Kim Churchill
Kim Churchill's style is explosive, with intricate fingerpicking, percussive beats on the body of the guitar, and two-handed tapping intertwined with an earthy stomp box, powerful harmonica melodies and soulful voice. His songwriting reflects his coastal lifestyle - growing up on the East Coast with the surf at his front door - and his nomadic life on the road.
He started off in 2009 after high school, busking and traveling Australia in a camper to share his music with friends and strangers alike. The same year, he was presented with the National Youth Folk Artist of the year award. After being selected from hundreds of candidates by the Byron Bay Bluesfest busker competition in 2010, Kim has quickly crossed the ranks. He was added not once, but twice on the mainstage line-up of the famous festival in 2011, sharing opening night with Xavier Rudd, Michael Franti and Ben Harper and on the closing night with Paul Kelly, Buffy Sainte-Marie and no other than the great Bob Dylan. He will be back performing at the festival in 2012.
"Kim's my favorite new artist right now" Michael Franti, Interviewing Kim Churchill at the Byron Bay Bluesfestival. http://youtu.be/b0nhb4VXBz4
Since that humble and impressive start, his work of art have connected him with thousands of people, winning audiences of some of Australia's biggest festivals including Falls Festival, Woodford Folk Festival, Peats Ridge Festival, Port Fairy Folk Festival, Queenscliff Music Festival, Bluesfest, and many more. In the last year he has also taken his show to Japan, Canada, the UK and the US.
"A star is born! Only 19 and already one of Australia's best guitarists." - Peter Noble, Director of Byron Bay Bluesfest
2011 saw him booked for shows worldwide including the Woodford Folk festival, SXSW, Memphis International Folk Alliance and Canadian Music Week. After a run in the UK, he headed home to support Michael Franti & Spearhead's East Coast Tour. He toured Oz(WA) tour throughout May and did a New Caledonian tour early June before returning back to Canada in support the Indica Records release of "Kim Churchill".
Kim artistically hit the next level with impressive performances at many amazing music festivals such as the Hillside Music, the Festival d' t de Qu bec, the Kerrvile Folk Festival, the Halifax Pop Explosion, The Tremblant International Blues Festival, the Ottawa Folk Festival and the Folk Alliance. He sold out twice the Petit Champlain in Quebec City, supported Missy Higgins at the annual Santa Monica Pier-Australia Rocks, was declared a "Revelation" at Musique en Vue in Cowansville PQ and was second best cd seller at the Montreal International Jazz Festival.
Kim Churchill just recorded his sophomore album "Detail of Distance" for IndicaAustralia(MGM distro). This latest sonic adventure will launch at this year's Bluesfest April 6-7-8 with a national tour to follow.
