Izo Fitzroy
TUE 23 & WED 24 APR 2024
TUE 23 & WED 24 APR 2024
(A Good Woman Tour)
+ special guest Allan McKeown Trio
Raw, dynamic performances and honest song writing have become the trademark of gospel and blues singer songwriter Izo FitzRoy.
Uplifting harmonies delivered via her powerful lead vocal and jazz tinged keys work, set her apart from contemporaries and have won her play on BBC 6Music, BBC London, JazzFM, a FIP Selection award, the ‘Heavy Rotation’ feature on NPR in the US and strong support from the likes of Clash Magazine, Indie Shuffle, Mixmag and Blues & Soul who featured Izo as a cover star on her second album’s release.
Her songs are built for performance, sincere and compelling lyrics delivered over tight and melodic grooves. She effortlessly transitions from the recorded versions to the live stage with her band’s unique line-up. Shunning typical soul instrumental combinations to instead feature up to 9 gospel backing vocalists, this vocal arsenal provides the perfect foil to her lead, making for truly special live shows.
After years of directing gospel choirs her recording career took off in earnest after writing and recording the bulk of her debut album – ‘Skyline’ while she was living in New Orleans producing a record that channelled her gutsy gospel style and colourful bluesy keys through vintage funk grooves.
After the success of her debut Izo was in demand and toured across Europe tirelessly, all the while writing her next record and lending her talents to others, including features on tracks by label mates Kraak & Smaak, Smoove & Turrell, Flevans, and Dr Rubberfunk (who produced Skyline) until the end of 2018 when a devastating blow struck and nodules on her vocal chords made Izo unable to sing. The only option to save her career was surgery on her which ruled her out of using her voice for 3 months followed by a long period of vocal rehabilitation.
However by summer 2019 Izo was back with an even greater range and a fistful of new songs written almost silently while recovering from her op. Her song – I Want Magic ( a collaboration with Dimitri from Paris) made her as big in the clubs as she was on the airwaves – dancefloor bible Mixmag making it their Tune of the Month.
2019 was also the year the wider music industry really stood up and took notice of her exploits as she was invited to US songwriter camps by BPI and was funded by the PRS who recognised her song writing potential.
2020 saw the release of her second album ‘How The Mighty Fall’. Despite the pandemic shackling any hopes of a tour to support the album, the eleven-track masterpiece won over fans new and old. BBC Radio 2 & 6 Music, KCRW, FIP, CLASH, UNCUT, Blues & Soul and Indie Shuffle all weighed in with their love for the record in a period that saw Izo move up a gear from new voice on the scene to cover star.
Later in 2020, instead of the planned tour to support ‘How The Mighty Fall’, a burgeoning online musical friendship began between Izo and renowned L.A. producer Erik Janson, who both shared a deep love of mid 60s and early 70s soul and rock records. They began to write a series of songs to describe their experiences from the year, but with a sound harkening back to records like Dusty Springfield’s Dusty In Memphis and Bill Withers Just As I Am. The result was a trio of songs that were release as standalone singles in the second half of 2021, leading to her online support surging dramatically.
2022 has seen Izo writing and recording again, this time working and co writing with producer Oscar De Jong.
The campaign for Izo’s third album A Good Woman kicked off in November 2022 with the single God Gets A Little Busy Sometimes – an emotional rollercoaster that starts off with just Izo on piano and vocals before swelling to a full band climax. The song tackles the writers feeling of not feeling safe as a woman and trying to find a saviour first in God then in relationships before realising that ultimately to reclaim her power she must save herself.
Jazz FM saw the potential and kept the song on their playlist for 2 months while FIP radio in Paris premiered a live video of the song.
It’s a powerful opening to an album that is full of highs and lows addressing who Izo really is as a woman, railing against convention, wrangling shame, getting out of depression and ultimately coming home to herself and her body. Gospel, jazz, blues, soul and folk are all present in her most accomplished album to date with her live band and gospel choir all replicating on record the magic she brings to her live shows.
Izo’s third album A Good Woman will be released on 28th April and will be followed by a UK and European tour.
Singles Give Me The High, Chasing Days and A Good Woman precede it.
DATE: Tue 23 Apr 2024
VENUE: Saint Luke’s, 17 Bain Street, Glasgow G40 2JZ
DATE: Wed 24 Apr 2024
VENUE: The Voodoo Rooms, 19a West Register Street, Edinburgh EH2 2AA