Chris's new Album 'Rosella Red' is finished and is available
to buy on the website More details on here Rosella Red here.
News in Short
Chris's new Album 'Rosella Red' is finished and is available
to buy on the website
More details on here Rosella Red here.
Chris
on Fairport's Cropredy Convention. August 10th 2007.
"What a night! It was amazing. The Cropredy crowd were, as usual, wonderful.
I was so nervous waiting to go on but I didn't have to be. FC 1969 were so kind
and supportive and the crowd - well what can I say? They started singing as
we launched into Come All Ye and after that it was all emotion on the packed
field. It felt like we were all one entity and in it together.
Standing between Richard Thompson and Ashley Hutchings I couldn't go wrong.
Halfway through Matty Groves, my old friend Simon Nicol moved closer to me and
urged me on as one of the best drummers in the world, Dave Mattacks , drove
the the band.
Dave Swarbrick was on fire and played a blinder. My admiration for him is so
huge. He stood for the whole set and not only that, he grooved. Last time I
saw him play he was in a wheelchair with an oxygen tank, unbelievable!
His wife and best friend, artist Jill Swarbrick-Banks, was side stage as usual
but instead of watching over him, this time she was relaxed, grinning and just
loving it.
Again I am reminded of the family nature of the folk scene. I'm so glad it's
the genre of music I have chosen. There's no separation of 'us and them' just
a collective support and feeling of collaboration between the audience and artist.
I have to say I think it was the best Cropredy ever and my thanks go to the
festival director Gareth Williams,who is so lovely to deal with and always makes
things as easy as they can be.Also to Simon Nicol for his friendship, for coming
up with the idea of this particular re-union in the first place and to the rest
of the 1969 FC for always treating me like family.
My last word has to go to Sandy Denny. She was such an inspiration to me when
I was a young teenager. Along with Joni Mitchell, she shaped the expectations
I have of myself and helped shape the musician in me. She remains one of the
most innovative singers in English musical history and I am proud and thankful
to have been a tiny part of that journey."
Chris While.
You can read what Robin Denselow of The Guardian wrote about The Liege and Lief Re-union here