Pete Christie

Pete Christie is a British solo singer-songwriter and acoustic guitarist based on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, in southern England. He performs nationally and has spent 40 years as a performing musician. His style centres on original songs that combine folk, anglicana roots, blues, country, rock ballads and related acoustic forms, with melody and lyrical writing at the core.

Music and guitar style

Christie plays an individual fingerstyle guitar style that ranges from sparse and haunting accompaniment to a more forceful, rhythm-driven approach. His playing is described as sounding as though more than one musician is on stage, because of the way he combines accompaniment and rhythm within a single performance. He also works with handmade guitars and places emphasis on sound quality.

He is a featured artist for Avalon Guitars and plays instruments including a Lowden O10, a dreadnought made by David Oddy, an Avalon A-100 Gold Series, a 1976 Gurian C Series and a Yamaha Red Label FG140 from around 1970.

Career

His first professional group is The Skavengers, a three-piece ska/rock outfit that begins in 1979. Over the course of his career, he has held publishing and recording deals, including one with Chas Chandler. He also tours as a solo artist and releases studio and live material under his own name.

His studio album Frank is one of his key releases and is associated with songs built around memorable melodies and instrumental harmonies. Another earlier studio album is Miles Away. He also releases the live DVD Short Stories and the companion live CD Live at Mr Kyps.

Songs, collaborators and performances

Christie’s best-known song is “Waiting in the Wings”. His work is associated with a wide range of acoustic, folk and rock musicians, and he appears as a guest with artists including Nick Harper, Jeff Lang, Glenn Tilbrook, Ezio, Ruby Turner, Hugh Cornwell, Bob Brozman, Martin Harley, Matt Andersen, Ben Montague, Jackie Leven, Kieran Halpin, Steve Tilston, Rory Ellis, Dave Pegg and Derrin Nauendorf. He also draws comparisons to musicians such as Martin Simpson, Paul Weller, Pete Townshend, Mark Knopfler and Richard Thompson.