Chris Brain emerged out of Leeds’ vibrant folk scene in 2022 with his debut, critically acclaimed and widely distributed album, Bound to Rise, reaching #22 in the UK Folk Charts.

His much-anticipated second album (Oct 6th ‘23), Steady Away, moves inward and takes on a more self-reflective quality, whilst retaining glimmers of soaring figures and pastoral imagery.

Brain’s distinctive warm vocal and finger-picked guitar style are sustained alongside expansive strings and delicate piano arrangements, taking shape through evolving and introspective impressions on tenderness, loss, pain and awe in nature.

Steady Away further embeds Chris Brain within the contemporary folk scene, whilst gesturing towards the folk tradition. His commitment to folk is only deepened by the two folk clubs and folk festival in Leeds that Chris founded and runs, attracting a wide range of audiences and musicians alike.

‘There are shades of the master Ralph Mctell here and I can think of no greater compliment than that…Love it!’
Mark Radcliffe – BBC Radio 2 Folk Show

’New sounds from Chris Brain, I’m certainly enjoying it’
Cerys Matthews – BBC Radio 6

‘Recorded straight to tape like the good old days, its an acoustic gem’’
BBC Radio 6, Tom Robinson

‘Steady Away is everything a second album should be…. this is an excellent album by a musician really starting to bloom.’ –
Folk Radio