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Christopher Rees Tickets, Tour Dates and %{concertOrShowText}
Christopher Rees Tickets, Tour Dates and %{concertOrShowText}

Christopher ReesVerified

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Send a request to Christopher Rees to play in your city
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Circle Hat
$25.0 USD
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$45.0 USD
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$30.0 USD
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$20.0 USD

concerts and tour dates

Past

NOV
17
2018
Tenby, United Kingdom
Tenby Blues Festival @ Caffe Vista,
I Was There
NOV
03
2018
St David's, United Kingdom
Roots at The RAFA Club (w/ The Slocan Ramblers)
I Was There
OCT
15
2018
Cardiff, United Kingdom
Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff, w/ Chatham County Line
I Was There
SEP
21
2018
Boncath, United Kingdom
Top of The Woods Festival
I Was There
SEP
16
2018
Tenby, United Kingdom
The Lifeboat Tavern
I Was There
AUG
25
2018
Barry, United Kingdom
Academy Espresso Bar, The Pumphouse
I Was There
AUG
25
2018
Cardiff, United Kingdom
Harbour Festival Norwegian Church Decking,
I Was There
JUL
06
2018
Winchester, United Kingdom
The Swiss Cottage, Twyford (w/ Vera Van Heeringen)
I Was There
JUL
05
2018
Swindon, United Kingdom
The Beehive, Swindon
I Was There
MAY
28
2018
Penarth, United Kingdom
Cardiff Bay Barrage (Volvo Ocean Race) Stage
I Was There
MAY
28
2018
Penarth, United Kingdom
Cardiff Bay Barage (Volvo Ocean Race) Stage.
I Was There
MAY
27
2018
Penarth, United Kingdom
Penarth Con Club (w/ Blind Boy Paxton)
I Was There
MAY
25
2018
Hereford, United Kingdom
How The Light Gets In Festival, Hay on Wye.
I Was There
MAY
20
2018
Tenby, United Kingdom
The Lifeboat Tavern, Tenby
I Was There
MAY
11
2018
Wrexham, United Kingdom
St Giles Parish Church (w/ The Gentle Good) Focus Wales
I Was There
MAR
25
2018
Tenby, United Kingdom
The Lifeboat Tavern
I Was There
MAR
17
2018
Austin, TX
Austin Taco Project @ Austin Hilton
I Was There
MAR
16
2018
Austin, TX
Cannon & Belle @ Austin Hilton
I Was There
MAR
15
2018
Austin, TX
Opal Devine’s
I Was There
MAR
15
2018
Austin, TX
Goorin Brothers Hat Shop
I Was There
MAR
14
2018
Austin, TX
The Townsend, Focus Wales ‘Official Showcase
I Was There
MAR
13
2018
Austin, TX
Austin Convention Centre
I Was There
MAR
13
2018
Austin, TX
Austin Convention Center
I Was There
MAR
05
2018
Cardiff, United Kingdom
The Moon (w/ The Grahams)
I Was There
FEB
16
2018
Cardiff, United Kingdom
St John's Church (w/ Zervas & Pepper)
I Was There
FEB
08
2018
Pentre, United Kingdom
The Phoenix Cinema (FREE Cinema Screening of 'I Shiver' (Official Video) & Live performance.
I Was There
JAN
28
2018
Nottingham, United Kingdom
The Maze (w/ Hayes Carll)
I Was There
JAN
21
2018
Tenby, United Kingdom
Lifeboat Tavern
I Was There
DEC
10
2017
Carmarthen, United Kingdom
Brown's Hotel Laugharne
I Was There
DEC
08
2017
High Wycombe, United Kingdom
Kingsmead House
I Was There
DEC
06
2017
London, United Kingdom
What's Cookin' Upstairs @ Leytonstone Ex-Servicemens Club
I Was There
NOV
23
2017
Porthcawl, United Kingdom
The Grand Pavilion
I Was There
NOV
12
2017
Tenby, United Kingdom
Cafe Vista
I Was There
OCT
14
2017
Cardiff, United Kingdom
Clwb Ifor Bach
I Was There
OCT
13
2017
Cardiff, United Kingdom
St John the Evangelist Church
I Was There
OCT
12
2017
Llanelli, United Kingdom
Ffwrnes - Stiwdio Stepni,
I Was There
OCT
08
2017
Tenby, United Kingdom
The Lifeboat Tavern
I Was There
SEP
30
2017
Swansea, United Kingdom
Pontardawe Arts Centre
I Was There
SEP
17
2017
Carmarthen, United Kingdom
Browns
I Was There
SEP
14
2017
Swindon, United Kingdom
The Beehive
I Was There
AUG
26
2017
Cardiff, United Kingdom
The bootlegger
I Was There
AUG
20
2017
Tenby, United Kingdom
The Lifeboat Tavern
I Was There
AUG
18
2017
Pontypridd, United Kingdom
The Constitutional Club
I Was There
JUL
09
2017
Swansea, United Kingdom
Loughor Boating Club
I Was There
JUL
07
2017
Cardiff, United Kingdom
Tramshed (w/ MAVIS STAPLES)
I Was There
JUL
02
2017
Tenby, United Kingdom
The Lifeboat Tavern
I Was There
JUN
23
2017
Langwm, United Kingdom
Llangwm Rugby Cricket & Social Club.
I Was There
JUN
11
2017
Cardiff, United Kingdom
BBC Radio Wales
I Was There
MAY
16
2017
Tenby, United Kingdom
The Lifeboat Tavern
I Was There
APR
16
2017
Laugharne, United Kingdom
The Browns
I Was There
Show More Dates

