On the North York Moors

Chris Smither

Sat 24 October 2015 - 19.30

Our 20th anniversary year includes this exclusive intimate performance by legendary US Folk/Blues singer-songwriter and virtuoso guitarist CHRIS SMITHER, whose well-travelled, hard-won voice and serenely intricate finger-picking earned him a long-term working relationship with BONNIE RAITT...who called him 'my ERIC CLAPTON.' Initially inspired by LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS and MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT, Smither evolved into a Folk and Blues synthesist touched by genius. His songs have been covered by Raitt, EMMYLOU HARRIS and DIANA KRALL, he's toured with RAMBLIN' JACK ELLIOTT and TOM RUSSELL, and sparkled with ALLEN TOUSSAINT. In September 2014, Signature Sounds released critically-acclaimed all-star tribute album Link of Chain, which featured Smither cover versions by aficionados MARY GAUTHIER, EILEN JEWELL, LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III, AOIFE O'DONAVAN, DAVE ALVIN, PETER CASE, TIM O'BRIEN, PATTY LARKIN, BONNIE RAITT, et al.

UNCUT said of Smither's latest album: "The Miami native has built a cult reputation as a folk artist with a healthy wanderlust, peppering his tunes with rusted blues, country, some jazz and a wise lyric....Newcomers to Smither’s five-decade, multi-album career are advised to start right here."

MOJO (5 STARS) said of Smither's 2012 album Hundred Dollar Valentine: "It's a thing of profound beauty; deep, sad, wise songs, allied to perfectly crafted arrangements, from a man who’s lived long enough in darkness to address the big, heavy questions with a lightness of touch."

Chris Smither website

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