After selling out her biggest UK concert at London’s prestigious Royal Albert Hall on Friday 4th May 2018, Grammy nominated singer-songwriter, Beth Hart and her band will return to the UK in February 2020 to tour her latest album ‘War In My Mind‘. The album was released on Friday 27th September via Mascot Records/Provogue.
Beth is happy to announce that Kris Barras will be special guest on her February 2020 UK Tour, performing an acoustic set. Kris just finished his headline tour with his full band in support of his new album ‘Light It Up’. ‘Light It Up’ sees him at his most expressive yet, forcing himself out of his comfort zone. “I kinda forced myself to write songs a different way. The biggest difference for this album was that I didn’t pigeonhole myself in any way, I didn’t feel like I had to conform. I just sat down and wrote songs I wanted to write, with a sound I wanted to produce, not thinking about genre whatsoever.”
The 10-date tour will start at the Brighton Dome on Wednesday 5th February 2020 and includes dates in London, Birmingham, Glasgow and Manchester.
With ‘War On My Mind’ Beth Hart is as real as it gets. In a music industry full of glossy production and airbrushed photo shoots, this is one artist who throws down her cards, shares her darkest secrets and invites you to join her for the ride. “More than any record I’ve ever made, I’m more open to being myself on these songs,” Beth explains. “I’ve come a long way with healing, and I’m comfortable with my darknesses, weirdnesses and things that I’m ashamed of – as well as all the things that make me feel good.”
Stonedead Festival have announced the first acts for 2020.
Stonedead 2020 is an outdoor one day, one stage, monster of a festival where rock music reigns eternal. Stonedead is now firmly placed on the rock festival map and places the rock fan experience at its core. Come and see it for yourself!
Black Star Riders are currently one of the greatest rock bands around. Formed in 2012 with
Ricky Warwick (Vocals), Scott Gorham (Lead Guitar), Robbie Crane (Bass), Chad Szeliga (Drums) and Christian Martucci (Lead Guitar). They are often billed as the next step in the evolution of Thin Lizzy. However BSR offer far more that that: rock anthems with skilfully intertwined guitars, extremely powerful vocals with a unique sound designed to leave you wanting more. Certainly a fitting headline act for the Stonedead 2020 Tommy Vance stage.
World-renowned New York AOR melodic hard rockers Tyketto , fronted by Danny Vaughan offer a plethora of trademark melodies filled with riffs that fans know and love.
Southern blues influenced hard rock doesn’t get much better than the Kris Barras Band fronted by UK guitarist and vocalist Kris Barras; it is an explosion of gritty, hard rock blues, with killer riffs.
Birmingham’s very own Blaze Bayley returns to Newark having previously performed in 2018 with Wolfsbane; this time bringing a UK summer exclusive of his Iron Maiden years.
Tygers of Pan Tang hail originally from Whitley Bay and fully capture the raw spirit of classic
NWOBHM. Tygers of Pan Tang bring their full swagger and galloping riffs for our pleasure and enjoyment.
Myke Gray from the hard rock band Skin has joined with Kim Jennett. This collaboration brings a new vibe to Skin songs, as well as showcasing her own material; the songstress exudes a passion for rock’n’roll.
The legend that is Krusher Joule will once again be acting as compere for the day.
Stonedead’s stellar line-up aims to excite both classic and new rock fans in providing a unique one day, one stage festival where the music is loud, the beer and food are priced competitively and you can camp / park 5 minutes from the arena.of
The festival is solely organised by volunteers and created for music fans, Stonedead is a festival experience not to be missed. With a free signing tent brought to you in conjunction with Planet Rock Radio.
We have a dedicated covered wellbeing area with seating and sun cream! We allow alcohol to be brought into the arena – 4 cans of ready mixed spirits or beer / cider.
With our Special Guests and the Opening Poll competition winners still to be announced, Stonedead Festival is carrying on its solid tradition of bringing both well known and new rock bands to Newark Showground, Nottinghamshire.
