Chris Smither

USA star Frank Smither at St Ives Guildhall.

American Chris Smither, who has been honing his synthesis of folk and blues for more than 50 years, will appear at St Ives Guildhall on Saturday, June 4 as part of his UK tour.

His profound song-writing, singular guitar sound and world-weary vocals – lying somewhere between Leonard Cohen and Leon Redbone – mark him out as a true original. Miami-born, New Orleans-raised Smither’s music draws deeply from the blues and American folk music, but also modern poets and humanist philosophers, and he continues to earn accolades from the critics.
His songs have appeared in films and TV shows and been covered by Bonnie Raitt, John Mayall, Emmylou Harris and Diana Krall, among others.

In 2006 his song “Diplomacy” was named No.42 on Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of 100 Best Songs of the Year. A year later Smither was named Outstanding Folk Act by the Boston Music Awards.
In 2012 he released Hundred Dollar Valentine , a studio record rated with five stars by the magazine MOJO. With his long-time producer David “Goody” Goodrich at the helm, this collection sported the unmistakable sound Smither has made his trademark: fingerpicked acoustic guitar and evocative sonic textures meshed with spare, brilliant songs, delivered in a bone-wise, hard-won voice.

Support at The Guildhall will be provided by Chris’s friend, the excellent songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Zak Trojano.

Penzance-based Frank Bryant, who is also bringing American folk icon Peggy Seeger to this year’s St Ives September Festival, is promoting Smither’s Guildhall appearance.