Kris Drever ‘Mark The Hard Earth’ album and tour dates

As one of folk music's most in demand performers, finding enough time to record a follow-up to his debut album, 'Black Water' (Reveal 2006) was never going to be easy for KRIS DREVER. A critical and commercial success both here and abroad, 'Black Water' brought KRIS DREVER to the attention of the BBC Folk Awards who honored him with the Horizon Award for Best Newcomer in 2007 and sent Kris off on a stint of touring and recording that really hasn't stopped since.

Kris has been working with John McCusker and Roddy Woomble (Drever McCusker Woomble, 'Before The Ruin' Mojo's Best Folk Albums of 2008) and most famously with Scots/English trio LAU, the inventive, folk tour-de-force featuring Kris (guitar and vocals), Aidan O'Rourke (fiddle) and Martin Green (accordion, efx) – LAU are no strangers to the BBC Folk Award Winners either, picking up Best Group 2008 and 2009 and nominated again this year for Best Group and Best Live Act 2010. Thankfully Kris found the time to record 'Mark The Hard Earth' during Summer 2009 and was able to enlist a stellar array of guest musicians, as he did for 'Black Water'.

Produced again by John McCusker, 'Mark The Hard Earth' was recorded in two main sessions, one in North Berwick with legendary American roots musician Tim O'Brien and bass players Andy Seward, Ewen Vernal (Capercaille) and the second in Yorkshire with (uniquely talented guitarist) Ian Carr (Kate Rusby / Two Duo's Quartet), Donald Shaw (Capercaile), Phil Cunningham, Roy Dodds (Fairground Attraction) plus two of the most popular female artists in folk, backing Kris on vocal duties, Heidi Talbot and Karine Polwart.

'Mark The Hard Earth' is a wonderful , well chosen selection of songs that Kris has loved and played over recent years alongside new songs written by friends and collaborators including cult Scottish songwriter Sandy Wright ('Wild Hurricane', 'Shining Star'), Boo Hewerdine ('Sweet Honey In The Rock') and Kris's brother Duncan Drever ('The Crown Of London'). Kris made his own (lyrical) debut on LAU's acclaimed "Arc Light" ( with the song 'Wintermoon') and for this album, his self penned song is the title track.

KRIS DREVER LIVE:

April 2010
Thu 8th April Edinburgh, Venue tba
Fri 9th April Thorne,Thornensians Folk Club Doncaster,01405 740306
Sun 11th April Alderwasley, The Bear Inn,Derbyshire, 01629 822585
Thu 15th April Knaresborough,Henshaw's Arts Centre,North Yorkshire,01423 541888
Sun 18th Topsham Folk Club@ The Globe,Topsham,Devon, 01395 267029
Wed 21st The Slaughtered Lamb, 34-35 Great Sutton Street, London, EC1
08444771000 www.electroactousticclub.com
Thu 22nd The Slaughtered Lamb,34-35 Great Sutton Street,London,EC1
08444771000 www.electroactousticclub.com
Fri 23rd April Sledmere,Moonbeams Acoustic @ The Sledmere Village Hall,Driffield,Yorkshire
YO25, 07810 831317
Sat 24th April Blackburn,Mellor Brook Centre,01254 812131
Fri 30th April Shetland Folk Festival,Shetland

May 2010
KRIS DREVER & TIM O'BRIEN (duo performances)
Wed 19th May Stornoway,An Lanntair, Isle of Lewis,01851 703307 www.lanntair.com
Thu 20th May Glasgow,St Andrews In The Square,0141 2875511,www.standrewsinthesquare.com
Fri 21st May Shepley, Spring Festival,01484 604704, www.shepleyspringfestival.com
Sat 22nd May Bury,The Met,0161 7612216,www.themet.biz
Sun 23rd May Stockton On Tees,The Georgian Theatre,01642 674115, www.georgiantheatre.co.uk
Mon 24th May Otley,The Courthouse,01943 467466, www.courhouseproject.org.uk
Thu 27th May Orkney Folk Festival, www.orkneyfolkfestival.com
Fri 28th May Orkney Folk Festival, www.orkneyfolkfestival.com