Chris Pierce

One of the greatest things about coming to the Vancouver Folk Music Festival every summer is the opportunity it gives us to discover artists in an intimate space before the rest of the world catches on. While Chris Pierce is hardly a new artist – he’s been playing music all of his life – his star is definitely on the rise, and he will almost certainly be one of this year’s enduring highlights.

Highly respected by his peers, Pierce has played with Seal, BB King, Allison Russell and toured extensively with Neil Young.  

A great songwriter in the soul folk tradition – think of Sam Cooke singing “A Change is Gonna Come” after hearing Bob Dylan for the first time – his performances reflect everything you could hope for in a live experience.  Blessed with a dynamic range and expression that rivals Al Green at his peak, it’s almost inconceivable to absorb that as a child, a rare hearing disorder called otosclerosis lead to the loss of hearing in one of Chris’ ears and partial deafness in the other – a setback that would deter many young musicians forever. It’s only added to Pierce’s drive and commitment to share his music with his audience as he wins them over, song by song.  

Don’t miss the chance to hear one of this decade’s most vital and exciting artists perform in Canada for the first time at this year’s festival.

DH