Chris Simmons, Adam Mellor, Tom Arnold, Melvin Duffy
RECENT NEWS..........
June 08
JACKSON BROWNE IS A FAN!!
While on tour in America, Chris played a show with Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame legend Jackson Browne. Jackson approached Chris afterwards and said he loved his voice and songwriting (especially new track "Once Upon A Wall" written with Ellen Cherry).
After explaining that his delivery of CDs had been delayed Chris invited Jackson to his and Ellen's gig that night. The whole bar fell silent when, mid set, Jackson walks in on his own to listen. After an e-mail exchange, the rest of the night was spent talking music and drinking with Jackson. More news to follow :-).....
CHRIS RECORDS WITH VIOLENT FEMMES LEGEND VICTOR DI LORENZO
On another new track, "Passing Over" Chris was fortunate enough to be accompanied by Victor on the drums. Chris hung out alot with Victor and the two are now good friends..
Chris was invited to the wrap party for Nashville Star while in Tennessee. Nashville Star is the courty music equivalent of American Idol, but is musch much better - He's told...
Chris hung out with the contestents judges and crew and drank lots of free beer.
US/UK Double-Bill Tour Set To Take "First Flight" In the spring of 2007, Chris met NYC based singer-songwriter Danielle Gasparro on an Italian hillside, when they were both participant in a songwriting retreat hosted by Chris Difford. Since then, they have stayed connected as inspired friends, peers and collaborators. This June and July, Chris and Danielle will be taking their songs and spirits to the road,
With their "Primo Volo" Tour, a series of special double-bill concerts slated for both sides of the pond represent the debut touring for each of these dynamic artists.
BBC TO BROADCAST AUDIO DIARIES OF CHRIS'S US/UK TOUR 2008
Whilst touring America and The UK in the summer '08, Chris has been asked to keep an Audio Diary to be broadcast by BBC Southern Counties Radio. More details to come....
"HOME" FEATURED ON EUROPEAN AWARD WINNING KODAK STUDENT FILM...
Written and Directed by Liam H Dempsey
Producer: Christopher Alvarez-Wilkinson
1st Assistant Director: Calum Carpenter
Director of Photography: Dan Howe
Camera Operator: Jessica Ronchi
Focus Puller: Jamie Cattle
Clapper Loader/Grip: Dan Henderson
Sound design: Jon Hardy
Production Design: Greg Lock
Editor: Tommy Enervold-Jorpeland
Starring: Ross Okoye
Stills Photographer: Roderick Lewis
music by Chris Simmons -"home"
CHRIS TO APPEAR ON BBC RADIO
BBC Southern Counties Radio will interview Chris on Tuesday March 18th to promote the Joogleberry show that evening. They will also play some tracks on air.
Tune in to the broacast live at 11.40am on 104.0–104.8 & 95.0–95.3 FM and on 1161, 1368 & 1485 AM
CHRIS CO-WRITES TRACK WITH RYAN BURNETT OF THE CRAVE.
"Carousel" will feature on The Craves debut album "Right Side Of The Tracks" and is scheduled for a May release.
The Crave will be promoting their album stateside by playing shows with such musical heavyweights as Aerosmith, Foo Fighters, The Black Crowes and Tom Petty.
Influences
Ian Brown, Neil Finn, The Beatles, Squeeze, Police, U2, Ray Charles, Oasis, Blur, Ben Harper, John Mayer, Johnny Cash, Rufus Wainwright, Beach Boys, The La..s, Jeff Buckley, Killers, Supergrass, Bob Dylan, Coldplay, Rolling Stones, Doves, The Who, Teenage Fanclub, George Clinton, Counting Crows, REM, The Who, Goo Goo Dolls, Ben Folds, Futureheads, Jellyfish, Velvet Underground, Joni Mitchell, Mudhoney, Beautiful South, Prince, Ryan Adams, Blondie, Radiohead, Pretenders, Nat King Cole, The Sundays, Paul Simon (and Garfunkel), Outkast, Nick Drake, Morrisey, Marvin Gaye, The Doors, N.E.R.D, Gravediggaz, Gorrilaz, Elvis Presley, Pet Shop Boys, Guru, The Divine Comedy, Louis Armstrong, The Lemonheads, Suede, New Order, Pixies, Death Cab For Cutie, The Verve, Finlay Quaye, Damien Dempsey, Basement Jaxx, Badly Drawn Boy, Ice Cube, Paul Weller (apart from that wanky covers album...), Brendan Benson, Jason Mraz, Billie Holiday, Fats Domino, Eels, Gomez, Gigalo Aunts, Aretha Franklin, Ronny Jordan, The Wonder Stuff and loads of others...
"Mine is a written request, lost in the system, a pending sms"
Two months after picking up a guitar, Chris had written his first batch of songs. A month later he'd formed his first band and 2 months after that he was playing on Radio & TV. Then, within a month of his first band splitting up, he spent all his savings on a one way ticket to Australia. He left with £200 and his guitar. He busked his way around the globe getting nearly 80 gigs along the way - He played on Australian National T.V and Radio, National Radio in New Zealand and many other independant stations.
He came back a year later with 16 Songs and £35.
Since then he has played to crowds of 60,000 plus, Won Southern FM..s Battle of The Bands (beating 400 other acts..) and gigged around the UK whilst racking up an impressive list of support slots with acts including The Von Bondies, The Kooks, Squeeze, The Departure, Suede, The Maccabees, Finlay Quaye and many more, as well as aquiring the fantastic talents of Adam Mellor - providing jaw-dropping close vocal harmony and a second guitar to the act.
He has had tracks played on Radio One, Radio 2, XFM and many other commercial stations in the UK, Spain, The US, Australia as well as appearing live on BBC One, Sky One and ITV.....
He's very active and is touring all the time. He recently completed his first US / UK TOUR and in just five weeks he..
- played shows in Wisconsin, Chicago, Orlando, Atlanta, Louisville, Nashville, Baltimore, New York City, Bournemouth, Haywards Heath, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Brighton
- Half the tour was sold out
- The biggest crowd was 5000, the smallest 50..
- Was featurded on Fox tv news in Wisconsin for his participation in their Steelbridge songfest
- Supported the Go Go's
- Was invited to the wrap party of Nashville Star (Pop Idol for country music) and met the judges, contestants and crew while knocking back free beer all night..
- Recorded with members of The Violent Femmes
- Jammed on stage with memebers of George Clintons P - Funk
- Supported Jackson Browne
- Was approached by Jackson Browne after his set and he said how much he liked Chris's stuff
- Jackson Browne then turned heads at his next gig by showing up on his own to watch, then buy chris beers and talked music
- Recorded with a producer who's worked with acts such as The Pussycat Dolls
- Was accompanied on stage in Orlando by Multi-instumentalist Danny Jordan, who has performed with (among others) Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin and Nat King Cole..
- Is now getting daily airplay in New York City
Chris is now looking to release his debut album in August 09.
You and Daniella Gasparro singing so sweetly at El Rancho Grande in June of '08 Thank you for stopping by the States and sharing such a special evening!
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