New for this year:
– all children under 4 are free entry this year!
Disabled access:
PA tickets are free with email proof. Sheltered indoor premises available for those who need it, near the first aid tent, with a fridge for medication, accessible toilets, and permanent shower facilities for disabled camping tickets and a staffed viewing platform.
Supersonic Blues Machine will be releasing their brand new live-album, ‘Road Chronicles: Live!’ on 12th July 2019 via Provogue/Mascot Label Group.
‘Road Chronicles: Live‘ is their first live album, following the release of two acclaimed records, ‘West of Flushing, South of Frisco’ (2016), ‘Californisoul’ (2017) and it follows them on their first European headline tour and was recorded during their show in Brugnera, Italy on 20th July 2018, capturing the band in a triumphant and joyous mood.
The show was the final one of a 10 date tour that started at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London and took them through Switzerland, Poland, The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Spain and finally bassist Fabrizio Grossi’s native Italy. The legendary Billy F. Gibbons joined the band throughout the tour putting in the stunning performances that you would expect from such an icon and it was the first tour to feature fast-rising UK blues-rocker Kris Barras on lead vocals and guitar, taking over from Lance Lopez.
“The funny thing is,” remembers Grossi, “that we were not planning to record a live record, the recordings we were capturing were just for me to study and evaluate at the end of the tour, but as soon as were done with the last show in Brugnera, the promoter was celebrating with us and asked me “do you have a flash drive with you so I can give you tonight’s recordings?” That’s when I realized they recorded all the tracks isolated, and the curiosity started creeping in. Gibbons who was with me when I first opened up the tracks. I couldn’t stop smiling.”
As there wasn’t any plans to record the show at the time, they approached it like any other and things just fell into place. It just felt perfect; the weather, the set-list, the band were tight and then there was the crowd. “The cheers, noises and crazy antics people do when they come to see us, it’s extremely humbling and energizing” explains Grossi.
The set list weaved through the two Supersonic albums – ‘West of Flushing’s….’ (‘Remedy,’ ‘Whatchagonnado’ and ‘Running Whiskey’) and ‘Californisoul,’ (‘I Am Done Missing You’, ‘Elevate’ and ‘Broken Heart’) as well as some ZZ Top classics and surprises thrown in. “The beauty of this band is that we always bring around or have guests joining us on stage, we get used to hearing our music taking the most unexpected turns and shapes every night,” he says. “As soon as the intro tape stops, we kind of unleash the Kraken…..the Soul Kraken,” he laughs. Drummer Kenny Aronoff, Barras and Grossi are the faces and the core of the band with The Reverend Gibbons and the party is rounded off with Alex Alessandroni Jr. on keyboards, Serge Simic on guitar and Andrea and Francis Benitez Grossi on background vocals.
With a prolific career as a producer, mixer and bass player Grossi has worked with some of the finest musicians around today pulling into an array of eclectic styles, from Steve Vai to Tina Arena,Nina Hagen to Alice Cooper as well as Glenn Hughes, Dave Navarro, George Clinton, Joe Bonamassa, Leslie West, Zakk Wylde, Ice T, Slash and Paul Stanley to name a few. New York native but Indiana raised Aronoff brought with him the experience of working with a huge collection of artists such as John Mellencamp, Smashing Pumpkins, Meat Loaf, Brandon Flowers, John Fogerty, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Joe Cocker amongst a host of others.
An incredible list of collaborators gives the band added warmth and propels it on to another level; Billy F. Gibbons, Walter Trout, Warren Haynes, Robben Ford, Eric Gales, Joe Louis Walker, Steve Lukather, Chris Duarte all have joined the band on record and/or live, with them all having a deep and personal connection to Grossi and Aronoff.
“We could have done records and shows that was jam packed of famously random guests, but we didn’t want to do that. That’s not the idea.” He elaborates, “They’re not just guests, those guys are part of our family and just happened to show up on that song, these guys will always be part of our life, they are so important to the sound of Supersonic Blues Machine.”
