CHRIS FOSTER - English singer and guitarist
‘His is one of the most distinctive voices in English folk music, totally sure and engaging, with some of the most accomplished and sensitive guitar accompaniments that you are likely to hear.  A mesmeric performer.’
 Vic Smith - The Folk Diary

Chris Foster is a master of his trade.  Alongside Nic Jones, Dick Gaughan and June Tabor, he established himself in the 1970’s as one finest interpreters of the traditional ballads of the British Isles.  Tales of romance, magic, murder, liquor, love, adultery and cross dressing.  Each song is a story.  Shared experiences of the human condition, instantly recognisable to all audiences, crossing the boundaries of urban and rural experience, of past and present.

As a story teller in song, Chris takes the evocative tunes of dark ballads alongside the upbeat rhythms of rogue’s tales and sometimes jagged lines of Leon Rosselson’s contemporary verses and provides guitar accompaniments that range from fine filigree lines to beautifully paced punchy, rhythmic counterpoint harmony, weaving words and music together to complement the action of the story.

Chris has a distinctive voice, deep and clear with a faint overlay of his native Somerset, and a vocal style that incorporates a subtle use of decoration with an intricate and exciting sense of rhythmic patterns.  Underpinning it all is his on-stage persona, with his urbane wit and engaging enthusiasm for his music that draws the audience into his performance.

Chris Foster’s own history is as varied as one of the protagonists’ from his songs.  He grew up in Somerset, where he first heard and started singing traditional songs.  Following a visual arts training he became a full-time musician, clocking up 8 years of continuous touring throughout Britain, Europe and North America.  Along the way, he picked up musical influences and songs from traditional musicians in the coastal villages of East Anglia, intriguing and unusual songs from the manuscripts of the Victorian / Edwardian folk song collectors of his native West of England and awards and critical acclamation for his recorded work in 1977 and 1979.

Then in the 1980’s he changed focus, dropping out of the folk scene and settling in Salisbury where he co-founded Mobile Arts, a mixed media community arts company.  Using music, drama, visual arts, oral history and print, Mobile Arts established a reputation for exciting, original work, much of which researched, revived and re-interpreted the musical traditions and customs of the area.

In the 1990’s Chris moved to the midlands and cast it all back into the melting pot, re-emerging onto the folk scene with innovative visual and musical contemporary interpretations of English songs and traditions in two shows ‘Sting in the Tale’ and ‘Traveller’s Tales’.  He has been booked for solo performances at festivals (such as Sidmouth, Chippenham, Towersey, Wadebridge, Warwick and Bromyard) and at clubs throughout England, as well as performing in Canada, Hungary and Iceland.  He has also been increasingly in demand as an accompanist on other peoples’ recordings.  His own recent solo CD ‘Traces’, tells compelling stories which in his own words, “reveal traces of other lives, struggles and times which I can only imperfectly imagine, but which still resonate powerfully today.” 

‘The warm tone of Chris’ voice and his captivating guitar playing draws you into the ancient world of storytelling which links generation to generation, culture to culture and humanity back to its humanity.’  Susan Grace – Burton Mail

Written by Paul Saunders at HeyPressco Tel: +44 (0) 195 272 8283 / Email:  ps@heypressco.com
www.fyldeguitars.com

PROFESSIONAL C.V. for CHRIS FOSTER May 2003

Chris Foster is a highly skilled musician and arts worker with over 25 years professional experience. He currently divides his time between regular performing as a musician, practical project work in a range of media and consultancy and project management for community based and participatory initiatives and for public bodies. His wide experience of arts practice in both formal and informal settings enables him to be flexible and adaptable to all kinds working situations.

Musician

  • As a performing musician, he has toured as a solo singer and guitarist and band member throughout the UK, Europe, Canada and the USA, performing live and on radio and TV. Currently working as a solo performer and with Icelandic singer Bára Grímsdóttir.

  • · Has released four solo albums and collaborated on a number of recording projects with other artists.

  • · Workshop leader and teacher (guitar and singing for all ages and abilities) in workshops, on courses and at festivals in UK and abroad.

Community Artist

  • He has extensive experience of initiating, co-ordinating and executing small and large-scale participatory arts projects in community settings, using a range of media in a variety of urban and rural locations.

  • All of his work involves working in collaboration with groups of people; from conception through devising and design to finished piece, making work which grows out of specific locations, issues and interests which are important to the people involved.

  • Much of his work stems from issues around peoples' sense of themselves and their environment.

  • He uses design, painting, making skills in a range 2D and 3D of materials, oral history, photography and print to create work of originality, quality and flair.

  • He has worked with groups of all ages and abilities.

  • Is used to working either solo or as a member of a multi-disciplinary team.

Consultant & Project Manager

  • He brings his extensive practical experience of 'grass roots' work to consultancy and training work, in particular with community based and arts development initiatives.

  • He has co-ordinated and managed a variety of projects for arts organisations. Most recently the 2 year European funded Baring-Gould Heritage Project for Wren Trust.

