NOTTINGHAM: The Maze

Monday 24th March, 2014

7:30pm

Event information

"…summoning the spirits of Gillian Welch's 'Revelator' or Ryan Adams' 'Heartbreaker". -Billboard.com

18 months ago Chris Pureka opened as support for us at the Maze and quite frankly stole the show that night. At last she is back, this time headlining what will be a night that I strongly recommend you do not miss. Here is someone who may be a new name to many however if there is any justice at all it will not stay that way for long.

Raised in Connecticut, Pureka is said to have begun writing songs at the age of eight; by 16 she was playing the guitar. Following performances at local coffee houses and open mics, she began opening shows for such artists as Erin McKeown and Pamela Means while completing a degree in biology at Wesleyan University.

Chris Pureka is a breath of fresh air in an age of fleeting success and temporary notions. She is an artist of substance, armed with a sharp eye for oft-missed details and an emotional intelligence that can switch from withering to compelling with a subtle inflection. On her third release, How I Learned To See In The Dark set to hit via Sad Rabbit Music /ADA on April 13, Pureka expands on her distinct and beautiful melodies exploring broader musical soundscapes all the while maintaining the stunning vocals and distinct guitar work she is known for.

The latest release, Chimera II, is an expression of transition, collecting seven tracks old and new, borrowed and original. Like its predecessor, How I Learned To See In The Dark, it’s both a coda and prelude, an assortment of songs that are vital and revealing and yet don’t quite fit within the focus of her full-length albums.

I’m writing now,” she says. “The new material is a little more intense a little louder and definitely darker.” Happily ensconced in a new city, surrounded by a new community of friends, collaborators and supporters, she’s working on her next full-length, set for release later this year.

Recommended if You Like - Damien Rice Josh Ritter Patty Griffin

www.chrispureka.com/