30 July – Noches del Botanico – Madrid, SPAIN ft. Billy F. Gibbons & Joe Louis Walker
02 Aug – Notodden Blues Festival – Notodden, NORWAY ft. Billy F. Gibbons, Eric Gales & Joe Louis Walker
03 Aug – Megeve Blues Festival – Combloux, FRANCE ft. Billy F. Gibbons & Joe Louis Walker
Track Listing
1. I Am Done Missing You (Live)
2. I Ain’t Fallin’ Again (Live)
3. Remedy (Live)
4. Can’t Take It No More (Live)
5. Watchagonnado (Live)
6. Elevate (Live)
7. Bad Boys (Live)
8. Let It Be (Live)
9. La Grange (feat. Billy F. Gibbons) (Live)
10. Broken Heart (feat. Billy F. Gibbons) (Live)
11. Dust My Broom (feat. Billy F. Gibbons) (Live)
12. Running Whiskey (feat. Billy F. Gibbons) (Live)
13. Got My Mojo Working (feat. Billy F. Gibbons) (Live)
14. Going Down (feat. Billy F. Gibbons) (Live)
15. L.O.V.E. (Live) (Bonus Track)
16. Hard Times (Bonus Track) (Live)
Following a hugely successful 2018 tour, the Mascot Label Group/ProvogueROCKIN’ THE BLUES tour returns in 2019 with an incredible line-up featuring the platinum selling international star Jonny Lang, blues-rock royalty Walter Trout and the fast-rising blues-rock hero Kris Barras who has just won the Planet Rock Radio Award for ‘Best New Band’. The tour will be calling through Germany, France, Italy, The Netherlands and the UK and will see them all come together for a final jam at the end of each night.
To add to the show experience there will be the opportunity to exclusively hear upcoming unreleased Mascot Label Group releases on a listening stand with high end headphones provided by Bowers & Wilkins. There will be an extensive merchandise area with great deals that aren’t available in stores, on selections of Mascot back catalogue.
At only 37 years old Jonny Lang has already had a successful career for two decades. He released his first platinum record at 15—an age when many young people are just beginning to play music. ‘Lie to Me’ revealed a talent that transcended the crop of blues prodigies floating around in the late Nineties. No flashy re-hasher of classic blues licks, even at that early age Lang was a full-blown artist with a style of his own. Actual life experience was yet to come, and has been subsequently chronicled in a series of five uniformly excellent recordings. Grammy Award winning Lang has built a reputation as one of the best live performers of his generation and has shared the stage with The Rolling Stones, B.B. King, Aerosmith and Buddy Guy, who he continues to tour with today.2017s album, ‘Signs’ features, funk, rock, and blues elements and is held together by Lang’s distinctive playing and singing, and the lyrics, which center on themes of embattlement and self-empowerment.
Walter Trout is the beating heart of the modern blues rock scene. Respected by the old guard. Revered by the young guns. Adored by the fans who shake his hand after the show each night. After five decades in the game – from John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, Canned Heat and beyond – Trout is a talismanic figure and the glue that bonds the blues community together. His latest album ‘We’re All In This Together’ is a testament to that as his star-studded address book brought in collaborations with John Mayall, Joe Bonamassa, Randy Bachman, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Warren Haynes, Sonny Landreth, Charlie Musslewhite, Mike Zito, Robben Ford, Eric Gales, Edgar Winter, Joe Louis Walker and John Németh. He has toured the world over and has a million stories to tell.
Former MMA/Cage-fighter turned musician Kris Barras had a phenomenal rise in 2018. In March he released ‘The Divine And Dirty’, played sold out dates on his headline tours in March and September, he supported Beth Hart on her UK April/May tour and played a triumphant set at Ramblin’ Man Fair – to around 2000 people and the biggest crowd of the weekend on that stage. He joined Supersonic Blues Machine along with the legendary Billy F. Gibbons as the bands principle singer/guitarist on tour through July, playing the iconic Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London and throughout Europe with them. He also supported Joanne Shaw Taylor, GUN, King King and Therapy? He performed on BBC Radio 2, which included a cover of Jimi Hendrix’s ‘All Along the Watch Tower’, to an audience of over 2 million people. He has also just beat off stiff competition to win the Planet Rock Radio 2019 ‘Best New Band’ Award.
