2010 Maple Blues Nominee for Best New Artist

BIO

Bio

HIGHLIGHTS• Nominated for a 2010 Maple Blues Award for Best New Artist of the Year (Canada’'s national awards for excellence and achievement in blues music).• Released one of the best-reviewed Canadian blues albums of 2010.• Named the "The Future of the Blues" in a 2010 year-end review by Canada’'s Blues Underground Network website.• Debut solo album Chris Antonik voted the 10th best Canadian blues album released in 2010 on the Annual Blind Lemon Top 20 Canadian Blues Chart (by CHMR Radio)• Debut solo album named one of the best blues albums of 2010 by US music critic Graham Clarke, as well as by CKLR Radio in Quebec.• In the 2010 International Songwriting Competition, Chris'’ song "Roll with It" received an honourable mention in the blues category. The song was selected from a pool of over 15,000 entrants by a jury that included Jeff Beck, Jerry Lee Lewis, Peter Gabriel and more.RECENT LIVE PERFORMANCES • The 2011 Orangeville Blues & Jazz Festival (with Downchild Blues Band, David Gogo)• The 2011 Orillia Spring Blues Festival (with Fathead, Danny Marks)• The 2011 Beaches International Jazz Festival (with Duke Robillard, Paul Reddick) • The 2011 Calabogie Blues Festival (with Monkeyjunk, Steve Strongman) • July 2011 benefit show for Juno-winner Julian Fauth (with Shakura S’Aida, David Rotundo and Raoul Bhaneja).RADIO & TELEVISION• Debut solo album has received widespread Canadian and international radio play, including on Jazz FM 91.1, "Saturday Night Blues" on CBC Radio 1, "Fresh Air" on CBC Radio 2, Sunday Morning Soul with Johnny Max, At the Crossroads with Brant Zwicker, and DAWG 101.9 FM (Ottawa).• Four songs have been in regular rotation on Galaxie Satellite Radio since November 2010.• Airplay on the "Blues Deluxe" radio show, a US program that is syndicated at over 100 stations in North America and that reaches 2 million listeners weekly.• Radio play in the following countries: France, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, the UK, Poland, Croatia, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Greece, Macedonia and Denmark.• Upon its release in August 2010, the album Chris Antonik debuted at #4 on the Roots Music Report for Canadian roots music radio play and #35 for international blues radio play (www.rootsmusicreport.com).• The album rose as high as #2 for Canadian roots music radio play and #33 for international blues radio play (Roots Music Report for the week of December 17, 2010). • The album Chris Antonik has appeared in the top 100 on the Roots Music Report Canadian play charts for a year since its release (August 2010 – August 2011).• In the fall of 2011, the song "Dhyana" will be featured on the new season of the nationally syndicated US television show "Roadtrip Nation” on PBS.INTERVIEWS• In the fall of 2010, Chris was interviewed by: Ottawa's CKCU FM, New York City's "Sounds of Blue" radio show (with well-known American blues radio personality Bob Putignano), and American Blues Scene.com.• In January 2011, Chris was a guest on Danny Marks' BLUZ FM radio show in Toronto.• In May 2011, an interview with Chris was published by American Blues News.com.