Kris Drever

Event information

Kris Drever originally comes from Hrossey in the Orkney Islands. Over the years, he has taught himself to be a songwriter, guitarist and singer of note (and sometimes many notes).

As well as creating award-winning original songs and instrumental pieces with the trio Lau, he has had a fruitful solo career exploring the cracks between classic and modern songwriting and the traditional music that he comes from.

Drever’s sound is rooted in the earthy and hypnotic rhythms of much older music, but there’s a sophistication to both the lyricism and the instrumentalism which places him skilfully in the present.

He has an extensive collection of BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, plus a fistful of Scottish NaTrads awards for everything from best album, best singer and best live act to best original song.

He has worked with many excellent musicians, including Jack Bruce, Eddi Reader, Mark Knopfler, Jerry Douglas and Roddy Woomble, and is a member of the beautiful multi-media project Spell Songs: The Lost Words.

Currently, Kris is preparing for a series of Lau events around the UK, writing music for a new solo album and learning some old tunes for reasons he can’t quite explain.

Tour support comes from Heather Cartwright. Heather Cartwright’s musical style is an amalgamation of solo-fingerstyle, traditional Scottish rhythm guitar, and song accompaniment. Years of dedication in the lead up to and during her time at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland resulted in graduating with a first-class honours degree in Traditional music. Although originally from Cumbria, Heather now bases herself in Glasgow’s vibrant music scene. As well as presenting herself as a solo artist, Heather is in duos with Scots Singer of the Year (2022), Beth Malcolm, and Sam Mabbett (accordion), one of Scotland’s most highly regarded musicians. She also regularly collaborates with other singers such Hannah Rarity (Young Traditional Musician of the Year, 2018) and Ainsley Hamill, both around Scotland and in Europe.

‘Talent and years of dedication have created a guitarist of the first order, blending fingerpicking and rhythm with ease’ – The Quintessential Review

Opening the show is Alwyn Jones. Raised in Sheffield, Alwyn Jones is an indie-folk singer songwriter making himself heard in Manchester. Primarily starting out solely as a guitarist, Alwyn’s composition draws influence from folk heroes such as John Martyn and Nick Drake. His encapsulating and emotive performances as a solo artist, or now as part of a full band, make for a dynamic and intriguing soundscape that audiences would associate with the likes of Wunderhorse or Jeff Buckley.

This will be one of the first public concerts in St Michael’s since its recent re-opening, having been closed since 2004. The Roman Catholic church was founded in 1859 and became the heart of the Little Italy Community in Ancoats.

AGE RESTRICTION: This is a 14+ show. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.