Chris Brain

Chris Brain is heading down from Leeds to Brighton this May. He’s become a bit of a fixture in the northern folk scene, having founded a couple of clubs and a festival in Yorkshire, but his sound has a much broader appeal for anyone who appreciates the technical side of acoustic music. He leans heavily into that classic 60s and 70s folk tradition, drawing comparisons to figures like Nick Drake and John Martyn. What’s interesting about his process is his commitment to recording on analogue tape and using alternative tunings, which gives his fingerpicking a very specific, warm texture. It’s the kind of music that feels quite deliberate and introspective, focusing on the interplay between his voice and the guitar without unnecessary layers.

The performance is set for Thursday, 21 May, at The Prince Albert, right at 48 Trafalgar Street. It’s being put on by Folklore Sessions, and if you’ve been to the venue before, you’ll know the upstairs room is quite intimate with a capacity of just 100 people. This show coincides with the release of his fourth album, Red Sun Rising, which is due out that same month. Because of that, the setlist will likely be a mix of the brand-new tracks and selections from his previous work, including Bound to Rise from 2022, Steady Away from 2023, and his 2025 album, New Light. It’s a chance to hear the new material in a setting that actually fits the quiet, detailed nature of his songs, especially since he’s known for that specific Leeds-based folk style.

In terms of the practical side, doors are at 19:30 and things get started at 20:00. Tickets are priced between £16.69 and £16.90 depending on which platform you use, and since it’s at the Albert, it is an 18+ event. It’s a fairly low-key way to spend a Thursday evening if you’re interested in seeing how contemporary folk is being handled by someone who clearly respects the genre's roots. There’s no big production here, just a musician bringing a very specific, analogue-recorded sound to a small room in Brighton. Being so close to the station, it’s easy to get to, making it a straightforward option for anyone looking for a bit of live acoustic music mid-week.