• In August 2011, Chris was the featured artist on James Doran’s two-hour “Inside the Blues” radio program on DAWG FM 101.9, Canada’s only FM all-blues station.2010 ALBUM DESCRIPTION The 2010 debut, self-titled solo album from Toronto guitarist Chris Antonik is a diverse, soulful and tightly executed blend of classic guitar blues and original, innovative, contemporary blues-rock. After thrilling audiences in Toronto blues clubs as a sideman, Antonik has stepped out on his own to deliver this self-produced collection of original material and two classic blues covers.The album Chris Antonik is a portrait of a maturing blues guitarist and songwriter who fully grasps the importance of song over solo - while still leaving plenty for guitar fans to enjoy. The songs deal with repairing relationships and giving back to those around you, as well as classic blues themes delivered in modern vehicles. Using the guitarist-as-front man approach and a variety of guest vocalists, the record is a solid collection of soulful, strong and smart blues. Guest performers include some of Chris friends from the Canadian blues scene, including Mark Stafford, Suzie Vinnick and Richard Underhill.The primary vocalist and keyboardist on the record is the gritty and stirring Josh Williams of the jam band Fat Cats. Bassist Andrew Taylor (The Blazers) and drummer Chris Chiarelli provide the tight and funky rhythm section.From the jump, "More to Give" gets the record moving with a kinetic, Hammond-soaked groove. The track is about learning from the mistakes of the past, having more to offer to the ones you love, and is filled with blues-rock guitar momentum that pays respect to early 70s Clapton.The album swiftly moves into the stripped-down blues funk of "Roll with It," where Antonik channels his slide guitar heroes. A vintage dobro provides a country-blues contrast to the deep pulse of an urban, almost hip-hop-like drum beat - a contrast that mimics the songs theme of just going with what comes our way."The King of Infidelity," a narrative about the consequences of unfaithfulness, marries melodic song-craft with blues-slinger inclinations. With its blues-pop sensibility, Infidelity pays homage to late 80s adult contemporary blues albums, such as Clapton's Journeyman and Stevie Ray Vaughn's In Step, as well as the recent Continuum from John Mayer. Maple Blues award-winning artist Suzie Vinnick provides rich and alluring back-up vocals to shadow Josh Williams ardent lead vocals and retro Rhodes piano.Veteran blues harmonica player and singer Mark bird Stafford then jumps in on "If We Start from Here," an upbeat, no-nonsense call for reparation delivered as a double-shuffle blues number.The record peaks with a cover of Jerry Ragovoy's "She's a Burglar," popularized in 1974 by guitarist Freddie King. Antonik pays tribute to his hero, with King-inspired guitar playing complemented by some of the most sought-after horn players in the business: Juno-award winner Richard Underhill, Perry White (the Shuffle Demons) and William Sperandei (Colin James).A cover of Otis Rush's minor key classic "Double Trouble" features Chris making his lead-vocal debut (pointing to future growth in this area for the evolving guitarist). Trouble also features in-demand Toronto musician Geoff Daye (Sue Foley, Danny Marks) on Hammond organ and piano.The album was produced by Antonik, recorded at Audiolab Recording Company in Toronto, and mixed and mastered at Silverbirch Productions in Toronto.OTHER Chris also occasionally plays in a stripped-down, old-school Chicago blues trio with Mark bird Stafford and guitarist Pete Schmidt (Mel Brown, Jack Dekeyzer). In 2010, Chris also shared the stage with Juno-winning guitarist Darran Poole (Fathead, Gary Kendall) as part of a similar trio.
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MUSIC

