<script> <style>

HBF(Holland Blues Festival Grolloo - 13/14/15 Juni 2024  Crossroads Festival Bonn(BRD) Ledffoot - 10/05/2024 - Olst • Bluespeer 17 18 19 MEI '24 • NOT THE ROLLING STONES (UK) - zondag 26 mei 2024 Heino • Jam-Session Heino 21 April/12 Mei 2024 • THE MUDD FOOTE (USA) | zaterdag 14 september Heino • SUGARIFF, funky rockband uit Arnhem | zaterdag 09 november Heino •

Release: KIRK FLETCHER - HOLD ON

Hold_On_Cover_Art_SmallKIRK FLETCHER - HOLD ON

LABEL: SELF
RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 19, 2018
DISTRIBUTION: MEMBRAN


For many recording artists the goal of a full-length album is to follow a theme or concept to
guide the material and present a concise and focused statement. For Kirk Fletcher the target was

simple as he explains the theme of his new album “It’s about love, a general love for humanity. I
wanted to write songs about more than just boys and girls, and maybe give some answers and
hope to this crazy time we live in.”

Kirk’s new studio album “Hold On” is his fifth album as a bandleader and solo artist. The eight
original tracks were recorded at Canyon Sound in Bristol, England with a classic organ trio format
of Fletcher on guitars and vocals alongside drummer Matt Brown and Jonny Henderson on organ,
piano and Wurlitzer. The live off-the-floor sound captured by engineer Nick Dover flows with
vibrant energy on a set of tunes that crosses genres from smooth R&B to jamming jazz and deep
blues, and soul.

The deeply funky and self-searching ‘Two Steps Forward’ opens the set with powerhouse vocalist
Mahalia Barnes trading verses with Fletcher, while his guitar rips a wild wah-wah solo that
references a few guitar hero riffs, while Henderson delivers gritty Deep Purple-styled Hammond
B3. Fletcher then does his best Bill Withers and pleads the case of a lover on the velvety soul
track ‘You Need Me.’ The trio then head to New Orleans for a glorious second line infused ramble
‘Sad Sad Day,” demonstrating the magic of the blues; how an intensely sorrowful lyric sang over
a joyous beat is one of the most uplifting forms of artistic expression ever created. Fletcher pours
his heart out on the epic eight-minute blues suite ‘The Answer,’ delivering a lamenting vocal
before letting his emotions fly on another soaring guitar solo. Brown rolls and thunders on a
march beat for the turbulent and abrasive heavy blues ‘Time’s Ticking.’ The playful instrumental
track, ‘Dupree,’ has the trio showing off their skills and effortless musical telepathy as they
seamlessly shift to and fro through an interaction of melody, harmony, and rhythmic themes
creating a substantial musical thought, ending with a unified musical punctuation.
The Chicago shuffle, ‘Gotta Right,’ demonstrates Fletcher’s musical roots as a four-time Blues
Music Award nominee on the album’s most straight-ahead blues track that features his acclaimed
guitar work and new-found vocal power. The Gospel infused title track, ‘Hold On,’ closes the set,
with vocalist Jade McCrea supporting Fletcher and his simple plea for global harmony. The new
album from Kirk Fletcher showcases a musician and songwriter steeped in tradition yet unafraid
to break new ground.

TRACK LIST
1. Two Steps Forward 5.04 - 2. You Need Me 3.47 - 3. Sad Sad Day 4.49
4. The Answer 8.10 - 5. Time’s Ticking 6.20 - 6. Dupree 6.40
7. Gotta Right 8.22 - 8. Hold On 4.40

WEBLINKS
OS: www.kirkfletcherband.com/
FB: www.facebook.com/kirk.fletcher.58
TW: @bigelifletcher
IG: www.instagram.com/kirkfletchermusic/

KIRKFLETCHERBAND.COM
Publicist & Radio: Betsie Brown, Blind Raccoon, betsie@blindraccoon.com

Booking/Label/Mgmt.: Clea Zajc, booking@kirkfletcherband.com