Episode Details

With a sound reminiscent of soft-rock bands of the 60s & 70s, harmony trio Motel Sundown draw listeners with their blend of heartfelt lyrics over luscious three-part harmonies. Much of 2025 saw Motel Sundown flourish in the studio, working on their second EP Signs in the Rush of Light, which was released in March 2026, earning the band their debut BBC Radio 2 play with Bob Harris, who labelled the trio “really terrific." In partnership with BBC Introducing, the trio were also invited to play C2C at the O2 Arena in London in March 2026 and performed 2 tracks live on BBC Radio 2 with Bob Harris.

2024 saw the release of their debut EP El Dorado (“vividly nostalgic songs that envelop and intrigue you” - Boot Music), coinciding with a sold-out show at the Music Room, Liverpool and Green Note, Camden, before appearing at Liverpool Celebrates Festival, sharing a line-up with The Jacksons at Liverpool’s Pier Head. The band closed their busiest year yet with a 9-date tour across the UK and Ireland.

Motel Sundown continue building their momentum this Summer with festival appearances at Beardy Folk, Red Rooster and a full band show at ARC:HIVE Liverpool on the 12th of June.

They met around 2016 on the gigging circuit in Liverpool and quickly realised they not only had mutual influences but also thought that the sound of their voices blended really well together. With Naomi and Karen hailing from Co. Tyrone in the north of Ireland (meeting in Liverpool) and Bobby hailing from London, a friendship quickly formed, and the trio have been playing together ever since.

Karen Turley is an acclaimed Singer-Songwriter hailing from Ireland with a lifelong passion for Folk, Country, and Americana.

In 2016, Karen participated in an exchange between Liverpool and Nashville with Monkey Mind Productions. She was invited to perform in the round at The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville with Grammy-nominated Don Henry and Americana Singer-Songwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman. Karen has released two solo EPs and has garnered extensive experience performing both as a solo artist and as part of various bands, including Americana Trio Motel Sundown, captivating audiences across Ireland and the UK.

NAOMI CAMPBELL combines a hybrid of genres in her music. Known for her dynamic and evocative vocals, she has enjoyed quite the evolution in the past few years from her Irish roots of Folk and Americana to a wider Soul and R&B sound.

Since moving to Liverpool in 2014 Naomi has been a part of several musical projects including harmony trio Motel Sundown and Down in Laurel Canyon as well as releasing her own solo material.

BOBBY JOHNSON is the third member of Motel Sundown.

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