01 more to give
02 roll with it
03 the king of infidelity
05 dhyana
06 shes a burglar
08 double trouble

SHOWS

2012 Dates

February 18 - Tribute to the KING'S OF CHESS RECORDS, Hugh's Room, Toronto, ON w/ Danny Marks, Julian Fauth, Dylan Wickens, Mike "Shrimp Daddy" Reid and more...

March 7 - In-Studio Performance, Sounds of Blue, WFDU-FM, New York City, NY

March 15- Monarchs at the Delta Chelsea, Toronto, ON

March 24 - Highway Sixty One, Toronto, ON

March 30 - The Huron Club, Collingwood Ontario

April 14 - The Rainbow, Ottawa, Ontario

April 15 - The Acoustic Grill, Picton, Ontario

May 18 - BLUES ON THE RIDEAU at the Cove Inn, Westport, ON Dinner & Show $60; Call 1-888-COVE-INN

August 9 - The Royal George, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Upcoming

Shows

Bookings - Ross Robinson

Toronto Blues Booking Agency

(416) 200 - 5389

therosster_torontoblues.com

Publicity - Sarah French

Sarah French Publicity

(416) 566 - 4188

sarah_sarahfrenchpublicity.com

NEWS

News

November 15, 2011Pre-production now underway for Chris' highly-anticipated follow up album! The songs are written and rehearsals have started. Chris is honoured to be working with some very special guests in the coming months, including Grammy award-winner Mike Mattison (The Derek Trucks Band, Tedeschi-Trucks Band), Juno-winners Julian Fauth and Richard Underhill, Maple Blues Award-winners Shakura S'Aida and Steve Marriner, in addition to Chris' highly talent bandmates Josh Williams, Andrew Taylor and Chris Chiarelli.October 15, 2011The Chris Antonik Band will be in Quebec City at La Casbah October 21 and in Ottawa at The Rainbow October 22. Look for Chris on Wednesday, October 19 as a guest on J-Man's Junkyard at 5pm on 101.9 DAWG FM OttawaAugust 5, 2011Chris will be the featured guest on James Doran's "Inside the Blues" show on Ottawa's DAWG FM 101.9 on Sunday, August 21, 2011 from 6 - 8 PM EST. The show streams live on www.dawgfm.com - then it is archived at www.insidetheblues.caJuly 11, 2011The Chris Antonik Band willl be playing the 2011 Beaches International Jazz Festival in Toronto, Ontario. The band will play three nights in a row - July 21, 22 & 23, 2011. For more info, please visit: www.beachesjazz.comMay 20, 2011American Blues News interviews Chris. Read ithe interview here: http://www.ameriblues.com/2011/05/18/chris-antonik/May 12, 2011The song "Roll With It" has received an honourable mention in the blues category for the 2010 International Songwriting Competition. The song was selected from a pool of over 15,000 entrants. April 20, 2011Chris' song "Dhyana" to be featured on the soundtrack of the new season of the nationally syndicated US television show "Roadtrip Nation," airing in September 2011.March 7, 2011The song "Roll With It" officially selected as a finalist in the blues category for the 2010 International Songwriting Competition. The song was selected from a pool of over 15,000 entrants. Winners to be announced in May 2011 by a Panel of music legends, such as Jeff Beck, Peter Gabriel, Jerry Lee Lewis and more!February 11, 2011The album "Chris Antonik" ranked #23 on the weekly Roots Music Report Canadian airplay chart. This means the record has been charting now for six months since the August 2010 release!January 22, 2011Chris was a guest of Danny Marks on BLUZFM 91.1 FM, Toronto, on January 22, 2011. Chris and Danny talked music, songwritiing and the Maple Blues Awards for an hour of the show.January 10, 2010Chris' debut album voted the 10th best Canadian blues release of 2010 on CHMR Radio's annual "Blind Lemon Top 20 Canadian Blues Albums"December 31, 2010US-based blues music critic Graham Clarke selects Chris' debut album as one of the best blues albums of 2010http://fridaybluesfix.blogspot.com/2010/12/best-of-2010-top-discs-you-might-have.htmlDecember 24, 2010A 2010 year-end review by the Blues Underground Network selects Chris in the "Future of the Blues" categoryhttp://www.bluesundergroundnetwork.com/2010_Year_End_Review.htmlNovember 5, 2010Interview with American Blues Scenehttp://www.americanbluesscene.com/2010/11/chris-antonik-is-hard-working-sharp.htmlOctober 28, 2010Chris nominated for 2010 MAPLE BLUES AWARDhttp://torontobluessociety.com/site/?page_id=1799October 1, 2010International Songwriting Competition names Chris September co-winnerThe International Songwriting Competition (ISC) has named the newly released song "Roll With It" as one of two of the top songs submitted in September. The winner of the annual, broader competition will be announced next year. September 24, 2010New Album at #4 on Canadian Radio ChartsAccording to the Roots Music Report for the week of September 24, 2010, the album "Chris Antonik" charted at #4 on the Canadian radio play charts!In addition to this, it was #35 on the international "blues" radio play charts

PRESS

Press

"Antonik is one to watch in the blues. He writes well and plays wonderfully."

- VINTAGE Guitar Magazine

"Antonik's guitar cranks energy in a conscientious, unrushed and emotionally convincing manner that contributes volumes to the immediacy of his tunes."

- DOWNBEAT Magazine

"Following Canadian acts I enjoy such as Colin James, David Gogo, JW Jones and Downchild, here comes a new name to add to the list - Chris Antonik."

- Thebluesblast.com

"The instrumental Dhyana is Bonomassaesque in terms of style and quality and in The King Of Infidelity it can boast one of the single track highlights of the listening year to date......Antonik needs to be watched - something may be starting here."

- BLUES MATTERS Magazine UK

" "Chris Antonik" is a surprising debut recording with one highlight after another .......outstanding fretwork and imaginative songwriting."

- BluesBytes.com

"The song The King of Infidelity is a major effort, a song that Mr. Clapton would welcome on one of his albums......a most welcome debut CD."

- Toronto Blues Society

"An impressive debut from a promising talent......his guitar work is concise and focused, more concerned with tone and taste than displays of virtuosity. His songs, too, are mature and intelligently crafted."

- www.blogcritic.org

John Taylor
John Vermilyea
John Valenteyn
Graham Clarke
richardthomas
John Mitchell