Chris Gheran

Chris Gheran (born 1980 Hard Folk, coined by Gheran, is a flavour of Traditional Folk that deals with the common modern man's issues of the 21st century (for example: self-entitlement, warfare with ill-defined purpose, urban growth, and arm's length communication) delivered in an edgy passionate manner with various rhyme schemes.
In May 2016 Gheran recruited percussionist Chuck Gould and multi-instrumentalist, Ben Gould (no relation) to form "The Light Infantry". Debut performance was on May 29, 2016 opening for a Belle Plaine concert at Gallery House Concerts Society. The trio performed "Sergeant At Arms", "God Save the Queen", and an untitled composition written earlier that day (possible title "Burning Bridges") by Gheran, and "Maybe Tomorrow" a cover tune by Nightengale Cummings based on the song written by Terry Bush and John Crossen and used as the theme for TV show Littlest Hobo.
With the backup of two ensembles, Gheran released his first album "Monster" in 2008 with David Alcock at Sundae Sound Studios and mastered by Dave Horrocks with Infinite Wave. Gheran wanted to produce a more personal album. In 2010, he co-produced (again with Alcock and Horrocks) "Coup d'etat" a collection of songs dedicated to soldiers around the world. His third album, "Calgary", about and influenced by Gheran's hometown, was funded by Rawlco Radio and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) and recorded with Danny Patton at Airwaves Recording Studios in Calgary and mastered by Andy Krehm with Silverbirch Productions. In 2012, Gheran again received an AFA grant to record "Matterhorn". Although the $10,000 grant would have funded recording, mixing, and mastering if done by a professionally recognized studio, Gheran was looking for a particular sound that he believed he could not achieve in the studios known to him. Therefore, he outfitted his basement studio (christened "Pepperland" on November 15, 2011) and laid down the tracks there, returning $7000 to AFA. The album was manufactured in both CD and vinyl.
Gheran was part of a small ceremony for Ian Tyson on March 28, 2012. A Calgary Transit public art piece features the lyrics to Tyson's "Land of Shining Mountains", displayed in glass and stone. Gheran performed while he and Tyson rode Calgary Transit's downtown LRT to and from the art installation to City Hall. Tyson sang along to Gheran's "Oh Dear" (Matterhorn, 2012).
Gheran opened for The Fray in Calgary's Jack Singer Concert Hall March 31, 2011, during their tour with U2. Gheran won Jack FM's Busker Idol contest in 2010 (asked to judge in 2011), followed by 6 performances with the 2010 Calgary Folk Music Festival (including hosting their Youth Songwriting Competition). He was included in the lineup for Medicine Hat's Tongue on Post Festival in 2011 and opened for Jonathan Richman in Calgary's Sled Island in 2008 (also performed Sled Island in 2009).
Gheran collected a visual record in the fall 2013 when he toured across Canada to military establishments. He subsequently wrote "Sergeant At Arms" which was put to video:
# Royal Canadian Legion Centennial Branch 285 in Calgary, Alberta;
# Sir Winston Churchill #3 Army Navy Air Force Vets at Elks Lodge in Edmonton, Alberta
# 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta
# CFB Wainwright, Yorkton Legion #77, Saskatchewan
# 3 Canadian Forces Flight Training School, Southport Airport, Manitoba
# Military Family Resource Centre, Shilo, Manitoba
# Army Navy Air Force Vets #10, Brandon, Manitoba
# General Stewart Legion #4 and 20th Independent Field Battery, Lethbridge, Alberta
# CFB Suffield, Alberta
During the tour, Gheran also performed at:
# Kaleido Festival, Edmonton, Alberta
# House Concert in Cold Lake, Alberta
# House Concert in Battleford, Saskatchewan
# Crandleberry's Cafe in North battleford, Saskatchewan
# Moka Coffee Bar in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
# Gordie's Coffee House, Winnipeg, Manitoba
# House Concert in Regina, Saskatchewan
# Breakout West Festival at WineOhs and Cafe Koi, Calgary, Alberta

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