About Christopher Rees

MUSIC - BIOGRAPHY

Christopher Rees released the much touted 'Kiss Me Kill Me' EP via FFvinyl in 2001, receiving a Welsh Music Award nomination for ‘Best Male Solo Act’ two years running in 2002 and 2003, and made history by becoming the first act in over a decade to support former Velvet Underground legend John Cale during a 2001 UK tour.

After embracing the spirit of empowered independence he establishing the Red Eye Music label with fellow musician Dave Stapleton in 2003 and released his debut album ‘The Sweetest Ache’ in October 2004. Building a seven piece band around him that included cello, violin, double bass, piano, guitars and drums, the album received widespread critical acclaim for its musical ambition and dramatic intensity.

“It’s not easy to achieve noise metal god status accompanied by a cello but Christopher Rees makes an awesome, bloody fist of it. Pumped up and snarling but managing to wrench beautiful tunes out of the wreckage… This is seriously amazing stuff”. NME

“Moody and magnificent”. TIME OUT

“An emotionally charged, world class singer songwriter”. JANICE LONG, BBC RADIO 2

“Intense and absolutely mesmerizing”. HUW STEPHENS, BBC RADIO 1

“Sonically powerful and epic in proportion. A record so cinematic it should be marketed as a Bond film. One of 2004’s most ambitious and accomplished debuts”. MAVERICK

“A Mammoth piece of musical vision”. BIG ISSUE

In Oct 2004 he also made another piece of small history by becoming the first act ever to perform at The Houses Of Parliament, Port Cullis House as part of Fergal Sharkey’s Live Music Forum. The Sweetest Ache also earned him the title of Best Male Solo Artist at The Welsh Music Awards 2004.

His second album Alone On A Mountain Top (The Ty Bach Twt Sessions) was released in June 2005.

Recorded entirely alone over six days in a tiny 200 year old cottage on the top of a mountain in Mid Wales, Alone On A Mountain Top is the polar opposite to the orchestral polish and drama of The Sweetest Ache. Drawing from the rustic traditions of Americana, country, delta blues, gospel and rock'n'roll, it became an unexpected success in the UK with major support from MOJO, UNCUT and Janice Long on BBC Radio 2 as well as opening the doors to international touring. The album garnered international distribution throughout Canada, Benelux and New Zealand where Rees toured solo with such fine American acts as Willard Grant Conspiracy, William Elliott Whitmore, The Deadstring Brothers, Mark Eitzel, Kelly Joe Phelps, Freakwater and more.