Ahead of their biggest headline tour to date and the Rockin’ The Blues tour, TheKris Barras Band have kicked off 2019 with a bang, with a brilliant live cover of Led Zeppelin’s seminal 1971 classic ‘Rock And Roll‘to shake off the January blues.
Speaking about the song, Barras explains “Over the Xmas and New Year period, I got together with some friends to film our own version of the Led Zeppelin classic ‘Rock And Roll.’ It was all recorded completely live, no overdubs….warts ‘n’ all!”
The song features Kris Barras on vocals and lead guitar alongside Josiah J Manning (keys), Will Beavis (drums), Elliott Blackler (bass), James Davies (guitar), Alex Hart (vocals) and Phoebe Jane (vocals).
After an incredible 2018, The Kris Barras Band will be hitting the road in February-March 2019 for their biggest UK headline tour to date, starting at Cardiff’s The Globe on Wednesday 6th February and wrap up at Edinburgh Voodoo Rooms on Friday 15th March. Barras will then be embarking on the Provogue/Mascot Label GroupRockin’ The Blues European tour with Jonny Lang and Walter Trout. The tour covers 9 dates through Germany, The Netherlands, France, Italy and the only UK show at the O2 Kentish Town Forum, London on 4th June.
The band has become one of the hottest rising stars over the past 12 months. Releasing the mesmerising ‘The Divine And Dirty’ in March 2018, they have since supported Beth Hart, Joanne Shaw Taylor, GUN, King King and Therapy? They played a rapturous set at Ramblin’ Man Fair last summer to the biggest crowd of the second stage all weekend and toured the country to sold-out nights across two headline tours.
Barras has also since become the front-man and guitarist for Supersonic Blues Machine which features the legendary ZZ Top’s Billy F. Gibbons and toured Europe, including playing the prestigious Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London.
Supersonic Blues Machine& Friends with very special guest Billy F. Gibbons will be coming to the UK for their debut headline show at London’s prestigious, O2 Shepherds Bush Empire on Wednesday 4th July.
They have just announced the support acts for the night which are Chicago based but Isle of Man born blues-rocker Davy Knowles. The Joe Satriani approved axe-slinger has had 3 Top 5 Billboard blues albums and most recent record ‘Three Miles From Avalon’ (2016) was met with widespread critical acclaim. Also joining the bill is the fantastic Rob Chapman (Dorje/Rob Chapman Band/Chapman Guitars) whose YouTube tutorials have over 230m combined views.
Following the release of two acclaimed albums ‘West of Flushing, South of Frisco‘ (2016), ‘Californisoul‘ (2017) and a triumphant performance on the main stage at Ramblin’ Man Fair last summer where Classic Rock Magazine declared them a “revelation” the band are embarking on their first ever European tour and it will be one not to be missed.
Talking about the show Fabrizio says; “I am really excited about this tour. Since by mission, we’re more of a music community than a regular band, it hasn’t been easy to get all these friends in the same place and at the same time, but finally, thanks to the overwhelming fans support and demand, we were able to start off the Machine and finally get it on the road for more than just one off Festival appearance at the time.”
Continuing he adds, “We have assembled a ridiculously great cast of buddies that is ready to lay it down as it should and you will experience it first hand at Shepherds Bush Empire. Why starting off in London? Well it’s SBM way to thank the amazingly supportive UK fans that have been requesting us since our first release. I personally love the Big Smoke and what it represents culturally and musically, for me, my family and band mates. Blues might have been born in Mississippi, but it’s only with the UK help that was made popular and loved by never shrinking crowds around the globe. And I love the openness of the UK fans.”
