Wed 19th October, 2016
8:00 pm - 10:30 pm (Doors: 7:30pm)
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Bookings are closed for this event.
‘Beautiful…feel the hairs on your neck stand on end…Jeff Buckley meets Nick Drake’ (BBC Introducing).
‘Simply brilliant’ (The University paper).
‘A Nick Drake for the 21st Century’ (Newcastle Chronicle).
These are just some of the recent plaudits used to describe the music of Daviid aka David Smith, a unique singersongwriter with a 4 octave range, who draws upon some of the world’s most admired acoustic artists for inspiration, yet creates a sound that is all his own.
David’s guitar style references the aforementioned Nick Drake with nods to other great guitarists such as Bert Jansch and John Martyn, with a playing style that is at once folksy, yet also urbane and sophisticated. David has an impressive ability on the guitar, creating spellbinding intricate patterns using a variety of complex tunings. Vocally David’s unique tone and soaring ability to work in multiple registers is already drawing comparisons to classic performers such as Jeff Buckley; singing on unusual, unexpected beats, and creating a wonderful, floating, atmospheric feel, a voice that is paradoxically fragile yet assured. David’s often haunting songs are a mélange of genres, taking in folk, pop, soul and even funk, and are reminiscent of classic songwriters such as Carole King and James Taylor yet fusing the feel of Chic at times with nods to classic artists from every decade. David draws upon a diverse musical palette and will take us on a fascinating sonic journey.
Northumberland raised and now Bath based (he is currently studying music at Bath Spa University), David has already won both awards and critical acclaim for his evocative and highly emotive music. Bath’s musicians have enjoyed considerable success in recent years (Gabrielle Aplin, Laura Doggett, Lily Ava), and David is set to become our next breakout artist. Indeed, Chapel’s sound engineer Ed Norman, (who has previously worked with Gabrielle, Laura & Lily) had this to say: ‘David’s music is simply phenomenal. In my job I am privileged to work alongside many highly talented musicians who have established themselves as some of the country’s most successful artists, and I can honestly say that David shows every bit the star quality found in those musicians, which when you consider how relatively new he is (David is just 21), is even more impressive. I have always considered song writing to be just as important as a musician’s sound and performance ability, and I am pleased to say that he already has a catalogue of songs which in my humble opinion are destined to do great things for him. If you are a fan of artists such as Ben Howard, or indeed of the Chapel’s programme of acoustic music in general, then you should definitely enjoy this’. Jan Cottington, the manager of Chapel Arts Centre, is also a fan of David’s music: ‘For such an unassuming young man, I really didn’t expect such powerful music; his vocals are beautiful, soaring and melodic, and his song writing is simply on another level’.
Also on the bill will be guest performers including new Bath sensation Isobel Holly, with whom David is writing an EP of songs.
Deeply personal and moving, ethereal and uplifting, melodic and lyrically rich – these are the acoustic songs that will slow down time. Join us for an enchanting evening at the Chapel Arts Centre, and you may just discover an enduring musical love.
https://twitter.com/daviidsings