It feels so good to be back playing regularly. The gigs in Gloucester & Kent went very well. Thanks to all those that made it along. The trips also gave me a chance to try out some new gear, with which I am very pleased. This month kicks off with a gig at The Blue Peter in Polperro on Saturday and is followed up by a trip to the Midlands and an appearance at the Eden Project. For full details check my gig page

Only a few weeks to go until my first blues songwriting/guitar workshop. There are a few places remaining for the opportunity to participate in what promises to be an exciting weekend in a beautiful setting. Come along and allow me to share in my experiences of 35 years of playing guitar and 30 years in the music industry. There are a few stories to tell. For full details or to book a place, please visit the Crumplehorn website, it would be great to see you there.

I now have an official facebook page (thank you Claire), dedicated to my music, events, gigs etc. So to be kept fully up to date with all things ‘Kris Dollimore’, please Like the new page.

Hope to see you at a gig soon.

Cheers

Kris

This month sees me getting back into the swing of gigging. I have a couple of dates in Gloucester, then off to the South East for a few more. For an up to date gig list, please visit www/krisdollimore.com/gigs

Exciting news! The Kris Dollimore Band is now fully formed. The line up is Isaac Gossage on upright bass, Ash Baker on drums and myself on lead guitar and vocals. We are currently busy rehearsing and putting our set together. We hope to release some tracks in the Summer. We already have a couple of festival bookings in the diary, keep an eye on the website for further dates.
I am delighted that places are selling for my first 3 day residential blues songwriting workshop, which is being held at The Crumplehorn Inn and Mill, in the picturesque Cornish village of Polperro. There are only a few places remaining, so for further details or to book a place, please visit http://www.crumplehorn-inn.co.uk/ or E Mail crumplehorninn@btconnect.com.

Hope to see you at a gig sometime soon.
All the best

Happy New Year to everyone, let’s hope it will be a healthy one!

There are a few exciting new projects on the horizon this year, starting with my first residential Blues Songwriting workshop, in partnership with Columbia House and hosted by The Crumplehorn Inn and Mill, Polperro, Cornwall. The 3 day workshop beginning on May 3rd is open to all abilities and is aimed to enhance and encourage the participant’s songwriting skills, creativity and technique.
There are only 10 places available, at a cost of £475.00, which includes 3 nights accommodation, dinner, breakfast and workshop refreshments. In addition, this price includes the option to bring along non participating partners, on a bed and breakfast basis, at no extra cost.
To book places or for more information about the workshop, please contact Sonja Crockford on 01503 272348 or crumplehorn-inn@btconnect.com.

Secondly, I am still working on my fourth album, which now looks like it might be a double album. I am hoping to release it later this year, watch this space........

Thirdly, I am in the process of putting a band together, something that I have wanted to do for a while now, but I want to get it right. I’ll keep you posted.

We are busy booking in gigs and festivals for this year,  keep an eye on the gig page for the latest dates.

All the best

Kris

Apologies for the absence of news updates this year. 2012 has been a bit of a struggle....

Kris

Hope this update finds you well.

I’ve only a handful of gigs this month and all are in the West Country, so that I can spend more time with my family during the Summer holidays. For full details check the gig page.

I was a chuffed to bits to learn from a mate of mine that I’d been included in Guitar & Bass Magazine’s ‘Blues Rock Anthology’. I went out and bought the magazine and sure enough, there I am, sandwiched in between Eric Clapton and Rory Gallagher! Doesn’t get much better than that!

I am currently working on ideas for my fourth album, which I am hoping to release in the Spring next year, watch this space.

All the best

Kris

The opening two tracks are both fine blues tunes, full of Dobro, slide guitar and a voice full of so much passion and regret you expect the singer to burst into tears as he plays the final notes; especially Worry which is probably the strongest song on the album. Alan Harrison – Maverick

Quite apart from the splendid trio of Delta Blues workouts that open the album, where this album really glows is in the variety of styles he addresses, as on the classical Spanish-influenced ‘Dias De Los Meurtos’, Eastern inflections on ‘Sahara’ and ‘Kamaj’, plus a confident nod to John Fahey on the medley of ‘In Christ There Is No East or West’ and Blind Blake’s ‘West Coast Blues’. Gerry Ranson – Rock n Reel

The opening brace of ‘Where I Belong’ and ‘Worry’ drip with delta authenticity – Dollimore’s taut slide moves dancing around on the former, a vocal growl owing a debt to John Hiatt, but with the plaintive voice of Robert Plant on the latter. Elsewhere he’s in more frivolous mood on the jaunty ragtime of West Coast Blues and explores Latino motifs on Dias De Los Meurtos’, with the same sense of space and atmosphere as Ry Cooder. Terry Staunton – Classic Rock

There’s no mistaking Kris Dollimore for the real deal. There’s an earthily authentic feel to this, his third album of original, neo-primitive blues-based explorations for solo voice and guitar. He’s comfortably at home handling anything from rags to ragas to rasgueados, but it’s the fuzzed up Bukka White stomp of the title track that proves most irresistible. The territory charted here lies somewhere between the rarified Eastern-influenced wastelands of John Fahey and the warmer countrified backwoods of Chris Smither. Throw a touch of the late Chris Whitley’s raw and ragged romanticism in there and you’ll get a feeling for where Dollimore’s headed. Just go with him. Steve Bennett – Acoustic Magazine

April was a great month, beginning with several shows at The Mettmann Blues Festival and ending with the new album ‘No Ghosts In This House’ being released and a SOLD OUT album launch night. I’m delighted at the news that several music magazines are reviewing the album, including Acoustic magazine, Classic Rock, Rock n Reel, Maverick, fRoots, Blues In Britain.

