“There are plenty of musicians who would like to be called poets, but few whose work can actually stand up as poetry… C.R. Avery is a young writer who is a legitimate contender in that arena…” – Eden Munro of Vue Weekly
“Audacious and astonishing – 5 stars” – David Burke, London Time Out
“a cultural magpie who’s impossible to pigeon-hole” – David Kidman, Net Rhythms Magazine
“Raw talent” – Utah Philips
“Avery…has created his own off-beat world of spoken work and musical soundtrack that is riveting and rewarding” – Lonesome Highway Magazine, Ireland
Outlaw Hip-Hop Harmonica Player
Beatbox Poet
Punk Piano Player
String Quartet Raconteur
Rock & Roll Matador
Playwright
Whether performing to thousands at the Royal Albert Hall or the lucky few who made it inside the packed past capacity speakeasy, C.R. Avery is a unique, raw and dynamic performer. His genius lies in many genres – blues, hip-hop, spoken word and rock & roll. He is a one-man band, but one for this generation; with the rare ability to sing poetic verse while beatboxing simultaneously while pounding the piano and adding harmonica like a plot twist. A multi-talented front man for his Legal Tender String Quartet; a crazed lead singer/harp player for his rock & roll band The Special Interest Group; a lyrical dynamo & the musical backbone of the spoken word trio Tons of Fun University.
From musical beginnings in his late teens, C.R. Avery has recorded over fifteen albums as well as writing & directing six hip-hop operas, which were mounted and performed from New York’s Bowery to L.A.’s South Central. He has toured throughout Canada (including almost every major folk festival) the USA and Europe (headlining or opening for Billy Bragg, Buck 65, and Sage Francis) and garnered the attention of music peers the likes of Tom Waits (“…he’s blowin’ my mind”); blues harp trail blazer Charlie Musselwhite (“…no one plays harmonica like him… no one…”); and folk legend Utah Phillips (“…raw talent”).
His incredible live performances have been described as Bob Dylan in the body of Iggy Pop; colliding with Little Walter, the Beastie Boys and Allen Ginsberg. Every show is all or nothing and his fearless approach to all genres of music both on stage and in the studio proves the longevity of this talented, astonishing creator has so much more to come.
For more information – http://www.cravery.com
C.R. Avery will perform at the Evergreen Terrace Cafe, 80 Wellington St., Stratford on Wednesday, October 5th. Concert will start at 8pm, and there will be a $5 cover at the door. Arrive early to get good seats!
For more information – http://www.cravery.com
St. Marys Storytelling, a non-profit arts organization devoted to the art of oral storytelling, is pleased to welcome storyteller Brad Woods as part of their Winter Storytelling Performance Series on February 13th, 2011. Woods will present a program of stories and songs called The Lost Art of Listening accompanied by fellow band-mate Kevin Morse of The Great Wooden Trio.
