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KRIS DELMHORST Label: Acoustic Roots http://www.acousticroots.net/ Five Stories: The Boston Globe called Kris Delmhorst's new album Five Stories "a mix of ballads, junkyard rock, and hootenannies." In the musically bustling city of Boston, new singer-songwriters pop up on a daily basis, but few earn any lasting attention. Kris Delmhorst however has been the exception, gathering momentum steadily since her arrival in Cambridge, Boston in 1996. Kris's combination of true musicianship and consistently compelling songwriting has earned her the respect of fellow artists and the enthusiastic support of audiences wherever she goes selling out the largest acoustic venues. From her very first paying gig at The Kendall Café in Cambridge Kris has developed a performing reputation that sees her playing more than two hundred shows a year; a troubadours journey that has seen her move through the clubs and coffee houses to the theatres and major festivals across the USA. Her stunning magnetic performance and creative efforts have earned her no less than six nominations for major music awards including, Best Female Singer-Songwriter, Best Female Vocalist in the "Indie category and Best Singer-Songwriter Album for her second studio release Five Stories. It's amazing to think that Ms Delmhorst had written exactly two songs when she arrived in Cambridge. Kris says that she developed to ability to write songs sometime around 1995 while living and working on Cape Cod, East of Boston, like you do. Brooklyn born and raised Kris Delmhorst grew up in a musical household, with as one journalist described "harmony in the bloodstream." She studied cello while completing her education at Williams University. Kris however almost set aside all thoughts of a musical future when she was somewhat daunted by the constraints of classical music. It was while studying the cello that her natural inbuilt musical curiosity got the better of her and saw this young musician develop another facet of her talent. Where better to hone your stage performance than alongside the folksingers and seasoned subway troubadours of New York. After leaving New York, fate deposited her in a one-room cabin in the snows of a Maine midwinter. A damaged ankle and the confines of the midwinter snows found Kris a prisoner in her own home; to ease the boredom and avoid the affliction that the locals call cabin fever she found time to move on from the cello and teach herself the guitar and fiddle. A few years on and many musical adventures later, Kris was now living in and around the Boston area where she had quickly taken her place among the most promising of the city's new generation of songwriters. It was at this time that she joined the band, "Toots Rambles Jim Bouchard (banjo), Kris Elmhurst (fiddle), Sean Staples (mandolin), and Ray Cavanaugh (guitar). Little did Kris know that when she tentatively started to pick out those first chords, weather bound by the snows of a Maine winter that it would lead her to the top of a generation of young American female songwriters. If proof of this were ever needed then her critically acclaimed album Five Stories would be all that was required. It's a stunning piece of work co produced by close musical associate and ex Morphine drummer Billy Conway at Hi-N-Dry studios. Twelve beautifully crafted songs ranging from junkyard rockers to two emotional ballads, back-porch hootenannies to midnight lullabies, well thats what the Boston Globe said. We should just pause here to mention the studio Kris Delmhorst used to record Five Stories and its history, The Loft or Hi-N-Dry as it is officially known is a three hundred fifty square foot third floor, loft apartment, the former home and working studio of Morphines Mark Sandman (1952 to 1999). Sandmans studio was a meeting and developing point in the careers of many of the areas musicians. Mark Sandman died on stage during a concert in Giardini De Principe, Palestrina, Rome. His legacy can now be seen in a thriving arts fraternity and The Mark Sandman Music Education Fund for the people of Boston, Massachusetts and beyond. Kris is a musicians' musician a position that allows her to call upon quality players and fellow singers to contribute to her albums and enhance an already glowing stage performance. Generous of nature Kris is also prepared to reciprocate and help the careers of other musicians as well as the wider world beyond the music stage. Away from the rigours of the road she finds time to sit in on sessions and record with the likes of Catie Curtis, Mary Gauthier, Jennifer Kimball, Jess Klein, Lori McKenna, and Peter Mulvey. She played fiddle in the local cult-favourite The Vinal Avenue String Band, a reincarnation of Toots Rambles. Kris was also an associate producer of the Respond compilation to support survivors of domestic abuse, an album that has helped raise over one hundred thousand dollars for the cause. Respond was named Album of the Year 1999 by Billboard Magazine. Discography: 1996 Swim for It: An album of songs recorded originally as a road tape that Kris sold at her gigs; supporting musicians came from the Toots Rambles Band. (Cassette---available at venues) 1998 Appetite: This was her first CD produced by Alan Williams (Knots & Crosses, Dar Williams, Patty Larkin) Musicians: Kris Delmhorst: vocals, guitar, percussion, cello, viola Billy Conway: drums, percussion Mike Rivard: electric bass, upright bass Thomas Juliano: electric guitar Ry Cavanaugh: harmonica, vocals, baritone ukulele Alan Williams: organ Sean Staples: mandolin, acoustic guitar, vocals Jennifer Kimball: acoustic guitar, vocals Patty Larkin: acoustic guitar, bouzouki Catie Curtis: Acoustic guitar, vocals Joe Kessler: fiddle Jake Beyer: harmonica, vocals Dave Rizzuti: pedal steel guitar 2000 Oddlot: Kris describes this album as seven-song extended-play CD recording. It was casually recorded live from the mixing desks at her gigs; musicians include Sean Staples, Andrew Mazzone and Jennifer Kimball (CD----available at venues) 2002 Five Stories: Production Billy Conway & Kris Delmhorst at Hi-N-Dry studios. Musicians: Billy Conway (Morphine) Drums & Vibraphone Andrew Masson Drums Bass & 8 String Bass Sean Staples (The Resophonics) Banjo, Mandolin & Electric Mandolin 6 &12 String Guitar Jibe Beyer Electric Guitar & Accordion Dave Rizzoli Pedal Steel Guitar Dana Colley (Morphine) Baritone Saxophone & Jews Harp David Champagne(ex-Shane Champagne, ex-Treat Her Right). Martha, The Plastic Guitar Evan Harriman Piano & Organ Tom Halter Flugelhorn Dave Hill Accordion Eric Royer Banjo Tim Kelly Dobra Nolan McKinley Bass Vocals: Jennifer Kimball (ex The Story) Catie Curtis Jabe Beyer Lori McKenna Nolan McKelvey Cambridge- Boston http://www.bostonbest.com/cambridge.home.html Clean Magazine http://www.hvmusic.com/article/alexander/delmhorst/index.shtml Morphine Homepage http://www.morphine3.com/n_index.html Morphine Fan Page http://www.klekolo.com/morphine/morphinefront.html [For further information and review copies of Five Stories please contact Pat Tynan] Pat Tynan Media Office: +44(0)1895 636935 Mobile: 07985 400297 An associate of SingSong Entertainment Publicity
http://www.singsongpr.biz/
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