About the Artist

Starting at school, Kris picked up the Guitar and Saxophone at Age 11, and took both of them in his stride. Attending the Sage in Gateshead for music workshops and lessons, he rapidly excelled to the most advanced levels they had to offer. Gathering all the credentials to play at an outstanding level, he took GCSE Music a year early, and passed at the top of his class. He also became the youngest ‘Musical Director’ his school had seen, to conduct music for yearly productions. This then developed when his school partnered with Sunderland University to put on a musical based on Michael Jackson’s life, called ‘A Legend Never Dies’. Kris’ musical affinity continued through Sixth Form, where he took on the Piano, Vocals and Bass Guitar to add to his growing list of musical capabilities. Taking on 4 full A levels, Kris passed his A level music with commendation in performance and composition.

 

Attending the University of York for the following 4 years, Kris developed his musical career further with performance and songwriting. After establishing a back-catalogue of songs, he started making a name for himself, eventually winning the University’s Battle of the Bands, and prestigious slots scattered throughout York’s summer festival scene. Securing funding from the victory, he would go on to record an EP and Album with the money. These releases were partnered with performances at York’s ‘Woodstock’ Festival, York Carnival, and York’s ‘Summer Ball’ located at the Racecourse. This show was attended by 3000 people, and he provided support for ‘MNEK’, ‘Twin Atlantic’, and Blues Titans ‘Vintage Trouble’.

 

Kris then started touring the UK as a session musician. A regular on the UK theatre scene, he played various instruments as a soloist performer in an 8-piece tribute band for David Bowie called Ultimate Bowie. As well as selling out theatres around the UK, he has performed at Latitude Festival, Shipston Proms, and the Boisdale; the latter to which Jools Holland is patron for. Extending his talents further from home, he became a world touring musician soon after. A career highlight was a 3-week tour of New Zealand in 2016.

 

In parallel to this, Kris added his writing, arranging, and performing experience to 5-piece North East Jazz-Pop outfit ‘PICNIC’. As well as releasing original songs with more than 50,000 streams on Spotify, he has opened for Dave Stewart’s sold-out birthday show at the Sunderland Empire, and played for the Prince and Princess of Wales at the opening of the ‘Fire Station’ music venue in Sunderland. Music from PICNIC has also been played at the Stadium of Light, on national radio, and TV.