  • He has undertaken feasibility studies (including related pilot projects), training and consultancies for a variety of organisations in the public and voluntary sectors. Most recently writing the report on the first year of operation of the three Youth Music Action Zones in the West Midlands for Arts Council England West Midlands.

  • He has extensive experience of serving on advisory committees and management bodies at national, regional and local level.

Professional history (summary) Chris Foster C.V. May 20031995 - present Freelance Artist, Consultant and Musician. Based in the West Midlands working throughout the country and overseasWork in 2001 / 02 included:

  • Planning and executing community mural projects in Staffordshire and Worcestershire.

  • Carrying out participatory music projects for Firebird Trust.

  • Co-ordinating the Baring-Gould Heritage Project for Devon based Community Folk Arts Company, Wren Trust.

  • Regular performing and recording at festivals, clubs and on radio both solo and with Bára Grímsdóttir and with Sally Goldsmith.

  • Consultancy and Training work for Arts Council England West Midlands.

1996 - 1999: Served on Executive Committee of Sound Sense, the national community music organisation and on Board of Trustees of the Firebird Trust, which promotes and develops creative music making and arts projects with communities in the East Midlands and Yorkshire.

1994 - 1997: Member of steering group for the Arts in Rural GP's Surgeries, pilot project at Tutbury, Staffordshire.

1990 - 1995: Arts worker at the Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton-on-Trent. Responsibilities included: organising and carrying out participatory arts projects; gallery co-ordinator; music programmer and member of senior management team deputising for the Director on arts programme and policy matters.

1991 - present Advisor / Assessor for East and West Midlands Arts.

1981 - 90: Founder Member, Arts Worker at Mobile Arts based in Salisbury, Wiltshire; an independent mixed-media community arts company, well known for its pioneering work in rural areas throughout the Southern Arts region. Freelance musician solo and in bands. Founder member of the Shelton Trust for Community Arts. Board member

1980-4, Chair 1983/4. 1972 - 80 Freelance musician and artist based in West Midlands and East Anglia, increasingly involved in community arts work. Toured, broadcast and recorded widely. Solo exhibitions of paintings.

Educational qualifications:

1971 BA (1st Class Hons.) Fine Art, Painting. Norwich School of Art.

1972 HDA. (MA equivalent) Fine Art, Painting. Chelsea School of Art. Musicians Union Member. Computer literate. Holder of a clean driving licence and full public liability insurance cover. Current CRB Enhanced Disclosure Status.

Community arts work (some highlights) Chris Foster C.V. April 2003

2002 SURE START, Burton upon Trent. Worked on a project with parents and pre-school children to make a set of 8 large hand-painted curtains installed at Sure Start Base. The design incorporates multi-coloured silhouettes of the children and handprints.

2002 DERBY RAM, Ironville and Little Eaton primary schools, Derbyshire. 2 x 1 week long, music based residencies for Firebird Trust. Using traditional songs and Tup play with junk percussion, leading to performance for parents and rest of schoo

l2002 CREDITON DRAMA CENTRE, Crediton, Devon. Designing and making set, costume and 'props' for 'The Wildling' a new, large scale, outdoor community performance involving up to 50 performers of all ages

.2001 THE HORIZON PROJECT, Horizon Community Centre, Worcester. Working with Asian young people to transform the façade of the community centre where their Youth Clubs meet.

2000 / 01 FROM SMALL ACORNS, Bend Oak Junior School, Burton upon Trent. A large mosaic mural on the theme of the Tree of Life designed and made with pupils, parents and staff and installed as the focal point of the school's new millennium garden.

2000 SHAPING UP, John Bamford Primary School, Rugeley. A three month residency leading to a large-scale permanent installation of life size cut out figures of children who attend the school. Made and painted with pupils, parents and staff.

1999 / 00 RAILWAY BRIDGE MURAL, Anglesey Community Park, Burton upon Trent. Working with young people in a culturally diverse regeneration area in Burton to design and paint the previously vandalised and graffittied bridge entrance to the re-developed park.

1997 PLAYING TOGETHER, Victoria Primary School, Burton upon Trent. A six month residency leading to a mural depicting childhood games from Britain and Pakistan. Children researched games and toys via oral history work. The resulting drawings by the children were combined to make a composite design that was painted in the school playground with children, parents and friends of the school

.1993 / 94 OUT OF THE TUNNEL. An exhibition made with a Burton based group of people recovering from tranquilliser addiction and mental illness. The exhibition uses photography, montage, creative writing and graphic design to communicate the participants' experiences of their illnesses and express their hopes for the future. Toured extensively in health and arts settings in the Midlands.

1992 / 93 OUR TOWN. A photographic project with 10 people who attended Burton Adult Training Centre. The resulting exhibition documents the participants' perceptions of their town, both well known central areas and their own home streets. 5 large 'joiner' panels installed permanently in the new Burton Queen's Hospital in autumn 1994.