“Deliciously raw and spellbinding…A wonderful homespun triumph”.MOJO, Editor-in-Chief, Phil Alexander

“A compelling set of vocal theatrics and spectral blues communion”.UNCUT

“Unflinching and venomous… a truly incredible talent”. BIG ISSUE

“Raw, hypnotic and at times dangerous, Rees sings as if his life depends on it”. OTTAWA EXPRESS, CANADA

“Breathtaking and spiritually uplifting”. TORONTO SUN, CANADA

The third album by Christopher Rees ‘Cautionary Tales’ was released on September 3rd 2007. Described by MOJO Editor in Chief Phil Alexander as, “Full of simmering soul”, and “A genuinely roots affair…that deserves to be admired”, (Fred Dellar – MOJO)

It features collaborations with a host of world class female vocalists including a duet with much loved American singer Victoria Williams as well as other special guests like Becky Newman (The Hot Puppies) and French singer Charline Rose (Calexico, Giant Sand).

Cautionary Tales showcases several sides of his impassioned song writing, covering everything from soulful country and folk to raucous delta blues / rock and heart rending ballads while comfortably balancing raw and rustic acoustics with sophisticated and sublime strings.

The album has garnered widespread critical acclaim throughout the UK, and across Europe, major radio play on BBC Radio 2 (Janice Long, Steve Lamacq, Bob Harris). The single Bottom Dollar (Featuring Victoria Williams) hit Number 2 in the MOJO Playlist in October 2007 (Issue 167).

It also opened the door to some wider touring activities including high profile appearances at The Green Man Festival, End Of The Road Festival and supports slots with Richard Hawley and Texas Country legend Billy Joe Shaver.

Rees also showcased at international music festivals like North By North East in Toronto, Canada 2007 & 2008 as well as the World renowned South By South West Music Festival in Austin, Texas in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Christopher Rees released his fourth album 'Devil's Bridge' on May 11th 2009 to great critical acclaim. He was invited to tour nation wide with such luminaries as Kristin Hersh (Throwing Muses), The Handsome Family, Chuck Prophet, Steve Earle, Cherryholmes and The Sadies.

“Boasting a delicious 50's twang...an increasingly accomplished songwriter in full flight”.(Phil Alexander, Editor-in-chief. MOJO)

“Christopher Rees has honed his narrative chops to fine effect. All splash echo and rockabilly riffs...he makes room for fat dollops of bluegrass, country and rustic folk, including a stomping banjo straight from the Blue Ridge Mountains”. UNCUT ****

“By far his best to date”. Q MAGAZINE

Clearly informed by Rees’ love of Americana, in all its diverse and dynamic glory Devil's Bridge embraces a range of styles from Rock’n’Roll to Bluegrass, Gospel, Blues, Country, Rockabilly and Appalachian Folk murder ballads.It’s all there, but as the 12 piece choral sections to songs like ‘All Our Beds Are Made’ and ‘World’s Fall Apart Everyday’ show, there remains something quintessentially Welsh about it. Titled Devil’s Bridge because the album was predominantly recorded in a mountain retreat near the village of the same name in Ceredigion, Mid Wales and because of its connotations to the subject matter, it sees Rees take another giant step forward on a journey that becomes ever more fascinating and rewarding with each new album.

“A spit and sawdust holler that's as close to a Southern hell-fire preacher as you can get hailing from Cardiff. Replete with machine gun snare fills and razor sharp guitar lines...rattles out of the traps like it was cut at Sun Studios in 1956. Very, very good”. MOJO (Live review from The Great Escape Festival)

“One helluva singer. A volumous force of nature. This is Rees at his peak, fully fried and giving it every ounce of grit and passion”. MAVERICK MAGAZINE

“His home is in the Welsh hills but his heart is definitely in Tennessee. He transcends the boundaries. A heart aching gem”. ARTROCKER MAGAZINE

"Welshman Christopher Rees sings like Tim Buckley remaking bluegrass blues". (MOJO - Green Man Festival 2010 - Live Review) NOVEMBER 2010

Christopher Rees released his 5th album'Heart On Fire' in May 2011. The album is a well developed full band album, partly recorded in Austin, Texas with The South Austin Horns (Alejandro Escovedo, Burning Spear). With a bag full of songs that called out for an authentic American horn section Rees decamped to Austin for 3 weeks to arrange the horn parts with Mark Wilson before joining forces with veteran trombonist Charles Dickey and Trumpet player Ricky White. The parts clicked immediately and injected the songs with the dynamic punch and power that Rees had envisioned. Additional piano and Hammond organ parts provided the finishing touches upon Rees' return to Wales.