Here’s a snippet from the Classic Rock review: ‘The opening brace of Where I Belong and Worry drip with delta authenticity – Dollimore’s taut slide moves dancing around on the former, a vocal growl owing a debt to John Hiatt, but with the more plaintive voice of Robert Plant on the latter. Elsewhere, he’s in more frivolous mood on the jaunty ragtime of West Coast Blues and explores Latino motifs on Dias De Los Meurtos, with the same sense of space and atmosphere as Ry Cooder’. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Thank you to everyone that voted for my songs in the British Blues Awards. I’m excited to have reached the final stages of the category Best Original British Blues Song, with The Last Dance. So voting has now started for the final 10 songs. You can listen to the song on my website and vote using the following link here The category for best song is at the bottom. When you cast your vote, you will be sent a confirmation E Mail (which sometimes ends up in the spam folder), it is important that you click on the link in the E Mail to validate your vote or it will not be counted. Your support is much appreciated.

This month I’ll be playing a couple of local gigs, taking a trip to the South East and making my first appearance at The David Hall, full details are on my gig page.

Hi All

It’s only a few weeks until my third CD, ‘No Ghosts In This House’ is officially released and there has already been lots of interest from the music press, with reviews already scheduled for FRoots, Rock n Reel and several mags in Europe too.
The album launch night will take place on Thursday 28th April, at The Polperro Arts Foundation in Polperro, Cornwall, a wonderful venue that will lend itself to the ambience and intimacy of the evening. There are limited tickets available, so if you are interested in coming along mail me at info@krisdollimore.com.

Two of the tracks from the new album have been nominated for a possible British Blues Award, for best original British blues song. The tracks are available to listen to and vote for using the following link, so if you haven’t voted already and you would like to, it would be much appreciated. Don’t forget to validate your vote though or it won’t count. You can still vote here. Voting closes on 18th April.

March was a fantastic month with some great gigs at some great venues, thanks to all that made it along. I am currently in Germany playing various venues at The Mettmann Blues Week, which peaks on Friday at the Top Of The Crop Show, at the Neandertalhalle Theatre. I’ll then be travelling back to the UK to play a handful of gigs before my Album Launch night on the 28th.

Hope to see you at a gig soon

Cheers

It’s been a quiet couple of months gig wise, however the time has been used wisely.....the new album, ‘No Ghosts In This House’ is all pressed up and looking great, with an official release date of April 25th. The album has already attracted lots of positive interest and has appeared on the radio playlists of ‘The Blues Is Back’ on Saint FM, hosted by Tim Aves and ‘Digital Blues’ on Gateway 97.8, hosted by Ashwyn Smyth.
The album launch evening will be held on Thursday 28th April at The Polperro Arts Foundation, in Polperro, Cornwall. This is a great venue and I’m really looking forward to what promises to be a great evening.
March sees a massive change in tempo, starting with an appearance at The Swanage Blues Festival, followed by 10 UK dates and ending with a French tour. The momentum continues into April, beginning with a week in Germany, performing at The Mettmann Blues Week. Full details are available on the Gig page.
We will be putting a couple more tracks from the new album on the Dolli Player, in the next week, hope that you enjoy them.
All the best

Kris

I have to let everyone know that I’ve nearly completed my 3rd album, with the working title of: No Ghosts In This House. Just a couple more days of twiddling and tweaking and it’ll be finished.

 It sounds like a cliché, but I really believe this is the best thing I’ve ever done. It’s been such a pleasure and a joy to record and I’m so proud of it. It seems the newfound Cornish lifestyle is proving to be an invaluable inspiration
I’ll post the track listing and maybe a song or two as soon as it’s finalised, but it’s mostly all originals with the exception of one or two covers. Everything’s played by myself, though I have allowed myself to be a little more creative making use of the studio and it’s facilities.

It’s most likely to be released on my own Sun Pier label, with an ‘official’ release in Feb/Mar next year. Sorry for the wait but we need to get everything in place for the promotion, though I will be performing most of the songs in my live set in the coming months.

Talking of gigs, I’ve got a busy couple of months coming up, the usual ‘never ending tour’ of UK dates and two trips to France. I’m really looking forward to it all, can’t wait to get out there and start playing, especially the new stuff, hope you can make it along

Take care and see you soon.

Kris

September Update

This year seems to be flying by, already into September and about time I posted an update on this site.
June saw the Dollimore family move down to Cornwall, something we had often dreamed of, but never thought we’d actually do. Our new surroundings have given me new inspiration and this has resulted in me going into the studio tomorrow to record my third album, very excited about this one.

I hope to release the album in March next year and already have some great dates booked in to promote it’s release.
I’ve played some great festivals this year, starting with the Mettmann Blues Festival in Germany back in March, the Uddevalla Blues in Sweden, the Blues Passions Festival in Cognac, France  and I’ve just recently returned from playing  the  Shetland Blues Festival.  Each one was a fantastic experience and I met some wonderful  people along the way.
Thanks to everyone that has made it along so far this year and hope to see you at a gig soon.

Monday 14th April - BBC Radio2 - The Paul Jones Show

Kris is over the moon, to have had his first national radio play, on Radio 2’s Paul Jones show last Monday.
Paul played ‘The North Kent Post Industrial Hillstomp Blues’, written by Stuart Turner and featuring JimRiley on harp, off of Kris’s debut album ‘02/01/1978’.

Let’s hope this is the first of many occasions that Kris is heard on national radio.