Kris Drever (born in Orkney, Scotland[1]) is a Scottish contemporary folk musician and songwriter, who came to prominence in 2006 with the release of his debut solo album, Black Water. Drever also plays in the folk trio, Lau, alongside Martin Green and Aidan O'Rourke, and has worked with numerous other British folk contemporaries including Kate Rusby, John McCusker, Eddi Reader and Julie Fowlis.
Kris is the son of Ivan Drever, a former member of Wolfstone.
Career
Drever grew up in the Orkney Islands where he learned to play guitar and participated in the island's folk festival. In 1995 at age 17 he moved to Edinburgh where he played at the Tron Ceilidh House several nights a week. He played the double bass for a time but returned to the guitar where his style - "a highly individual blend of rhythm and harmony, folk, jazz, rock and country inflections"[1] - made him a sought after session musician.[1]
In late 2000 he began playing alongside Nuala Kennedy and Anna-Wendy Stevenson in a weekly session at Sandy Bell's pub in Edinburgh. The trio became known as Fine Friday which toured in the UK, Europe and Australia and released two albums before disbanding. Drever went on to collaborate with a number of prominent folk musicians including: Cathy Ryan of Irish-American supergroup Cherish the Ladies; Scottish fiddlers John McCusker and Bruce MacGregor; Irish accordionist Leo McCann; Gaelic band Tannas; and the Irish dance show Celtic Fusion.[1] Drever is also a founding member of the folk collective Session A9, has been a member of Kate Rusby's band and has worked with contemporary folk artists Eddi Reader and Julie Fowlis.[3]
In 2005 Drever formed the trio Lau along with Scottish fiddler Aidan O'Rourke and English accordionist Martin Green. The band has released two studio albums and conducted numerous tours throughout the UK and worldwide. His most recent collaboration has been with Roddy Woomble, lead singer of Scottish indie band Idlewild, and John McCusker. The trio worked, along with other notable folk musicians, on an album entitled Before the Ruin which was released in September 2008.[1][3]
Before the release of Black Water, Drever had not considered a solo career. In an interview with Mojo, Drever states[citation needed]:“ [I had] been working as a guitarist for eight years or so and just did the odd solo spot. Various people said I should do solo work but I wasn't sure. John McCusker, who produced the album, harangued me about it. Then I was playing with Kate Rusby, filling in for Ian Carr, and she got me to do a song in the set. Tom Rose at Reveal Records saw me and asked if I wanted to do a record. It all went from there. ”
A live DVD was released July 28, 2008, featuring Drever's "Classic Album" set at 2008's Celtic Connections.
In January 2010, Drever released his second solo album, Mark the Hard Earth during Celtic Connections.[4] Drever launched the album with a concert at the Old Fruitmarket on January 29, alongside his former band, Session A9.
Solo Black Water (2006) Mark the Hard Earth (2010)
With Lau Lightweights and Gentlemen (2007) Live (2008) Arc Light (2009)
With Roddy Woomble and John McCusker Before the Ruin (2008)
With Fine Friday Mowing The Machair Gone Dancing
With Éamonn Coyne Honk Toot Suite (2007)
Other appearances The Girl Who Couldn't Fly - Kate Rusby (2005) Ballads of the Book - appears on Idlewild's "The Weight of Years" (2007) Awkward Annie - Kate Rusby (2007) In Love and Light - Heidi Talbot (2008)
BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2007: Horizon Award for Best Newcomer - winner 2008: Best Group - winner (with Lau) 2009: Best Group - winner (with Lau)