Written and produced entirely by Rees, Heart On Fire might sound like a change of direction for an artist recently seen plucking a banjo and stamping his feet on tour with Americana greats like Steve Earle,Kristin Hersh, The Sadies, The Handsome Family and Chuck Prophet.

But as MOJO Editor, Phil Alexander commented on the 2007 album Cautionary Tales, Rees' songs have always been, “Full of simmering soul”. And there's plenty of that trademark twang and tremolo here to support Rees' ever emotional and distinctive voice. While the scenery that surrounds these songs and the lyrical substance they contain is more immediately accessible and optimistic than people have come to expect from someone who's last album, Devil's Bridge mainly consisted of murder ballads, Heart On Fire is still unmistakably a Christopher Rees record. The rockabilly energy remains in songs like Warm By My Fire, while the title track and Raise The Battle Cry present uplifting gospel. Other highlights include the radio friendly Sparks Flying and the explosive In The Middle Of The Night.

Now with five critically acclaimed albums already under his belt, Welsh singer, song writer Christopher Rees has covered a lot of ground both musically and geographically in the last few years. Heart On Fire is another fascinating chapter in that journey. It's an album that celebrates Rees' passion and commitment towards music, love, life and his dedication to the art of serving the song.

"I love this record...I think it's absolutely terrific". (Bob Harris - BBC Radio 2)

“Fine old-school country soul...The South Austin Horns provide shades of Muscle Shoals”. (UNCUT)

"An old school soul revue, heavy on stabbing brass and greasy hammond". (MOJO) ****

" Startlingly confident country soul". (BBC.CO.UK)

“A soul-drenched album that smacks of the vintage Stax”. (Maverick)

“It's really good. There's a strong element of Memphis soul about it. I can picture Otis singing something like that”. (Ralph McLean – BBC Radio Ulster)
Show More
Genres:
Country, Rockabilly, Soul, Roots & Americana, Banjo
Hometown:
Llanelli, United Kingdom

No upcoming shows
Send a request to Christopher Rees to play in your city
Request a Show

Bandsintown Merch

Circle Hat
$25.0 USD
Live Collage Sweatshirt
$45.0 USD
Rainbow T-Shirt
$30.0 USD
Circle Beanie
$20.0 USD

