For booking or general inquiries,
contact Liz Werth at: liz@craigwerth.com
Since October
2006, Craig Werth has served as the accompanist/co-arranger for
three-time Juno-winner David
Francey. Craig served as co-producer for Francey's "Right of
Passage" which won a best album Juno in 2008. He is often on tour with
David but is also performing solo shows and working on other creative
projects. With the release of "The Spokes Man" Craig will be on the
road more as a solo artist in the Fall of 2010 and beyond.
Craig has been
performing at festivals (Winnipeg Folk Festival, Edmonton Folk
Festival, Vancouver Folk Festival, Celtic
Connections (Glasgow), Celtic Colours Festival, Atlin Arts Festival,
ArtsWells, Mission Folk Festival, Harbor
Lights, Australian National Folk Festival, Canmore Folk Festival,
Shelter Valley Folk Festival, Fairbridge Folk Festival (Aus),
and many more), coffeehouses, concert halls, and schools (from
kindergarten to Elderhostel) for... a wicked long time. He also brings
to his writing and performing a life-load of experience as a counselor,
teacher, outreach caseworker, builder of musical instruments, and
family man. Craig's compositions explore topics ranging from natural
wonders like whales, dinosaurs, and zucchinis; to relationships,
parenting, his Newfoundland heritage, and his Long Island and Catskill
Mountain roots. He performs primarily with voice, guitars, bouzouki,
ukulele, banjo, mountain dulcimer and shruti box (an audience favorite).
HIGHLIGHTS:
Accompanist
for multiple Juno-Award-winning artist David Francey. Supporting David
with multiple instruments, harmony vocals, and arrangements. (www.davidfrancey.com)
Co-producer/arranger/instrumentalist/vocalist
for David Francey's 2008 Juno Award-winning album, "Right of Passage."
First Place Winner Great Waters Folk Festival Songwriting Contest for
2005 (entrants from across the U.S. and Canada, judged by music
professionals from U.S. and Canada.)
Featured on
Volume I of the "Seacoast Songwriters" Sampler CD of New England
artists, produced by guitar legend Harvey Reid.
First Place
Winner Prescott Arts Acoustic Songwriting contest for both "When I Go"
and "Something In Us All" (judged by acoustic-folk DJs and music
professionals from New England).
Featured on
Kennebunk Coffeehouse's critically acclaimed collection, "Best of Five
Live" with artists including John Gorka, Patty Larkin, David Francey
and fine others.
"Special
Guest" for artists including Christine Lavin, David Francey, Chris
Smithers, Cliff Eberhardt, Neil and Leandra, Kevin So, Susie Burke and
David Surrette. Shared stages with Paddy Malone of the Chieftains, the
Barra MacNeils, Malinky, Ron Hynes, Buffy Saint-Marie, Chumbawumba and
many, many others.
Published
writing includes an essay in the book "Soul of the Sky: The Human Side
of Weather" (along with essays by Sebastian Junger and Annie Dillard)
and my "Ode to the Zucchini" in the New Hamphire Poets Guide - 2010..
WORD ON THE STREET:
"Craig
Werth is an exceptional writer, a natural born story-teller, a
brilliant singer and an outstanding instrumentalist." - David
Francey
"In
recent years Craig Werth has been applying his considerable talents
as a multi-instrumentalist to accompany Juno award-winning songwriter
David Francey, but his naturally modest demeanour in that role belies
the fact that he is a truly gifted songwriter in his own right. As an
inspired musician and a perceptive and emotive writer, it is when he
applies his musical prowess to his own songs that the depth of his
artistry is revealed.
- Jim Payne, Newfoundland performing artist/writer/producer
"Craig is an exceptional
musician. I heard
him first on a compilation CD that I purchased for the "other artists",
quite frankly. When I put it in my player, it was his song,
"Sycamore" that made me stop and pay attention and it put me on a
2-year quest to get him down to Florida. He just released a
CD of guitar instrumentals, "Sideview", which shows off his prowess as
a guitarist. His first CD of vocals, "Loose Gems", shows that he
can write lyrics as well as anyone in the business - and is voice is
rich and full of that New England quality that has made the career of a
number of others. - Craig Huegel, Just Us Folk Coffeehouse Series and
Folk DJ - Seminole, Florida
"Werth is
a master songwriter. His songs -- gems of communication -- are
made with a voice of pure beauty and instrumental work so precise it's
a wonder he manages to get so much sould into them" - David
Matheson, Toronto Producer/Engineer/Musician
"Craig's
very literary and melodic songs are in the tradition of thoughtful New
England writers." - Harvey Reid
"Craig's
CD just blew me away" - Micah Engber, Maine Public Radio
"If you
like Dave Mallet and John Gorka, you'll like Craig Werth. His voice and
guitar work are absolutely wonderful" - Annie Provenzano, WMWV Radio
" 'Loose
Gems' is a classic" - Christine Lavin
"Loose
Gems is a wonderful CD." - Kate McNally, WEVO Radio
"...all
of the tunes on this disc are superb. All of the tunes are gems, and so
is the recording itself." - NH Spotlight Magazine