The legendary and very special guest Billy F. Gibbons features on both albums will be joining the band for the whole tour. The core of the band is bassist/Producer Fabrizio Grossi who has worked with everyone from Steve Vai, Alice Cooper and Glenn Hughes to Dave Navarro, George Clinton, Slash and Paul Stanley to name a few and drummer Kenny Aronoff. Kenny has contributed to more than 60 Grammy® nominated recordings and over 300 million records sold worldwide feature his talents and is known for his work with John Fogerty, Sir Paul McCartney, John Mellencamp, The Smashing Pumpkins and Chickenfoot amongst others.
For this tour they welcome rising star Kris Barras on all dates with former guitarist Lance Lopez concentrating on his recent solo release and touring in support of it. Kris has exploded to the front of the British Blues Rock pack with his new album ‘The Divine And Dirty’ released last month and will be joining the line-up following his own April-May UK tour with Beth Hart. Together with its guests and Kris Barras, the band is also bringing along keyboard wiz Alex Alessandroni Jr (Stevie Wonder, Pink, Paul Stanley, Whitney Houston and many more), the backing vocals Supersonnets (credits spanning from Mary J. Blige, Christina Aguilera, Jon Anderson, Shakira) and Fabrizio’s co-writer partner for the majority of SBM catalogue Serge Simic on second guitar and vocals. For the London show they will also be joined by blues-rocker DavyKnowles who counts Bernie Marsden and Joe Satriani amongst his admirers, the latter declaring that he is his “favourite modern bluesman.”
Latest album ‘Californisoul’ was released on Provogue/Mascot Label Group late 2017 and features guests Billy F. Gibbons, Steve Lukather, Eric Gales, Robben Ford and Walter Trout.
“CALIFORNISOUL! That’s exactly what it is. It’s the missing soundtrack to a summertime drive from Los Angeles to San Francisco in 1971!” ~ Fabrizio Grossi
They started touring life with a huge bang, playing to thousands of fans in Norway for their debut show and spent much of 2017 sharing the extravaganza with audiences from Texas, Holland, India, Russia, UK and now it’s time to bring the show for its first major headline tour.
Supersonic Blues Machine isn’t just a band; it’s a mood, a comradeship, a melting pot of ideas with like minded people bringing their own unique talents to create something with feeling that is very organic. “I was thinking of all the people we know and thought, how about putting together something like The Who or The Rolling Stones used to do in the early 70s” he adds, “they would put together a record and bring all of their friends on board, I thought that would be cool. Bring back the spirit of camaraderie between musicians” says Fabrizio
Full European Dates
4 July – Shepherds Bush Empire, London, UK – TICKETS
6 July – Sierre Blues Festival, SWITZERLAND – TICKETS
7 July – Suwalki, POLAND
15 July – Pistoria Blues Festival, ITALY – TICKETS
16 July – Carroponte, Milan, ITALY – TICKETS
18 July – Narcao Blues Festival, Narcao (CI) ITALY – TICKETS
20 July – Blues in Villa, Brugnera (PN) ITALY – TICKETS
Supersonic Blues Machine& Friends with very special guest Billy F. Gibbons will be coming to the UK for their debut headline show at London’s prestigious, O2 Shepherds Bush Empire on Wednesday 4thJuly.
The pre-sale tickets go on sale on Friday 6th April at 9am GMT and can be ordered from here. Tickets go on general sale on Monday 9th April at 9am GMT. There will be 25 VIP packages available, this will include entrance to the show, an album, t-shirt plus meet and greet/signing.
Following the release of two acclaimed albums ‘West of Flushing, South of Frisco’ (2016), ‘Californisoul’ (2017) and a triumphant performance on the mainstage at Ramblin’ Man Fair last summer where Classic Rock Magazine declared them a “revelation” the band are embarking on their first ever European tour and it will be one not to be missed.
