CRH Music

CRH Music, renowned as Bristol’s top Americana music promoters, have a rich history of hosting exceptional musicians and bands in Bristol since the late 1990s.

The original home for CRH Music nights was the Bristol Flyer (Gloucester Road) where Tim Martin’s shows co-existed with Steve Lount’s Comedy Box promotions.

Both promoters lost their ‘home’ base when the Bristol Flyer was closed by its owners for an extensive refurbishment. Much of that ‘re-furb’ work centred on the kitchen facilities which impacted the size and access to the upstairs function room at the Bristol Flyer.

Steve directly moved his Comedy Box operation to the Hen & Chicken, assisted by Allied Domecq and has been promoting live comedy nights upstairs at the Hen & Chicken ever since.

Whilst having used the Hen & Chicken on a few occasions, Tim was uncertain about the suitability of the venue for his shows at that time, therefore, CRH Music existed with no fixed abode.

CRH Music appeared somewhat randomly at a variety of local venues including; The Croft (Stokes Croft), The Bungalow (near Bristol Airport), The King’s Arms (Clifton), The Polish Club (Clifton), Jesters (Stokes Croft), The Prom (Gloucester Road), Jongleurs (Baldwin Street), The Alma Tavern Theatre (Clifton) and Fiddlers (Bedminster).

A new home for CRH Music emerged at the rather unlikely St Bonaventure’s Parish Club in 2002, which was to last for twelve years.

Larger shows were placed in larger venues such as; The Colston Hall, The Lantern (@ the Colston Hall), St. George’s (Brandon Hill), Bristol University Union Building (Clifton), All Saints Church (Clifton), Clifton Cathedral, the Trinity Centre (Old Market), Bristol Bierkeller and The Fleece (Old City).

CRH Music had created something of almost mythical stature at St. Bon’s, but unfortunately, it too was forced to close as a venue in 2014.

After that, for a three-year period, CRH Music shifted its centre of operations to The Tunnels, at Temple Meads.

The Tunnels ceased operating as a club during the Christmas / New Year period of 2017.

The last interim venue used by CRH Music was The Golden Lion (Bishopston).

Surviving all of the challenges that are only too prevalent for today’s grassroots promoters and music venues, as of 2018, CRH Music has been able to call the Hen & Chicken its home base, where recent performances by The Hanging Stars, Kevin Mongomery, and Elliot Brood delighted audiences.

Full listings and tickets can be found here: crhmusic.com

Some of the incredible bands that are part of the CRH history include.

Ed Sheeran, opening for Amy Wadge.

John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin) playing with Uncle Earl.

Ryan Adams (ex Whiskeytown).

Buddy Miller.

James McMurtry & the Heartless Bastards (featuring Ian MacLagan).

The Be Good Tanyas.

The Band of Heathens.

The Jayhawks / Gary Louris.

The Sadies.

Laura Cantrell.

Alison Moorer.

Anais Mitchell.

Chuck Prophet & the Mission Express (with Winston Watson, ex-Bob Dylan).

Teddy Thompson.

Crooked Still.

Sarah Jarosz.

Sarah Watkins.

The Carolina Chocolate Drops (Rhiannon Giddens).

The Old Crow Medicine Show.

Willie Watson.

Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit.

Drive By Truckers.

Richmond Fontaine / The Delines.

Raul Malo (The Mavericks).

Stacey Earle.

Justin Townes Earle.

Gary US Bonds.

Willie Nile.

Gary Tallent (Bruce Springsteen).

Kevin Montgomery & the Roadtrippers (including members of The Mavericks, with Al Perkins).

BR.549.

Gretchen Peters.

Beth Nielsen-Chapman.

Alejandro Escovedo.

Mary Chapin-Carpenter.

J.D. Souther (Eagles / Jackson Browne).

Kurt Wagner / Lambchop.