& multi-instrumentalist
Chris Knowles plays a variety of instruments; his two main instruments are
celtic harp and Irish bouzouki.
He also often plays whistle, low D whistle and electric mandolin in performances.
Chris lives in North Wales in the UK, and is available all over the UK and
beyond for public performances, and also for private bookings such as weddings,
corporate events etc.
An established solo celtic harpist, Chris has recorded numerous albums and has worked as a freelance musician for over 25 years with celtic harp as his main instrument, specialising particularly in traditional celtic music including much Irish, Welsh, and Scottish material and also some Breton , Manx and Cornish music, and also some original material and live improvised music.
For weddings & corporate bookings, Chris can also offer a selection of popular romantic tunes, film themes and similar as an alternative to the trad. celtic material, or in addition to it.
Chris has performed in widely varied venues including arts centres, concert
halls, theatres, arts festivals, folk festivals, castles, hotels, museums, folk
clubs, restaurants, on TV and radio programmes, at a large number of ceilidhs
and weddings, and at open air concerts, green fairs, and 2 Glastonbury festivals.
He was the official harpist at Caernarfon Castle in North Wales for 9 years,
and during that time played many live events at other castles in Wales for CADW.
As well as his many solo performances, Chris has worked in a number of
duos and bands, including performances and recordings with Welsh singer Heather
Jones, fiddler Mike
Lease, acoustic guitarist
Anthony Griffiths, and multi-instrumentalist Ben
Walker.
More recent musical collaborations include performances and recording with singer/songwriter
Catrin O'Neill, and
fiddler Gary Matthewson.
He also plays fiddle, whistle, bouzouki and other instruments with
local North Wales-based ceilidh band Mooncoin.
Some new videos added to Links page
--------------------------------
* Concert performance with Catrin O'Neill & Mike Lease at Dragon Theatre, Barmouth - Aug. 15th
see gigs page for more details
CONTACT: For more info or bookings, please email
chris
chrisknowles.org
(The terms "harper" & "harpist" have the same meaning, broadly speaking- though 'harper', being the older word, is often used to distinguish a player of the styles and techniques of traditional music, as opposed to a player of classical style; rather like "fiddler" may be used to distinguish a player specialised in traditional styles of music from a classical violinist.)e
Top Image courtesy of Chris Hanley