Talking about the show Fabrizio says; “I am really excited about this tour. Since by mission, we’re more of a music community than a regular band, it hasn’t been easy to get all these friends in the same place and at the same time, but finally, thanks to the overwhelming fans support and demand, we were able to start off the Machine and finally get it on the road for more than just one off Festival appearance at the time.”
Continuing he adds, “We have assembled a ridiculously great cast of buddies that is ready to lay it down as it should and you will experience it first hand at Shepherds Bush Empire. Why starting off in London? Well it’s SBM way to thank the amazingly supportive UK fans that have been requesting us since our first release. I personally love the Big Smoke and what it represents culturally and musically, for me, my family and band mates. Blues might have been born in Mississippi, but it’s only with the UK help that was made popular and loved by never shrinking crowds around the globe. And I love the openness of the UK fans.”
The legendary and very special guest Billy F. Gibbons features on both albums will be joining the band for the whole tour. The core of the band is bassist/Producer Fabrizio Grossi who has worked with everyone from Steve Vai, Alice Cooper and Glenn Hughes to Dave Navarro, George Clinton, Slash and Paul Stanley to name a few and drummer Kenny Aronoff. Kenny has contributed to more than 60 Grammy® nominated recordings and over 300 million records sold worldwide feature his talents and is known for his work with John Fogerty, Sir Paul McCartney, John Mellencamp, The Smashing Pumpkins and Chickenfoot amongst others.
For this tour they welcome rising star Kris Barras on all dates with former guitarist Lance Lopez concentrating on his recent solo release and touring in support of it. Kris has exploded to the front of the British Blues Rock pack with his new album ‘The Divine And Dirty’ released last month and will be joining the line-up following his own April-May UK tour with Beth Hart. Together with its guests and Kris Barras, the band is also bringing along keyboard wiz Alex Alessandroni Jr (Stevie Wonder, Pink, Paul Stanley, Whitney Houston and many more), the backing vocals Supersonnets (credits spanning from Mary J. Blige, Christina Aguilera, Jon Anderson, Shakira) and Fabrizio’s co-writer partner for the majority of SBM catalogue Serge Simic on second guitar and vocals. For the London show they will also be joined by blues-rocker DavyKnowles who counts Bernie Marsden and Joe Satriani amongst his admirers, the latter declaring that he is his “favourite modern bluesman.”
Latest album ‘Californisoul’ was released on Provogue/Mascot Label Group late 2017 and features guests Billy F. Gibbons, Steve Lukather, Eric Gales, Robben Ford and Walter Trout.
“CALIFORNISOUL! That’s exactly what it is. It’s the missing soundtrack to a summertime drive from Los Angeles to San Francisco in 1971!” ~ Fabrizio Grossi
They started touring life with a huge bang, playing to thousands of fans in Norway for their debut show and spent much of 2017 sharing the extravaganza with audiences from Texas, Holland, India, Russia,UK and now it’s time to bring the show for its first major headline tour.
Supersonic Blues Machine isn’t just a band; it’s a mood, a comradeship, a melting pot of ideas with likeminded people bringing their own unique talents to create something with feeling that is very organic. “I was thinking of all the people we know and thought, how about putting together something like The Who or The Rolling Stones used to do in the early 70s” he adds, “they would put together a record and bring all of their friends on board, I thought that would be cool. Bring back the spirit of camaraderie between musicians” says Fabrizio.
Full European Dates
4 July – Shepherds Bush Empire, London, UK – TICKETS 6 July – Sierre Blues Festival, SWITZERLAND – TICKETS 7 July – Suwalkim POLAND 15 July – Pistoria Blues Festival, ITALY – TICKETS 18 July – Narcao Blues Festival, ITALY – TICKETS 20 July – Blues in Villa, ITALY – TICKETS
Kris Barras recently released a brand new video for the track ‘Lovers Or Losers‘ taken from his new album ‘The Divine And Dirty‘ is out nowvia Provogue/Mascot Label Group.
