Chris Brain is a Yorkshire-based folk singer-songwriter whose work sits firmly in the British pastoral tradition, shaped by close attention to place, memory and emotional nuance. His fourth album, Red Sun Rising (2026), is a quietly powerful collection of songs centred on yearning, restlessness and the desire for change.
Rooted in acoustic textures and intimate storytelling, Red Sun Rising feels like a record made in motion: landscapes shifting, seasons turning, inner lives gently unsettled. Brain’s songwriting balances melody and restraint.
A familiar voice on BBC 6 Music and the BBC Radio 2 Folk Show, Chris has shared the stage with iconic acts like Robert Plant, Jacqui McShee and Martin Simpson. Golden Days, the first single from his debut album Steady Away, is prominently featured in the A24 film We Live In Time, starring Oscar-nominated actors Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield.
In Spring 2025, Chris embarked on a near sell-out UK/Ireland solo tour including a packed hometown show at Leeds’ Brudenell Social Club. He rounded off the year with a sold-out seven-date tour of Japan and a headline performance at the iconic Union Chapel, accompanied by Lockeland Strings.
In 2026, Chris performs a headline show at The Tron Theatre, Glasgow as part of Celtic Connections and a 17-date UK and Ireland tour is planned to mark the release of Red Sun Rising.
‘There are shades of the master Ralph McTell here and I can think of no greater compliment than that, I love it’ – Mark Radcliffe, BBC 2 Folk Show
‘Yorkshire singer songwriter Brain consistently impresses with his third album’ – Daily Express
‘Contemporary folk song at its finest’ – Songlines Magazine
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