concerts and tour dates

Past

NOV
17
2018
Tenby, United Kingdom
Tenby Blues Festival @ Caffe Vista,
I Was There
NOV
03
2018
St David's, United Kingdom
Roots at The RAFA Club (w/ The Slocan Ramblers)
I Was There
OCT
15
2018
Cardiff, United Kingdom
Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff, w/ Chatham County Line
I Was There
SEP
21
2018
Boncath, United Kingdom
Top of The Woods Festival
I Was There
SEP
16
2018
Tenby, United Kingdom
The Lifeboat Tavern
I Was There
AUG
25
2018
Barry, United Kingdom
Academy Espresso Bar, The Pumphouse
I Was There
AUG
25
2018
Cardiff, United Kingdom
Harbour Festival Norwegian Church Decking,
I Was There
JUL
06
2018
Winchester, United Kingdom
The Swiss Cottage, Twyford (w/ Vera Van Heeringen)
I Was There
JUL
05
2018
Swindon, United Kingdom
The Beehive, Swindon
I Was There
MAY
28
2018
Penarth, United Kingdom
Cardiff Bay Barrage (Volvo Ocean Race) Stage
I Was There
MAY
28
2018
Penarth, United Kingdom
Cardiff Bay Barage (Volvo Ocean Race) Stage.
I Was There
MAY
27
2018
Penarth, United Kingdom
Penarth Con Club (w/ Blind Boy Paxton)
I Was There
MAY
25
2018
Hereford, United Kingdom
How The Light Gets In Festival, Hay on Wye.
I Was There
MAY
20
2018
Tenby, United Kingdom
The Lifeboat Tavern, Tenby
I Was There
MAY
11
2018
Wrexham, United Kingdom
St Giles Parish Church (w/ The Gentle Good) Focus Wales
I Was There
MAR
25
2018
Tenby, United Kingdom
The Lifeboat Tavern
I Was There
MAR
17
2018
Austin, TX
Austin Taco Project @ Austin Hilton
I Was There
MAR
16
2018
Austin, TX
Cannon & Belle @ Austin Hilton
I Was There
MAR
15
2018
Austin, TX
Opal Devine’s
I Was There
MAR
15
2018
Austin, TX
Goorin Brothers Hat Shop
I Was There
MAR
14
2018
Austin, TX
The Townsend, Focus Wales ‘Official Showcase
I Was There
MAR
13
2018
Austin, TX
Austin Convention Centre
I Was There
MAR
13
2018
Austin, TX
Austin Convention Center
I Was There
MAR
05
2018
Cardiff, United Kingdom
The Moon (w/ The Grahams)
I Was There
FEB
16
2018
Cardiff, United Kingdom
St John's Church (w/ Zervas & Pepper)
I Was There
FEB
08
2018
Pentre, United Kingdom
The Phoenix Cinema (FREE Cinema Screening of 'I Shiver' (Official Video) & Live performance.
I Was There
JAN
28
2018
Nottingham, United Kingdom
The Maze (w/ Hayes Carll)
I Was There
JAN
21
2018
Tenby, United Kingdom
Lifeboat Tavern
I Was There
DEC
10
2017
Carmarthen, United Kingdom
Brown's Hotel Laugharne
I Was There
DEC
08
2017
High Wycombe, United Kingdom
Kingsmead House
I Was There
DEC
06
2017
London, United Kingdom
What's Cookin' Upstairs @ Leytonstone Ex-Servicemens Club
I Was There
NOV
23
2017
Porthcawl, United Kingdom
The Grand Pavilion
I Was There
NOV
12
2017
Tenby, United Kingdom
Cafe Vista
I Was There
OCT
14
2017
Cardiff, United Kingdom
Clwb Ifor Bach
I Was There
OCT
13
2017
Cardiff, United Kingdom
St John the Evangelist Church
I Was There
OCT
12
2017
Llanelli, United Kingdom
Ffwrnes - Stiwdio Stepni,
I Was There
OCT
08
2017
Tenby, United Kingdom
The Lifeboat Tavern
I Was There
SEP
30
2017
Swansea, United Kingdom
Pontardawe Arts Centre
I Was There
SEP
17
2017
Carmarthen, United Kingdom
Browns
I Was There
SEP
14
2017
Swindon, United Kingdom
The Beehive
I Was There
AUG
26
2017
Cardiff, United Kingdom
The bootlegger
I Was There
AUG
20
2017
Tenby, United Kingdom
The Lifeboat Tavern
I Was There
AUG
18
2017
Pontypridd, United Kingdom
The Constitutional Club
I Was There
JUL
09
2017
Swansea, United Kingdom
Loughor Boating Club
I Was There
JUL
07
2017
Cardiff, United Kingdom
Tramshed (w/ MAVIS STAPLES)
I Was There
JUL
02
2017
Tenby, United Kingdom
The Lifeboat Tavern
I Was There
JUN
23
2017
Langwm, United Kingdom
Llangwm Rugby Cricket & Social Club.
I Was There
JUN
11
2017
Cardiff, United Kingdom
BBC Radio Wales
I Was There
MAY
16
2017
Tenby, United Kingdom
The Lifeboat Tavern
I Was There
APR
16
2017
Laugharne, United Kingdom
The Browns
I Was There
Show More Dates

About Christopher Rees

MUSIC - BIOGRAPHY

Christopher Rees released the much touted 'Kiss Me Kill Me' EP via FFvinyl in 2001, receiving a Welsh Music Award nomination for ‘Best Male Solo Act’ two years running in 2002 and 2003, and made history by becoming the first act in over a decade to support former Velvet Underground legend John Cale during a 2001 UK tour.

After embracing the spirit of empowered independence he establishing the Red Eye Music label with fellow musician Dave Stapleton in 2003 and released his debut album ‘The Sweetest Ache’ in October 2004. Building a seven piece band around him that included cello, violin, double bass, piano, guitars and drums, the album received widespread critical acclaim for its musical ambition and dramatic intensity.

