Stephen Fretwell
Stephen Fretwell performing at Ben and Jerry's Double Scoop Sundae festival, Heaton Park, Manchester, 2011.
Stephen Fretwell performing at Ben and Jerry's Double Scoop Sundae festival, Heaton Park, Manchester, 2011.
Background information
Born (1981-11-10) 10 November 1981
OriginScunthorpe, England
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, bass guitar
Years active2000–present
Websitewww.stephenfretwell.com

Stephen Fretwell (born 10 November 1981) is an English singer-songwriter.

Biography

Fretwell attended St. Augustine Webster Primary School in Scunthorpe and St. Bede's Catholic School in Ashby before furthering his study at John Leggott College. It was in his teenage years that he started his first band, named Label.

After moving to Manchester to attend Salford University (to study English, but dropping out within a few days),[1] he started to earn notices in NME and Q. During this period songs such as "Emily" and "What’s That You Say Little Girl?" were first written.

Fretwell decided to stay in Manchester permanently, later releasing 8 Songs which he released on Northern Ambition, a label owned by a friend.[2] He left university after one year, and started to perform at local acoustic nights in the Manchester area. The first of these was at The Roadhouse, a venue in the centre of Manchester's Northern Quarter.

He later released the Something's Got to Give EP and The Lines, both self-financed. He then supported Travis, Elbow, Athlete, Keane and KT Tunstall. Signed to Fiction Records, and while under management by Colin Lester's and Ian McAndrew's Wildlife entertainment, his debut album Magpie was released in November 2004. It was recorded at the Abbey Road Studios.[2] It peaked at No. 27 in the UK Albums Chart in August 2005.[3] The first single taken from the album was "Run" and was subsequently followed by "Emily" (2005) and the Four Letter Words EP. "Emily" reached No. 42 in the UK Singles Chart in August 2005.[3] He had previously supported Oasis at Marlay Park in Dublin on 16 July 2005.

He was described by Q as "Scunthorpe's finest export... ever". Fretwell described this as flattering but not something he actively encouraged.[4]

His version of Jeff Buckley's "Morning Theft" appeared on the 2005 tribute album Dream Brother: The Songs of Tim and Jeff Buckley.

His song Play featured in the 2005 Dominic Savage film Love + Hate.

His song "Bad Bad You, Bad Bad Me" was featured in an episode of the ABC family drama Brothers & Sisters called "The Missionary Imposition".

He released a single called "Scar" on 3 September 2007, which was included on his album Man on the Roof. This album was recorded in New York City, released by Fiction Records on 10 September 2007, and featured James Iha.[2] In the UK Albums Chart the album would peak at number 44, becoming his second Top 75 hit.

On April 4th 2011 Manchester Aid to Kosovo[5] released a charity album 'Ten' to which Fretwell contributed the track 'Tamarind'.[6] Also contributing to the album were fellow Manchester artists Elbow, Badly Drawn Boy and Cherry Ghost.

Fretwell also played bass on tour with the Last Shadow Puppets, the side project of Arctic Monkeys' Alex Turner.

His song "Run" is the theme tune to the situation comedy Gavin & Stacey and his song "Darling Don't" appeared on the third series of the teen drama Skins.

His song "Play" from the album Magpie was featured in the 2009 movie The Joneses.

On 1 March 2021, Fretwell released a new single, "Oval" after a 13 year hiatus[7] and announced a new album, called Busy Guy, to be released on cult indie record label[8][9] Speedy Wunderground.[10][11]

Discography

Albums

  • 8 Songs (Mini-album 2002)
  • Magpie (Fiction Records 2004) UK No. 27
  • Man on the Roof (Fiction Records 2007) UK No. 44
  • Busy Guy (Speedy Wunderground/PIAS[12] 2021)[13]

EPs

  • Something's Got to Give (EP)
  • The Lines
  • Four Letter Words (EP) (2007)

Singles

  • "Run" (2005) UK No. 79
  • "Emily" (2005) UK No. 42[14]
  • "Scar" (2007)
  • "Oval" (2021)[15]

Other contributions

References

  1. ↑ "Tireless route to the top for Fretwell". 2 September 2005.
  2. 1 2 3 Monger, James Christopher. "Stephen Fretwell". Allmusic. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  3. 1 2 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 215. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. ↑ Wright, Jade (1 July 2011). "Stephen Fretwell: Nowhere parties like Liverpool". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  5. ↑ Cragg, Michael (4 April 2011). "New music exclusive: Badly Drawn Boy – Is There Nothing We Could Do?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  6. ↑ Various - Ten - Manchester Music For Kosovo, 4 April 2011, retrieved 2 November 2023
  7. ↑ Krol, Charlotte (1 March 2021). "Stephen Fretwell returns after 13 years with new song 'Oval' and announces new album this summer". NME. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  8. ↑ "OPINION: Speedy Wunderground: The indie label with a cult-like status". 21 October 2020.
  9. ↑ "Speedy Wunderground at three – the cult indie label looks back on their best bits so far". NME. 12 June 2018.
  10. ↑ "About Speedy Wunderground".
  11. ↑ "Singer-songwriter Stephen Fretwell returns: 'I took a leap that cost me my marriage'". TheGuardian.com. 8 July 2021.
  12. ↑ "#FoundFretwell: Stephen Fretwell Returns with 'Oval'". 2 March 2021.
  13. ↑ Reilly, Nick (7 April 2021). "Stephen Fretwell announces anticipated third album Busy Guy". NME. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  14. ↑ "STEPHEN FRETWELL | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". OfficialCharts.com.
  15. ↑ "Stephen Fretwell Returns with 'Oval'". March 2021.
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