Speaking about the video Kris said: “Lovers Or Losers is one of my favourite tracks off the new album. It’s one of the last songs that I wrote and for me it’s one of the songs that captures the dirty side of the album, with the slide riffs and the southern rock sound. We had great fun shooting the video, the fight scenes were actually filmed with one my training partners from the gym! It was also really fun to do all of the fighting stuff in a more choreographed way than what I’m normally used to!”
Kris Barras isn’t one to shy away from a challenge. As a former Mixed Martial Artist, the singer and guitarist has fought in front of 8000 people, lived it up in Las Vegas, dealt with bankruptcy, suffered a deep and personal loss, unleashed southern-fried blues fury on stages across Europe and been voted one of the best 13 Blues Guitarists in the World Right Now in 2017.
He picked up the guitar and took up martial arts as a child. After playing in bands throughout his teens he became disillusioned. He had toured the east coast of the USA twice and recorded an album in Philadelphia, but struggled to get to the next level. By his early 20s, offers for fights were coming thick and fast. Music took a backseat as he travelled the world to compete in tournaments, winning 14 out of 17 fights and even settling to live in Las Vegas and Thailand.
“People used to think I was crazy to be fighting in cages, risking damage to my hands,” he says. “Truth is though, I always enjoyed it and found that the fighting world offered me more opportunities than the music industry. I got to fight in front of 8000 people in Asia, I would’ve much rather have played to them instead of getting punched in the face.”
That drive is at the heart of new album, ‘The Divine And Dirty‘ , his first album to be released on Provogue/Mascot Label Group. Just as the title refers to the good and the bad within us all, the album encapsulate everything Barras has been through to this point.
Following the release of 2016s self-released full length debut ‘Lucky 13‘ he says, “I was concerned that maybe I wasn’t going to be able to do any better than that. I forced myself to try different approaches, do things I’ve never done before. I think it paid off.”
‘The Divine And Dirty‘ wears its heritage proudly. Songs such as ‘I Don’t Owe Nobody Nothing‘, ‘Propane‘ and ‘She’s More Than Enough‘ shows the breadth of influences that stretches back to Led Zeppelin, the Stones, Howlin’ Wolf and Free. But there’s a modern energy to it as well that places Kris Barras in a similar mould to current heavyweights such as Rival Sons, Black Stone Cherry and The Cadillac Three.
It was his father, who gave the young Kris his first guitar at the age of six and introduced him to the great bands and artists who would shape his life – the Rolling Stones, Deep Purple and especially the late, great guitar hero Gary Moore. By nine, he was playing onstage with his father’s cover band.
“Gary Moore was my first hero,” says Kris. “He was my dad’s favourite and that fed down to me. He was the best guitarist in the world, and my first introduction to the blues. Everything else came after him.”
Sadly, Kris’ father isn’t around to see his son’s success reach fruition. He passed away a few years ago. “He died fairly suddenly, of cancer. He was only 54 years old. I wrote the song ‘Watching Over Me‘ for him. That’s a really emotional song for me. I think he’d be proud of what I’m doing.”
At 19 he owned a guitar shop, which became the inspiration for ‘I Don’t Owe Nobody Nothing‘. “It was amazing for the first year, but then the financial crisis hit and it all went tits up. I went bankrupt,” he says. “After that I vowed I would never, ever get in any debt or rely on anyone else. These days, I do everything on my own, when it comes to the band.”
The album is an eclectic beast that can fire out rocket-fuelled blues in ‘Kick Me Down‘ and gospel-infused rock’n’roll in the shape of ‘Hail Mary‘ but dial things back showing a tender side on ‘Hold On For Tomorrow‘.
He retired from the cage in 2014, feeling like he had achieved everything that he was going to achieve. It had consumed his life for so long, making so many sacrifices that he felt that it was time to move on and concentrate on the coaching side of things, and to start enjoying the music again. Today, he also co-owns two gyms in the West Country of England, and still trains and teaches fighters.