“It’s not easy to achieve noise metal god status accompanied by a cello but Christopher Rees makes an awesome, bloody fist of it. Pumped up and snarling but managing to wrench beautiful tunes out of the wreckage… This is seriously amazing stuff”. NME

“Moody and magnificent”. TIME OUT

“An emotionally charged, world class singer songwriter”. JANICE LONG, BBC RADIO 2

“Intense and absolutely mesmerizing”. HUW STEPHENS, BBC RADIO 1

“Sonically powerful and epic in proportion. A record so cinematic it should be marketed as a Bond film. One of 2004’s most ambitious and accomplished debuts”. MAVERICK

“A Mammoth piece of musical vision”. BIG ISSUE

In Oct 2004 he also made another piece of small history by becoming the first act ever to perform at The Houses Of Parliament, Port Cullis House as part of Fergal Sharkey’s Live Music Forum. The Sweetest Ache also earned him the title of Best Male Solo Artist at The Welsh Music Awards 2004.

His second album Alone On A Mountain Top (The Ty Bach Twt Sessions) was released in June 2005.

Recorded entirely alone over six days in a tiny 200 year old cottage on the top of a mountain in Mid Wales, Alone On A Mountain Top is the polar opposite to the orchestral polish and drama of The Sweetest Ache. Drawing from the rustic traditions of Americana, country, delta blues, gospel and rock'n'roll, it became an unexpected success in the UK with major support from MOJO, UNCUT and Janice Long on BBC Radio 2 as well as opening the doors to international touring. The album garnered international distribution throughout Canada, Benelux and New Zealand where Rees toured solo with such fine American acts as Willard Grant Conspiracy, William Elliott Whitmore, The Deadstring Brothers, Mark Eitzel, Kelly Joe Phelps, Freakwater and more.

“Deliciously raw and spellbinding…A wonderful homespun triumph”.MOJO, Editor-in-Chief, Phil Alexander

“A compelling set of vocal theatrics and spectral blues communion”.UNCUT

“Unflinching and venomous… a truly incredible talent”. BIG ISSUE

“Raw, hypnotic and at times dangerous, Rees sings as if his life depends on it”. OTTAWA EXPRESS, CANADA

“Breathtaking and spiritually uplifting”. TORONTO SUN, CANADA

The third album by Christopher Rees ‘Cautionary Tales’ was released on September 3rd 2007. Described by MOJO Editor in Chief Phil Alexander as, “Full of simmering soul”, and “A genuinely roots affair…that deserves to be admired”, (Fred Dellar – MOJO)

It features collaborations with a host of world class female vocalists including a duet with much loved American singer Victoria Williams as well as other special guests like Becky Newman (The Hot Puppies) and French singer Charline Rose (Calexico, Giant Sand).

Cautionary Tales showcases several sides of his impassioned song writing, covering everything from soulful country and folk to raucous delta blues / rock and heart rending ballads while comfortably balancing raw and rustic acoustics with sophisticated and sublime strings.

The album has garnered widespread critical acclaim throughout the UK, and across Europe, major radio play on BBC Radio 2 (Janice Long, Steve Lamacq, Bob Harris). The single Bottom Dollar (Featuring Victoria Williams) hit Number 2 in the MOJO Playlist in October 2007 (Issue 167).

It also opened the door to some wider touring activities including high profile appearances at The Green Man Festival, End Of The Road Festival and supports slots with Richard Hawley and Texas Country legend Billy Joe Shaver.

Rees also showcased at international music festivals like North By North East in Toronto, Canada 2007 & 2008 as well as the World renowned South By South West Music Festival in Austin, Texas in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Christopher Rees released his fourth album 'Devil's Bridge' on May 11th 2009 to great critical acclaim. He was invited to tour nation wide with such luminaries as Kristin Hersh (Throwing Muses), The Handsome Family, Chuck Prophet, Steve Earle, Cherryholmes and The Sadies.