Music work (some highlights) Chris Foster C.V. May 2003

From 1972-81 toured full-time, appearing at festivals, concerts, folk clubs and on radio and TV all over UK, in Europe and the USA. During 1980's stopped touring to concentrate on rural community arts work with Mobile Arts in Wiltshire, but still found time for one recording project with Leon Rosselson, Roy Bailey, Frankie Armstrong and Martin Carthy, occasional solo gigging and 5 years with R&B band the Rhythm Blasters. On moving to the Midlands in 1991 resumed regular performing, re-establishing reputation as a powerful performer of traditional and new songs and accomplished acoustic guitarist.

2003 Ongoing solo performing and recording and work with Bára Grímsdóttir 'PLOTTERS' arranger and accompanist with songwriter Sally Goldsmith on a song cycle inspired by interviews with older allotment holders Sheffield. The songs will be performed live with visual projections and released on CD. 'HOW TO CATCH A MOONBEAM' one of 6 artists working on a 2 year action research project developing practical music making and singing in early years settings for Birmingham City Education Authority

2002 Performances, teaching and workshops with Bára Grímsdóttir at Chard International Festival of Women's Music, and Towersey Folk Festival in England and Siglufjord Folk Festival, in Iceland. Performance on Icelandic national radio. Two week long residencies in rural primary schools in Derbyshire for Firebird Trust. Using traditional songs, percussion and drama to make a performance for parents and children at each school. Japanese record label Vivid released my 2 vinyl albums 'Layers' and 'All Things in Common' recorded for Topic Records in 1977 and '79 respectively.

2001 'AS WE WALKED OUT' Worked as arranger and accompanist on a 'Year of the Artist' project with songwriter Sally Goldsmith. The song cycle based on the memories of older ramblers in South Yorkshire was performed live at a variety of venues and released on CD. Taught guitar for 'Hands on Music' course at Witney, Oxfordshire and Folkworks Autumn Workout, Darlington.

1998 / 99 'TRAVELLERS TALES'. Devised and performed with writer / musician cris cheek. A small scale touring show using song, story telling and poetry with photographic slides and sound tapes, to explore the importance of travel, willing or forced, long or short distance, in peoples' lives.

1993-96 'STING IN THE TAIL'. A full length solo show with set, devised with cris cheek. The show used narrative songs ranging from traditional ballads to specially commissioned songs combined with poetry and scripted links, to explore the changing relationship between humanity and the animal world. The show received over thirty performances at Village Halls, Festivals and Community Centres from Yorkshire to Cornwall.

1992-99 Co-founded blues band DUKE LA RUE & THE BLUE JUKES with Mick Strode. Released CD 'ONE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING' June '93. Appeared on the main stage at Great British Blues Festival, Colne, Lancashire August '94.

Consultancy & Project Management Chris Foster C.V. May 2003

2002 / 03 Writing evaluation report on the three Youth Music Action Zones in the West Midlands Arts Region for Arts Council England West Midlands.

1999 / 02 Running quarterly training sessions for representatives of groups awarded Youth Arts and Grass Roots Arts Awards by West Midlands Arts.

1999 / 02 Co-ordinator of the BARING-GOULD HERITAGE PROJECT for Wren Trust based in Okehampton, Devon. A folk music and heritage development initiative using the legacy of the extensive collection of folksongs made by Sabine Baring-Gould in the late 19th century. Organised local community music projects (including work in schools) and 3 week long study breaks and folk festivals (these are now established as an annual event).

1998/9 West Midlands Arts, Co-ordinator for all aspects of two pilot open access grant schemes (Grass Roots Arts Awards - for work in rural areas and Youth Arts Awards) run as part of the Arts Council of England 'New Audiences' programme.

1998/9 Researched and wrote a feasibility study for a multi-cultural Community Music Development Project and Facility in Burton upon Trent.

1998 Researched and wrote a report on 'greening' an inner city London School incorporating 'healthy living centre' aspects for Dr. Malcolm Rigler of the Withymoor Village Surgery, Dudley, W. Midlands.

1997 Researched and wrote feasibility study to enable the Mytton Oak Foundation, a medical charity based in Shrewsbury, to establish a community arts programme as part of a range of 'healthy neighbourhood' projects in the area where it is based.

1996/7 Worked with four schools in Staffordshire to prepare Arts Lottery A4E bids and funding applications to other bodies for arts projects. All successful in full.

1996 Work for West Midlands Arts January - March, acting Music Officer, part-time. November - December, acting Planning Officer with responsibility for Rural Areas, Arts & Health, Disability Arts and liaison with local authorities in Staffordshire and Warwickshire.
Other work for West Midlands Arts in

1996 included administrating the Breakthrough Music Awards Scheme.

1996 Researched and wrote a large feasibility study on setting up a youth music development programme in Tipton, the City Challenge area of Sandwell, for Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council.

1996 Elected to board of Sound Sense, the national community music organisation and appointed as a trustee of the Firebird Trust, a community music organisation serving Yorkshire and the East Midlands.

1995 Undertook feasibility study, preparation of business plan and National Lottery bid for a multi-purpose arts centre at Rhyn Park School, Shropshire. From an initial estimate by the school of a need for £37,000, the amount eventually applied for grew to over £500,000. The successful result of the application was announced in summer 1996. It was met in full.

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