'HOME GROWN ROOTS' Volume 4 - out now - featuring one of my tunes 'Midnight Train' - go to this link to purchase
http://www.waterfrontrecords.com/orders/shop.asp?Action=AddItem&ProductID=74410&Qty=1
Christina Crofts - vocals and lead/slide/rhythm guitar
Dave Millard - Bass
Bruce Stephens
Influences
Guitar influences and general 'style' - John Fogerty, CCR, Steve Crofts of course, David Gilmour, Rory Gallagher, Mark Knopfler, Johnny Winter, Buddy Guy, Ian Moss, Ry Cooder, Bonnie Raitt, David Lindley, Nils Lofgren, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Albert Collins, Freddie King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Allman Bros, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Ventures, The Shadows, Jeff Beck, All the great bands of the 70's like Three Dog Night's Michael Allsup - Aussie band Jigsaw and Johnny Chester & Jigsaw. There are simply too many influences - especially if you factor in some classical music that also helped to shape my musical direction...not that it necessarily shows in my playing..but I still have some favourites that I like to listen to when I need to hear them. For instance Verdi's Nabucco 'Chrorus of the Hebrew Slaves'....OMG - I really do think that may be the most amazing and emotional piece of music ever!!
Vocalists I really love are: Paul Rodgers, John Fogerty, David Coverdale, Ian Moss, Graham Bonnet, Bonnie Raitt....I will add others as they come to mind
As one of seven children, Christina learned early in life to ‘paddle her own canoe’. Affected by music from an early age, by the time she reached her early teenage years, Christina knew her ‘passion’ was to play guitar (although it would be sometime before circumstances would allow her to really embark on this journey). She persuaded her mother to buy a cheap electric guitar and practice amp and she taught herself basic chords by playing along with her favourite records and by observing guitar players on TV. That was the extent of her playing until she met Steve Crofts, who, impressed by Christina’s natural feel and passion for guitar, offered to give her guitar lessons.
From this time on, Christina auditioned for and played in many cover and original bands over the years, and in the mid 90’s formed and fronted her own band ‘Croftstown Traffic’ – a blues/rock cover band.
The band enjoyed several successful years performing in and around Sydney, including appearances on the ‘Australian Blues Festival’; ‘The Great Southern Blues & Roots’ festival and a support with legendary Aussie blues band ‘Chain’ and culminating in the release of a debut CD in January 2006 - Croftstown “Unboogie” - a track from which (Gonna Find A Way) received a Top 5 nomination in the Musicoz Awards in 2006 in the blues category.
Described by those who know her as spirited, passionate, funny and just a little reckless, these traits are readily identified in her music and when added to a wealth of life experiences there is no escaping the raw honesty and humour in her music.
Armed as always, with her artillery of ‘battled scarred old Strats, a slide she fashioned from a Tia Maria bottle, one of meanest Vox AC30’s on the planet, sassy vocals and fresh new material now available on her debut CD 'Midnight Train' - Christina has launched her solo career!
Reviews etc:
CD Review 'Midnight Train'
A lady, a battered Strat and a bottle on her finger. You might be forgiven for expecting this CD to be reminiscent of Bonnie Raitt and that’s why it’s a pleasant surprise to put this disc in the player and hear a rockin’ sound more reminiscent of Hendrix or Steve Ray coming out of the speakers. NSW based Christina plays a tough, rugged style of blues tempered by strong instrumental chops and a slightly sweet edge to her voice. The songs are honest stories about life and are mercifully free of the ‘blues mama’ lyrical clichés that are the hallmark of lazy songwriting. Keep your eyes on the gig guides for details of Christina touring in Melbourne in November.
Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society – Matthew Fredericks – October 2009
CD Review ‘Midnight Train’
Armed with a road weary, weather-beaten Strat, Christina Crofts kicks off her debut solo album in feisty fashion, with some 'buzzsaw' style blues slide on the title track 'Midnight Train". The energy level never wanes over a 37 minute duration, in which Crofts offers up a fine spead of classic blues riffs and licks. The songwriting may occasionally fall into cliche, however Crofts' smokin' slide and character filled vocal more than compensates. A seasoned Sydney bluester, Crofts finally gets the chance to shine on her own a does herself proud.
Australian Musician Magazine - March 2009
This is blues/rock of a high quality at its purest and wittiest. Christina uses the slide and sings with so much liveliness, conviction and satisfaction that you must yield to this " Sassy" lady! ....Lucinda Williams meets Rory Gallagher down under
(RON)
www. rootstime. be
CD review “Unboogie’
‘There are very few women in the world let alone in Australia who have not only taken up hard blues guitar, but play with as much verve, conviction and sheer sassiness as any of the big name ‘guitar heroes’……Here in Sydney Christina Crofts has been carving it with the best of them for a decade or so!.........The power in a record like this is in those soaring, shimmering, beckoning, aching, feisty, celebratory richocheting guitars, the natural medium of the players. That’s where you hear the power of love musical and otherwise.
