Biography
He's a witty, spitey, pasty white kid from the woods of Newfoundland whose style is simply addictive. With his new record, Vampire Hotel, Chris Kirby gets down to bidness playing funky piano, saucy guitar, and singing as if the fate of his own mother hangs on every word. Uniquely described as a cross between Stevie Wonder’s soul and Jamiroquai’s funk, Chris Kirby delivers a fun, high-energy live performance every night, and his funky grooves spread throughout crowds like wildfire.
Released in July 2009, Vampire Hotel is Kirby's highly anticipated sophomore recording. Produced by Gordie Johnson (Big Sugar, Gov't Mule, Taj Mahal), production of the record was split between Fat Tracks Studios in St. John's, NL, and Willie Nelson's Pedernales Studios in Austin, TX. Heavily influenced by New Orleans Rhythm & Blues and Motown Soul, but rooted in the rich Newfoundland tradition of storytelling, Vampire Hotel offers a unique and refreshing brand of music from a truly original artist.
Winner of the 2009 MUSICNL Jazz/Blues Album of the Year, Vampire Hotel spawned a Canadian tour that saw Kirby win over countless new fans across Atlantic Canada, Quebec and Ontario in summer 2009. The first single, “Don’t Forget About Me” hit #1 on the nationally syndicated East Coast Countdown for four weeks, garnering significant radio airplay in Chris’s home province and across Canada. More exciting news - his campy “Vampire’s Ball” Halloween performance was recently recorded for national broadcast on CBC’s Canada Live, assuring his position as one of Canada’s brightest rising stars. 2010 will see Kirby hit the road hard, touring Canada and the US, and playing festivals both big and small across the country.
Kirby, a 27-year-old son of Norris Arm, NL, moved to the city of St. John's in 2001 where he began playing in a string of bands on the local club scene. With the release of Chris Kirby on Rum & Religion in 2006, Chris finally emerged as a solo artist and a captivating songwriter and performer. Since then, Chris has earned MUSICNL and ECMA nominations and awards in blues and other categories. He has also appeared on showcase and songwriters circle stages at major national and international festivals and events, where he has performed alongside other amazing artists such as Ron Hynes, Maureen Ennis, Steve Marriner, Treasa Levasseur, Eric Bibb, Watermelon Slim, Kyle Riabko and Harry Manx.
Just four weeks after its chart debut, the title track from Rum & Religion hit #1 on the East Coast Countdown. This and other tracks from the album have since been featured on radio shows across the country including Ontario university stations and CBC Radio’s Vinyl Cafe. Terry Parson's "Blind Lemon Blues" listed Chris Kirby on Rum & Religion as number 7 in the top 20 Canadian blues recordings of 2006.
In the studio and on stage, Chris is joined by his A-list rhythm section, the Marquee. The Marquee includes bassist Craig Follett and drummer Mark Marshall. Mark is a talented young musician who recently showcased at the Cape Breton International Drum Festival, where he received praise from some of the industry's renowned players. Craig is a past MUSICNL nominee ("side musician of the year"), and regularly performs with many of Newfoundland's finest musicians and groups.
Chris Kirby and the Marquee have performed at many festivals and events across the country and as far south as Memphis, TN. They have also appeared as musical guests for many programs such as CTV's Breakfast Television and CBC Radio's GO! Show. Together, the band has earned a solid reputation as an energetic and inspiring act, delivering a unique and unforgettable show every time.
Instrumentation
Chris Kirby and the Marquee are:
Chris - Vocals/Piano/Guitar
Craig Follett - Bass/Vocals
Mark Marshall - Drums
Discography
Vampire Hotel (2009) // the long-awaited East Coast R&B - defining record, produced by Gordie Johnson.
Chris Kirby on Rum & Religion (2006) // Chris' solo debut. The title track from this album (Rum and Religion) was a number 1 hit on the East Coast Countdown.
Parc - Bootlegged Live (2003) // Live release from Chris' old band. This album earned the Parc a nomination for Rock Group of the Year at the 2004 MIANL Awards. All songs written by Chris Kirby.
Links
| http://www.chriskirbyonline.com |
| Chris Kirby on MySpace |
| Chris Kirby & the Marquee Facebook Fan Page |
| Chris Kirby on Twitter |
| Chris Kirby on YouTube |