Availability:
2010
Chris and Andy Cutting - October
Chris Solo - November

Tour Dates

Downloads:
Biography
Hand made Life Bio
Hi-res image pack
Tech Spec


Web links:
Official Site
MySpace

Chris Wood

Singer of the Year and Best Album BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2009

"The finest and most original singer-songwriter to have emerged from the British folk scene since Richard Thompson" – The Guardian

‘Albion’ nominated as ‘Best Compilation/ Reissue’ in fRoots album awards 2009

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 include the new album, Handmade Life, which saw Chris touring with a 4 piece band in late 2009 and he will go on to tour the album solo in 2010.

He is also an integral collaborator and vocalist as part of Simon Emmerson’s project, ‘The Imagined Village’ which won a 2008 BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for ‘Best Track’ for ‘Cold Hailey Rainy Night’. The project also features artists such as Eliza Carthy, Martin Carthy and Johnny Kalsi. The new album is released in January at Celtic Connections in Scotland.

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.

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 and Between The Ears, and also from The Sage Gateshead, and has completed work for Arts Council England whilst also writing and lecturing.

fRoots
“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.”
Colin Irwin

The Observer Music Monthly ****
“…unshowy charm…talented interpreter of traditional material…bewitching treatises.. possessed of a time less quality…” Sarah Boden

Observer Music Monthly **** 4/5 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
 

Chris Wood’s Handmade Life

Current recipient of BBC Folk Award for Singer of the year and Album of the year Chris Wood now broadens his music with an award from the Contemporary Music Network who have identified him as a major commentator on contemporary English life.

Chris Wood’s Handmade Life tour takes place in November of 2009 and his tour band includes fellow Imagined Villagers Andy Gangadeen and Barney Morse Brown on Drums and Cello along with Robert Jarvis on Trombone.
Nothing really sounds like it – the unique instrumentation matches Wood’s voice perfectly while the content of the new songs retains his vision. Subtle yet massive!

As the chancellor rolls up his sleeves to squeeze us to an extent hitherto unplumbed Chris Wood’s themes are Humane – Gentle – Compassionate – Civilized.
As this is offered with a CMN touring grant this may be the only opportunity to see this unique ensemble!

BBC Folk Award Winner - Album Of the Year 2009

BBC Folk Award Winner - Singer Of The Year -2009

Currently writing for The Darwin Song Project - 2009

Commission for Bath Literature festival - 2009

Frontline member of The Imagined Village