“Fighting was an adrenaline thing,” he says of his decade-long MMA career. “I got a massive buzz doing it – it was incredible. You’re under incredible amounts of pressure. You put a foot wrong, you don’t just lose, you can lose your teeth. But I thrive on pressure, whether that’s fighting or music.”
“Thailand was brutal,” he says. “You get up at six in the morning, run 8 or 10 kilometers, then you’d do a few hours or bag work and pad work, then circuit training. That’s all before you eat breakfast.”
Las Vegas was no less hardcore, though it had its upsides too. “Vegas was different, still hard work but more glamorous,” he says. “You’re fighting guys who were training since they were six years old. But then at night you’d go to pool parties and hang out with Rampage Jackson (who played Mr. T in the A Team movie), Jenna Jameson and some of the biggest UFC stars, Vitor Belfort, Wanderlei Silva, Johny Hendricks and Randy Couture (also star of The Expendables movies)”.
Produced by Josiah J Manning at Momentum Studios, Plymouth, ambition bleeds from every pore of ‘The Divine And Dirty‘. It follows a triumphant year for Barras who in 2017 embarked on his first European tour, calling at Norway, Germany, Slovakia, Poland, Lithuania and jubilant sets at his biggest ever shows at RAWA Blues Festival (Poland) and Ramblin’ Man Fair last summer with his band; Josiah J Manning (Keyboards), Elliott Blackler (Bass) and Will Beavis (Drums).
“It was overwhelming to discover just how much they love the Blues in mainland Europe,” he says. “We did just under 5000 miles in two weeks. RAWA Blues was awesome, such a great crowd and it was an honour to be one of the main stage acts. It’s the biggest show I’ve ever done. When we first walked into the arena for sound check, we were blown away. We were just some little blues band from the arse-end of the UK and you got the frontman driving the bus! Ramblin’ Man Fair was also a great weekend, we got to hang out with and watch guys I grew up listening to.”
The first day he came into the Mascot UK offices was no less dramatic than his life so far as he was caught up in a suspected terror incident and was ushered back into the building by armed police who had closed the street down. “Well I live in a little seaside town in the South-West, so terror alerts aren’t something that we tend to experience! It was pretty worrying, especially as we were reading the real-time updates online….the media were reporting all kinds of crazy things.”
Everything is primed to propel The Kris Barras Band to even greater heights in 2018. He has the songs, the talent and the ambition to take on the scene’s biggest hitters. And armed with this kind of passion and dedication, they are coming out swinging. Stand back – rock has a new hero.
Tour Dates
23 March – The Wharf, Tavistock
24 March – The Palladium, Bideford
27 March – The Comrades Club, Coulsdon
28 March – Ypres Tavern, Sittingbourne
29 March – The Iron Road, Evesham
30 March – Yardbirds Club, Grimsby
31 March – Aatma, Manchester
04 April – Haven Club, Oxford
05 April – The Face Bar, Reading
06 April – The Warehouse, Harrogate
07 April – The Supporter’s Club, West Hartlepool
08 April – Fuel, Cardiff
10 April – Vicar Street, Dublin (W/ Beth Hart)
12 April – Regent Theatre, Ipswich (W/ Beth Hart)
13 April – The Musician, Leicester
(W/ Beth Hart)
14 April – De La War Pavilion, Bexhill On Sea (W/ Beth Hart)
15 April – Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham (W/ Beth Hart)
18 April
– New Theatre, Oxford19.04 – Leas Hall, Folkstone
(W/ Beth Hart)
21 April – St Davids Hall, Cardiff (W/ Beth Hart)
24 April – Corn Exchange, Cambridge (W/ Beth Hart)
26 April – Opera House, Blackpool (W/ Beth Hart)
27 April – City Hall, Hull (W/ Beth Hart)
30 April – Hexagon, Reading (W/ Beth Hart)
18 May – The Abertillery Blues Rock Festival, Abertillery
