Sound of Nashville comes to Newark

The many influences from years of travelling and performing come together for an evening of music with Chris Saunders at Newark’s Ann et Vin on Saturday.

Chris lives just outside Nashville and regularly performs on the piano in Nashville, Memphis, Mobile and New Orleans.

But, for a few months every year, he makes Newark his home, performing gigs locally.

He describes his music as urban cowboy — southern-style home-cooked songs, often with a story or humorous recollection thrown in.

Chris first came to Newark ten years ago, brought over by his friend and fellow musician Andrew Hall, for the Newark Jazz Festival.

He brought with him a wealth of experience that started by playing the violin from 11 and moving on to guitar and other instruments, including piano and bass.

“I knew I was never going to be a record star so I made myself competent in a lot of areas,” he said.

Chris was performing in New Orleans when his talent was spotted.

“In those days there were music clubs shoulder to shoulder and on breaks, musicians could walk up the block and hear different people playing,” he said.

Chris went on to work with some well-known names from the New Orleans music scene, including touring with Chuck Berry, and still spends much of his time travelling, having spent a month working in Hawaii before coming to Newark.

Chris regularly plays in big bands so the intimate setting of Ann et Vin gives him the chance to bring in his own “free-wheeling” style.

He intends to perform a mix of his own material and covers from the likes of Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, Al Green and Otis Redding, and maybe throw in a few new ideas.

“The nice thing about Ann et Vin is being so close to the audience so I can get a real feel for what they want and try to give it to them,” he said.

Tickets for his Ann et Vin show, which starts at 7.30pm, cost £5.