Naomi Bedford is an English singer working in the folk and country genres. She has made five acclaimed albums; most recently ‘Strange News Has Come To Town’, – A folk/Americana fusion- which came out in the summer of 2024 to high praise from the music press.
Her previous album ‘Singing It All Back Home’, a collection of Appalachian ballads originating from the UK, was a Guardian Album of the Month in 2019. Her albums have featured contributions from UK music legends such as Justin Currie, Andy Summers, Alasdair Roberts and Paul Heaton. She regularly performs and records and writes with Paul Simmonds, chief songwriter and mandolin player with The Men They Couldn’t Hang.
Naomi and Paul have toured together widely throughout the UK and appeared at many prestigious Festivals including Glastonbury, Cambridge, Celtic Connections, Sidmouth and Wickham. They also appeared in session for Mark Radcliffe on Radio 2 and on BBC Radio Scotland. Among Naomi’s many supporters are; Iggy Pop, ‘Amazing. Naomi pulls no punches’, Shirley Collins, ‘The best singer of Appalachian ballads that I know’ and Del Amitri’s Justin Currie, ‘An English Emmylou’
Naomi has been playing with the Ramshackle Band, a revolving ensemble of musicians, for the last few years.
5 stars The Arts Desk
5 stars The Morning Star
4 Stars Mojo Magazine
4 Stars RnR Magazine
“UK Spangled Americana” – Jude Rogers, Guardian 2024
“This is true roots music in every shape and fashion” – The Real Easy Ed: Americana and Roots Music Daily June 2024
“Bedford has a way with betrayal …..her version of The Blacksmith is an eerie scorching tour de force” MOJO Magazine, June 2024
“Naomi Bedford and Paul Simmonds remain as vital a musical force as ever.” – KLOF (Folk Radio UK) , June 24
” There are hints of the two Trio albums Harris recorded with Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt “ – 5 Stars, The Arts Desk June 24
“In Naomi and Paul you have two of the finest interpreters of songs” – Fatea, August 2024
“Nothing is obvious and everything demands your attention” – RnR Magazine, September 2024
