Jan Bell plays solo and with her Brooklyn based band The Maybelles

Jan Bell was born in Yorkshire, England and now makes her home in Brooklyn, NYC.

In 2008 her album 'Songs for Love Drunk Sinners' won the Independent Music Awards Alt. Country Album of the year. The album was produced by Samantha Parton of The Be Good Tanyas. Country Music Radio UK put it in their Top Three Albums of the year. Songwriter highlights include an invitation from The Woody Guthrie Archives to set original melodies to found lyrics; A commission from The MacDowell Colony 100 year Anniversary in Central Park; Brooklyn Arts Council 'Memorial Sing'; and The Masters Stage 'Real Deal' Songwriter Performance at Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival.
Recent Performance highlights include official selection to play the North American Folk Alliance in Memphis, The International Bluegrass Music Awards (IBMA), in Nashville; and NXNE in Toronto.  She was also commissioned to play a NYC Women's Prison. Her writings are featured in The Musician’s Atlas. The Nashville Scene, Americana UK, The Village Voice, and NOW Toronto have all featured Jan and her songwriting.
Jan has opened for The Be Good Tanyas, Ferron, Emmylou Harris, Wanda Jackson, Odetta, Rosalie Sorrels, and Steve Earle. Jolie Holland lists Jan in her Top Ten, and covers Jan's songs on tour.
2009 saw two UK Tours, including debut performances by Jan and fellow Charisma Artist, Will Scott at Glastonbury Festival.
This year sees her first placement in feature film – with three of her songs in the romantic comedy 'Feed the Fish'.
On a break from NYC, Jan met fellow founder of The Maybelles - upright bass player Melissa Carper. They lived and played in The Ozarks, New Orleans, and NYC. They named themselves after the motor home they named after Mother Maybelle Carter. Today they cover each other’s songs back in their home-town bands. The new lineup, culling members of The Maybelles  and Jan’s Brooklyn band comprises three part harmony, upright bass, guitar, banjo, violin, and saw!
In 2009 Jan was inducted into the Brooklyn Country Music Hall of Fame.

Albums:

Songs For Love Drunk Sinners	Maybelles; Leavin' Town
Maybelles; White Trash Jenny