craig sinclair, stompbox, Stomp Box, fremantle, blues, percussion

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CRAIG SINCLAIR

www.craigsinclair.com.au

Craig Sinclair (acoustic and lap steel guitars, vocals) combines crisp fingerstyle slide guitar playing with soulful vocals and contemporary original folk-blues songwriting. Based in Fremantle, Western Australia, the rootsy and distinctly Australian angle on these songs is always at the forefront. Craig’s playing style has been likened to blues players like Kelly Joe Phelps and Jeff Lang. This is timeless folk-blues music, which draws on many rich traditions, but in the end answers to itself. Craig began gigging on the Fremantle pub scene in 2003, playing folk and delta blues music. Some chance encounters with various musicians (including stumbling into a life changing Kelly Joe Phelps concert during the 2004 International Guitar Festival in Bath, England) ignited a passion for the country blues guitar style. This was the catalyst for a large volume of original blues songwriting, and Craig returned to Perth in late 2004 with a fresh sound and inspiration. A solo act began to emerge, and from the teeth cutting process at small pubs and cafes, Craig progressed to gigging regularly at major venues and events including Mojos, Kulcha, Fremantle Arts Centre, Perth Blues Club, Mundaring Folk Club, The Brookton Music Festival, EarthDance Festival and Fairbridge Folk Festival. These shows have seen him support established touring acts including Hat Fitz, Mike Elrington and Simon Phillips Trio. He has appeared on stage with many of Perth's local musicians as a lap slide guitarist, including Khin Myint, Simon Nield and Blue Shaddy, as well as an impromptu "open mike" performance with international superstar Jeff Martin (The Tea Party) during his time in Fremantle in 2005. Craig’s debut solo album, “Stones Beneath The Surface”, was released in May 2006 and launched in front of his home crowd in Fremantle to a packed house at Mojo's Music Bar. Since then it has been featured on RTR FM as well as receiving extensive airplay on community radio stations around Australia.

This release was followed up with a live album of new original material entitled “Barefoot Ballads” in December 2007. Recorded in an art gallery just a stone’s throw from the Indian Ocean in Fremantle, this album captures an artist in his element as a solo performer. The song Rusting Armour was a finalist in the 2007 WAM Song of the Year (folk/world category) while the song Lara Clare was awarded first prize in the 2007 WAM Song of the Year (blues/roots category) (click here to listen). This album has already been picked up by the ABC and early press reviews have been glowing in their praise: “a quite exceptional recording by a wonderful artist” (Drum Media Perth).

"an impressive debut album" (The Fremantle Herald)

"a talented local singer and guitarist with some fascinating lyrics and wonderful melodies... returns to popular acclaim" (Mundaring Folk & Blues Club)

"Stones Beneath the Surface, Craig Sinclair’s debut solo album, is a left-handed, bluesy tour through the mind of a very talented guitarist and songsmith. It opens with some beautiful guitar picking, which sets the mood for the whole album and describes Craig’s art perfectly; modest, restrained and soulful." (Cran Herlihy, KCR 102.5 FM)

"This is an artist who capably attracts music lovers to his well-structured songs, talented guitar-playing and smooth vocals. Our lives become all the richer by hearing the Craig Sinclair’s of the world. Time for you to seek him out." (Derek Cromb, TWIN CITIES 89.7 FM)

"a guitar virtuoso" (Eric Bogle)

"it's refreshing to see something this honest and individual in the modern day blues and roots genre" (Mike Elrington)

"A wonderful, tranquil cd ... Craig's slide gives me goosebumps and cold shivers, a sign for me that this is the best" (Ron Bervoets, Rootstime Radio, Belgium)

The Ellis Stompbox is called by many names such as Cajon, Hand Drum, Foot Drum, Percussion Drum, Australian Artists have embraced the Stomp Box and it is being used in the Studio and on Stage by Ash Grunwald, Nathan Gaunt, Desert Child, Dave Mann, Roy Martinez, Jack Ceriani, Second Gear, Khin Myint, Craig Sinclair, Toby, James Michael Thompson, Andrew Winton and many more.