Chris Cleverley / Katie Whitehouse – “One of the best small live music venues in the UK” The Guardian

Date/Time
Saturday 9 November 2024
7:30 pm - 10:00 pm

Categories
Folk

Book here now: £15 full price • £10 or £7 if you prefer – please pay what you can*

Chris Cleverley

“Rather Lovely Electro-Folk” Radcliffe & Maconie BBC 6 MUSIC
“The feel of Elliott Smith and Sufjan Stevens” ★★★★ Scottish Daily Express
“Frighteningly brilliant works” The Daily Star (full review on page 2 here)

Listen here on Spotify

Here’s the rather romantic description we’ve been sent:
“Chris Cleverley was born under a solstice moon, in the honeysuckle mysticism of a late 80s Midsummer. As his fledgling days unfurled, the symbolic sounds of ‘Hunky Dory’, ‘Graceland’ and ‘Ladies of The Canyon’ echoed from the woodchip walls of the South Birmingham terrace where he was raised; quiet and curious, saturnine and shy.

Here, the soul of a young artist was shaped.

Fast-forward three decades; Four nationally acclaimed albums under his belt, and ringing endorsements from The Times, Telegraph and BBC6 Music. Cleverley’s boundary-shattering ‘Dream-Folk’ songwriting sits on the cutting edge of acoustic music, exploring challenging contemporary themes from displaced people to the fragile beauty of our natural world.

This winter, Cleverley tours his 5th release, ‘In the Shadow of John the Divine’; a Christmas record for the head-spinning modern age. A brand new selection of songs for the misfits, for those who have a complex relationship with the self, on their own journeys to find a place in the world. Songs to celebrate a curious, magical season, in all its joyful and sad contradictions.

Come bask in an exciting new body of work, showcasing the intricate fingerstyle and ambient sound design of this true guitar-man, inspired by the Lo-fi American Greats, Elliott Smith & Sufjan Stevens; a curious tapestry weaved from the hazy psychedelia of the 60s folk revival and the soulful oblivion of the 90s Pacific Northwest.

With replenishing calm and warm humour, this unique one-man live show occupies the space between a concert performance and a yoga nidra meditation; Jarringly raw, hauntingly serene and effortlessly 21st Century.”

Katie Whitehouse with Dan Whitehouse
Listen on Soundcloud to Spaces from Katie’s album Drawing Lines

“Katie has been involved in music as long as she can remember, whether as a choir leader, composer and arranger, a poet and songwriter or as a successful agent for other rising and prominent folk stars. Finally, she has taken the time to pen her beautiful debut album Drawing Lines. Her writing is deeply felt and sincere and her debut album Drawing Lines is inspired by personal life experience, but with a universality that draws everyone in. Delicately arranged and yet exceptionally powerful – Katie’s voice gently weaves her way around you, and into your heart.”
“….evokes thoughts of Judie Tzuke” Mike Davies for folking.com “Drawing Lines has its fair share of moody storm clouds – the odd brisk shower. But also dazzling rays of sunshine. Perfect conditions for rainbows.” Arts Culture Mag
“Katie Whitehouse understands songs, and she understands singing, and does both beautifully” Reg Meuross

“Lovely songs beautifully performed” Boo Hewerdine

*See Access, Tickets & Finding Us for more about why there are three ticket prices, plus other useful info about coming to events at Ashburton Arts Centre: getting here, parking, loos, PA tickets, etc.