Kris Drever - Mark The Hard Earth

(March 2010) 11 tracks: Mark The Hard Earth * This Old Song * Shining Star * Allegory * Wild Hurricane * Sweet Honey In The Rock * O' A' The Airts * The Call And The Answer * The Crown Of London * The Banks Of The Nile * Freedom Come A' Ye.

Mark The Hard Earth is carefully chosen selection of traditional songs that Kris has played over recent years, alongside contemporary songs written by friends and collaborators including Sandy Wright, Boo Hewerdine and Kris' brother Duncan.

Kris Drever (vocals, guitar) with Tim O'Brien (mandolin, vocals, banjo, fiddle, bouzouki, baritone ukelele), Heidi Talbot (vocals), Karine Polwart (vocals), Phil Cunningham (accordion), Donald Shaw (harmonium, wurly), John McCusker (fiddle), Ian Carr (guitar), Ewen Vernal (bass), Andy Seward (bass) and Roy Dodds (drums).

One of folk music's most in-demand performers, this is the follow-up solo album to Kris Drever's acclaimed debut recording Black Water, which was a critical and commercial success in the UK and abroad. Kris won the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2007 Horizon Award For Best Newcomer shortly after this release, and Black Water has since sold in excess of 10,000 copies in the UK alone.

Kris hails from Orkney and now lives in Edinburgh. He is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and singer whose early releases were with Scottish group Fine Friday and Session A9. Kris then spent some time writing and recording with friends John McCusker and Roddy Woomble (Idlewild) - the resulting album Before The Ruin later featured amongst Mojo Magazine's Best Folk Albums of 2008.

In 2008 Kris re-united with guests from the Black Water album for a special concert, with a full band line-up featuring Ian Carr, Roddy Woomble, Donald Shaw, John McCusker, Heidi Talbot, Andy Cutting, Ewen Vernal, Donald Hay and Karen Mathieson. This was filmed and released as his Live DVD.

Kris is also a member of the successful Scottish / English trio Lau, along with Aidan O'Rourke and Martin Green. The group have been winners of the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Best Group for an unprecedented three years running since 2008, and to date have released three albums - Lightweights And Gentlemen, Lau Live and Arc Light. The trio have appeared on BBC television and numerous Radio 2 shows including Simon Mayo, Chris Evans, Bob Harris and Mike Harding.

Kris has also toured, recorded and dueted with Heidi Talbot and banjo player Eamonn Coyne (on the album Honk Toot Suite).

"A strong natural singer and top notch guitarist. The folk revival has a new standard bearer." (Q Magazine)

"Further confirmation that folk music is kicking and screaming into the 21st Century..." (The Sun)

"Black Water is an album that will be as relevant twenty years hence as it is today..." (Maverick)

"[Black Water] aligns ancient with modern. A poignant picture of modern Britain and makes the standard live anew..." (Sunday Times)