Michael Smith Drum Media March 7th 2006
Guitarfest 2007 guitar battle
“Second prize went to Christina Crofts who pulled off some searing, dirty rockin’ blues on a couple of battle scarred vintage Strats”
Christina - hi. What's cooking with you Girl? How's the music - are you still smokin' that Strat? I am playing blues and eclectic pretty much on my Fender Acoustic and my S-D-equipped Les Paul Special (...one day maybe I'll get the real deal ...)
Thank you very much for your comments. Please drag your friends kicking and screaming to my page. I need the numbers before anyone will take me seriously.
Thank you for adding me to your friends list, I hope you enjoy my music, as time goes by I will be adding more of my new songs to the player. Your comments on my songs are much apprieciated, even if you don't like them.
I am doing my best to treat all my friends as friends and not as a buyer of music. I will always answer any questions you may have as quickly as I can.
If you have enjoyed your visit, please tell your friends
♫ ॐ ♀♀ ☮ ♪
Hey Christina ♫
Thanks 4 the add & your friendship ♫ * Takk fyri vinskapin ♪
Bedankt voor je vriendschap ♪ * Merci pour l'ajout & ton amitié ♫
Mange tak for venskabet ♫ * Danke für die Freundschaft ♪
Tack för vänskabet ♪ * Tante grazie dell'aggiunta e per la tua amicizia ♫
arkadaslıgın icin tesekkur ederim ♫ * Muchas gracias por tu amistad ♪
Ευχαριστώ γιά την αποδοχή και την φιλία ♪ * Trugarez deoc'h 'vit ho keneilded ♫
Спасибо за поддержку ♫ * Dziekuje serdecznie wszystkim za dodanie mnie ♪
Takk fyrir addið og vinaboðið ♪ * Obrigado pela sua amizade ♫
Multumesc de prietenie ♪ * Takk for ditt vennskap ♫
Faleminderit për shoqerinë tuaj ♪ * hvala na prijateljstvu ♫
Благодарим вас за вашу дружбуe ♪
♫ ॐ ♀♀ ☮ ♪
Ciao, ho appena inserito una mia nuova canzone “ANGEL & DEVILS” , un tuo commento sarà graditissimo! A breve inserirò anche il video!
Buon ascolto e buon weekend!
LUCA
Hello, I just added my new song "ANGEL & DEVILS", Your comment will be a most welcome! Short-will also insert the video! Good listening and good weekend! LUCA
Hey do you remember of us? last time you said that you loved our music..so i have to tell you now that we go on tour on october and that our album will be out on 2 October in Europe! add us on FACEBOOK: love buzz
and we'll be in contact! take care
ps. we will be in saarwellingen @ FLIEXIBEL on 17 october, saarland
Hello Christina,Thanks so much for your nice comment.Great music you have.I lived and played on Sydney back in '87 to '89.Shortfused and Eddys Got A Brand New Bag.Coming down under end of Jan and all of Feb. Playing with old mates in Melbourne.Maybe catch up in Sydney.
Thank you for the comment and been curious.About the band name:It..s like Richie Blackmore..s Rainbow or Yngwie Malmsteen..s Rising Force.Dragonwing comes from fantasy books.All the best.-Jussi-
Online Now!
Thanks 4 the add & your friendship ♫ * Takk fyri vinskapin ♪
Bedankt voor je vriendschap ♪ * Merci pour l'ajout & ton amitié ♫
Mange tak for venskabet ♫ * Danke für die Freundschaft ♪
Tack för vänskabet ♪ * Tante grazie dell'aggiunta e per la tua amicizia ♫
arkadaslıgın icin tesekkur ederim ♫ * Muchas gracias por tu amistad ♪
Ευχαριστώ γιά την αποδοχή και την φιλία ♪ * Trugarez deoc'h 'vit ho keneilded ♫
Спасибо за поддержку ♫ * Dziekuje serdecznie wszystkim za dodanie mnie ♪
Takk fyrir addið og vinaboðið ♪ * Obrigado pela sua amizade ♫
Multumesc de prietenie ♪ * Takk for ditt vennskap ♫
Faleminderit për shoqerinë tuaj ♪ * hvala na prijateljstvu ♫
Благодарим вас за вашу дружбуe ♪
♫ ॐ ♀♀ ☮ ♪
