It’s not every day that a relatively unknown artist is recognized by the John Lennon Songwriting Contest. In 2006, the Lennon award was given to the Brooklyn, NY-based Chris Ayer in the folk category.
The impression left by this achievement has opened many doors for the singer/songwriter whose song “Evaporate” from his self-released full-length, This Is The Place (2006), was given that particular honor. Yet to pigeonhole this talented musician as a folkie would be way off base. Elements of pop, rock, country and even jazz permeate Chris Ayer’s sound.
As he gears up for the August release of his sophomore album Don’t Go Back To Sleep, Ayer is hitting the road early to share his knack for great songwriting, where weighty topics take on a light touch, both drawing in and uplifting the listener. The new album, like its predecessor, was produced by Nashville-based Jason Gantt (The Chieftains, Brooks & Dunn, Faith Hill).
Ayer grew up in McLean, Virginia, and got his start singing along to old cassette tapes of Elvis and Paul Simon on car rides. When his dad got him his first guitar as a teen, he started writing songs that same day. After moving to northern California, he started sharing his songs locally, while studying philosophy and music at Stanford University.
Though his songwriting started as a hobby, it quickly became his main focus. Ayer packed up and relocated himself to the New York area to challenge himself as a person and an artist, booking his own tours and performing constantly. His first full length album was lauded by Performing Songwriter Magazine which asserted that "This is the Place has it all: tight arrangements, excellent musicality and imaginative lyrics. If you're looking for great music, this is the place indeed."
When asked about his latest album, Don't Go Back To Sleep, Ayer sees it first as a call to action for himself. "This group of songs has really become a collective note-to-self on how I want to live. They were all born out of moments where I was going along in my day-to-day life, and something shook me out of the autopilot rhythm, and reminded me that I better open up and dig in right this second."
Don’t miss your opportunity to catch this compelling artist live:
08/01/09 Why Sound Logan, UT0
8/02/09 Park City Arts Festival - Miner's Park Concert Series Park City, UT
08/14/09 Rock N Soul Café Boulder, CO
08/15/09 1228 Parkway Art Space Santa Fe, NM
08/17/09 Opening Bell Coffee - Southside location Dallas, TX
08/18/09 Bohemeos Houston, TX
08/26/09 Beat Kitchen Chicago, IL
09/02/09 The Mint Los Angeles, CA
09/03/09 Lestat’s San Diego, CA
09/11/09 Lestat’s San Diego, CA
09/17/09 House of Blues (Acoustic Strip) Las Vegas, NV
09/18/09 Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay San Diego, CA**opening for LeAnn Rimes
09/19/09 Steynberg Gallery San Luis Obispo, CA
09/25/09 Hawthorne Theatre Portland, OR
09/28/09 Jewel Box Theatre Seattle, WA
09/30/09 Bombs Away Café Corvallis, OR
10/03/09 Mamma Llama Coffeehouse Weaverville, CA
10/04/09 Blue Wing Saloon Upper Lake, CA
10/06/09 Hotel Utah San Francisco, CA
10/15/09 House of Blues (Acoustic Strip) Las Vegas, NV
10/28/09 World Café Live Philadelphia, PA
10/30/09 Cellar Stage (opening for The Kennedys) Baltimore, MD
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