Past event!
This event has already taken place.
Find all current events for this promoter here.
Event information
CHRIS WOOD is an uncompromising writer whose music reveals his love for the un-official history of the English speaking people. With gentle intelligence he weaves the tradition with his own contemporary parables, his writing has been said to share the same timeless quality as Richard Thompson at his best. Chris's latest projects are his new album, Trespasser which has been widely critically acclaimed. It was recorded at his R.U.F Records / English Acoustic Collective base in Kent and includes the vocals of Karine Polwart.
A master of understatement, the full import of this remarkable album is easily overlooked. From the acerbic, almost punk - Cottager's Reply to his 'atheist spiritual' - Come down Jehovah Wood's ear for melody and gift for storytelling is peerless. Ever since the days of Richard Thompson the English folk tradition has looked to all four corners of the Anglo isles for a talisman to fly the flag for home-grown roots. With integrity and narrative building like this, it may have found one, for with Trespasser Chris Wood has well and truly ripped Excalibur from the stone.
Chris Wood will be touring in support of Trespasser throughout 2008
Since his first solo release The Lark Descending in 2005 he has concentrated on solo output and Trespasser was launched at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in March. He's about to begin a short writing spell at Peter Gabriel's Real World studios and is already signed up to a writing residency in 2009 tied in with the British Library and the bi-centenary of Darwin's birth. He is currently working on a commission for next year's Bath Festival and is set for a busy festival season this summer including Cambridge, Glastonbury, Big Chill.
He is also part of Simon Emmerson's project, `The Imagined Village' which won a 2008 BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for `Best Track' for `Cold Haily Rainy Night'. The project also features artists such as Eliza Carthy, Martin Carthy, Jonny Kalsi and Benjamin Zephaniah. Wood's appeal has now gone way beyond English folk music. He was invited to sing at last year's WOMEX where he garnered much praise and found many new followers. Likewise, his spot at the WOMAD 2008 festival was testament to his widening appeal.
He has had musical commissions from BBC Radio 3's Late Junction, Between The Ears, The Sage Gateshead and has completed work for Arts Council England whilst also writing and lecturing.
The Irish Times heralded Chris Wood as "the renaissance man of English folk" when on his own R.U.F Records label he released The Lark Descending which included the BBC Folk Award winning song One In A Million in 2005.
“In a warm, dark brown voice with sparse, minimalist accompaniment, Wood is an intimate story teller, applying such nuance and gravitas to every phrase you are imperceptibly lured into his world…. he seamlessly knits the spirit of the tradition into his very contemporary parables. And it's magnificent.” fRoots
“…unshowy charm…talented interpreter of traditional material…bewitching treatises.. possessed of a time less quality…” The Observer Music Monthly ****
Mojo Magazine **** 4/5 Album Of The Month
The Telegraph **** Folk Album Of The Week
The Times **** 4/5
Q Magazine **** 4/5 + Best Of Month List
PLEASE NOTE THE KITCHEN WILL BE CLOSED TONIGHT. DOORS OPEN AT 7PM.
