim for a musician who became the first student in the history of Leeds College of Music to achieve 100% pass mark with 18 distinctions and a First Class Honours degree in Popular Music and musician of the year award. The album lead to her being dubbed a messiah of blues-rock with nods to her Hendrix-esque style. Like No Other was more than guitar work though. Produced by Livingstone Brown, the album also showcased versatility and song writing craft.
Further critical acclaim arrived in 2015 with her follow up album Like Control. Critics raved over the standout quality of each track, her vocal ability and the variety of the body of work.
During lockdown in 2020, Chantel started working with David ‘Nova’ Nowakowski, co-writing and recording tracks remotely over the internet as Nova is based in Colorado, USA. Their singles I Will See and Jingle Bells were released on all digital streaming and download platforms in November 2020.
Throughout lockdown, Chantel performed a weekly live stream, the ‘Shed Sessions’, which streamed every Saturday at 5pm for over a year and in August 2021, she released 2 albums featuring music performed on the ‘Shed Sessions’.
Her live shows have also left fans following her every move and continually returning to see more. They also grabbed the attention of Joe Bonamassa who invited her to perform on two of his UK tours.
A female guitar prodigy, at fourteen Chantel was told by major labels that she had a “great voice, but girls don’t play guitar like that!” She has certainly gone on to prove them wrong.
When does Chantel McGregor headline at Manchester Academy 3?
Chantel McGregor headlines at Manchester Academy 3 on 4 February 2023.
image of Chantel McGregor courtesy Laurence Harvey