Projects
Solo
The main driving force behind Chris’ musical career is his songwriting. Performing and recording prolifically as a solo artist, this is where you find him in his most natural state. With a focus on intricate fingerstyle guitar and Appalachian clawhammer banjo, Chris’ dynamic solo live performances have become renowned for there visceral intensity and warm, honest and inclusive connections with audiences up and down the UK. Occasionally enlisting help from other masters of the acoustic music scene such as Lukas Drinkwater & Jamie Francis, Chris can generally be found at the UK’s Arts Centres, Concert Venues, Cafes and Folk Clubs, showcasing his original material. He has released two solo albums, ‘Apparitions’ (2015) & ‘We Sat Back and Watched it Unfold’ (2019).
Chris Cleverley Trio
Featuring renowned vocalists and musicians Kim Lowings & Kathy Pilkinton. The trio was assembled to rearrange and reinvent music from Chris’ solo career in a diverse format, intended solely for the transient realm of the live performance. With a specialism in intricate three-part vocal harmonies the trio has enabled Chris to put a greater focus on the traditional folk music of America and The British isles, with which he grew up. Combining original material with folk songs arranged, at times, with the unique spin of all three members the trio have naturally become a favourite of the UKs Folk Clubs and Traditional Music Festivals.
The Company of Players
Inspired by the likes of The Elizabethan Sessions and The Full English, The Company of Players is a contemporary folk collective set up by Jess Distill of Said The Maiden. The purpose of the collective is to write, record and perform songs inspired by the works of William Shakespeare, following the 400th anniversary of his death in 2016. Alongside Chris, the project features the talents of emerging folk artists including Said The Maiden, Lukas Drinkwater, Kelly Oliver, Minnie Birch & Jen Waghorn. Their album ‘Shakespeare Songs’ entered the Sunday times top 100 albums of 2018 following two renowned, sold-out performances to launch the record at The Maltings Theatre in St Albans. Purchase the album here – https://companyofplayers.bandcamp.com/album/shakespeare-songs
Global Music Match 2021
Chris Cleverley was a featured artist in the 2021 edition of Global Music Match. GMM is a worldwide collaborative event uniting 78 artists from 17 countries over a 3 month period. Chris was a part of English Folk Expo’s ‘Team England’ alongside Lucy Farrell, Jack Rutter, Eliza Marshall, Lunatraktors and Dan Whitehouse.
He was also included in GMM’s Team 13 with artists from Canada (Sonia Aimy), USA (Thea Hopkins), Taiwan (8Phare), Scotland (Gnoss) and Australia (Ruth Hazelton).