“Boasting a delicious 50's twang...an increasingly accomplished songwriter in full flight”.(Phil Alexander, Editor-in-chief. MOJO)

“Christopher Rees has honed his narrative chops to fine effect. All splash echo and rockabilly riffs...he makes room for fat dollops of bluegrass, country and rustic folk, including a stomping banjo straight from the Blue Ridge Mountains”. UNCUT ****

“By far his best to date”. Q MAGAZINE

Clearly informed by Rees’ love of Americana, in all its diverse and dynamic glory Devil's Bridge embraces a range of styles from Rock’n’Roll to Bluegrass, Gospel, Blues, Country, Rockabilly and Appalachian Folk murder ballads.It’s all there, but as the 12 piece choral sections to songs like ‘All Our Beds Are Made’ and ‘World’s Fall Apart Everyday’ show, there remains something quintessentially Welsh about it. Titled Devil’s Bridge because the album was predominantly recorded in a mountain retreat near the village of the same name in Ceredigion, Mid Wales and because of its connotations to the subject matter, it sees Rees take another giant step forward on a journey that becomes ever more fascinating and rewarding with each new album.

“A spit and sawdust holler that's as close to a Southern hell-fire preacher as you can get hailing from Cardiff. Replete with machine gun snare fills and razor sharp guitar lines...rattles out of the traps like it was cut at Sun Studios in 1956. Very, very good”. MOJO (Live review from The Great Escape Festival)

“One helluva singer. A volumous force of nature. This is Rees at his peak, fully fried and giving it every ounce of grit and passion”. MAVERICK MAGAZINE

“His home is in the Welsh hills but his heart is definitely in Tennessee. He transcends the boundaries. A heart aching gem”. ARTROCKER MAGAZINE

"Welshman Christopher Rees sings like Tim Buckley remaking bluegrass blues". (MOJO - Green Man Festival 2010 - Live Review) NOVEMBER 2010

Christopher Rees released his 5th album'Heart On Fire' in May 2011. The album is a well developed full band album, partly recorded in Austin, Texas with The South Austin Horns (Alejandro Escovedo, Burning Spear). With a bag full of songs that called out for an authentic American horn section Rees decamped to Austin for 3 weeks to arrange the horn parts with Mark Wilson before joining forces with veteran trombonist Charles Dickey and Trumpet player Ricky White. The parts clicked immediately and injected the songs with the dynamic punch and power that Rees had envisioned. Additional piano and Hammond organ parts provided the finishing touches upon Rees' return to Wales.

Written and produced entirely by Rees, Heart On Fire might sound like a change of direction for an artist recently seen plucking a banjo and stamping his feet on tour with Americana greats like Steve Earle,Kristin Hersh, The Sadies, The Handsome Family and Chuck Prophet.

But as MOJO Editor, Phil Alexander commented on the 2007 album Cautionary Tales, Rees' songs have always been, “Full of simmering soul”. And there's plenty of that trademark twang and tremolo here to support Rees' ever emotional and distinctive voice. While the scenery that surrounds these songs and the lyrical substance they contain is more immediately accessible and optimistic than people have come to expect from someone who's last album, Devil's Bridge mainly consisted of murder ballads, Heart On Fire is still unmistakably a Christopher Rees record. The rockabilly energy remains in songs like Warm By My Fire, while the title track and Raise The Battle Cry present uplifting gospel. Other highlights include the radio friendly Sparks Flying and the explosive In The Middle Of The Night.

Now with five critically acclaimed albums already under his belt, Welsh singer, song writer Christopher Rees has covered a lot of ground both musically and geographically in the last few years. Heart On Fire is another fascinating chapter in that journey. It's an album that celebrates Rees' passion and commitment towards music, love, life and his dedication to the art of serving the song.

"I love this record...I think it's absolutely terrific". (Bob Harris - BBC Radio 2)

“Fine old-school country soul...The South Austin Horns provide shades of Muscle Shoals”. (UNCUT)

"An old school soul revue, heavy on stabbing brass and greasy hammond". (MOJO) ****

" Startlingly confident country soul". (BBC.CO.UK)

“A soul-drenched album that smacks of the vintage Stax”. (Maverick)

“It's really good. There's a strong element of Memphis soul about it. I can picture Otis singing something like that”. (Ralph McLean – BBC Radio Ulster)
Show More
Genres:
Country, Rockabilly, Soul, Roots & Americana, Banjo
Hometown:
Llanelli, United Kingdom

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