ABOUT
Kristen Ford was born in April 1987 in Ohio. She has since lived in 6 states, most recently in Chicago, Illinois and Boston, Massachusetts. Playing out and about for the past 4 years, Kristen has written slews of songs, performed across the globe and released 2 full length records, "Filthy Nasty" in 2009 on Many Doors Records, produced by June Millington and Lee Madeloni, and a double EP album "Alone, Together" released independently and the EP " Alone " produced by the one woman band phenom, Audrey Ryan.
Yearly moves, changes in geography and a personality "like talking to a child with ADHD", Kristen has been hailed as having "no easy way to categorize the music, the real deal" and a "musical cuisinart", Kristen plays everything from Reggae to Country to Folk to Pop on a handful of instruments, guitar, ukulele, piano and beatbox.
Energy binds her eclectic tastes together and makes the live show a must see.
In 2008, Paul Hendrick (bass and vocals) and Sarah Icklan (drums and vocals) joined Kristen to form the Kristen Ford Band.
The group has played over 100 shows in 2009, and released "Alone, Together" in which the EP "Together" is a rip roaring live performance, recorded in Goshen, Massachusetts in April 2010.
A remarkable fact about this group is their ridiculous commitment to rehearsals and gigs together, despite a commute. Paul Hendrick lives in Northampton Massachusetts, Sarah Icklan in Brooklyn, New York and Kristen Ford in Boston. Together they support one another in song arrangements, dynamic breakdowns and a cohesiveness only gained after hundreds of shows together.
Other players have included: Mark Gill, Lee Madeloni (bass) Ann Van Marter, Braden Selsback, Peter Bertrand (drums) Colin Kelly, June Millington ( lead guitar), Keith Hollis (Piano) Audrey Ryan (Squeeze Box, Violin, Percussion, Vocals), Naia Kete, Abbie Barrett (Vocals).
Kristen and her band have played with artists such as Sonya Kitchell, Matthew Santos, Erin Mckeown, Naia Kete, The Pussy Pirates, The Rex Complex, Abbie Barrett, Bear Motor, Baker London and many more.
In venues such as Church, The Middle East, TT the Bears, (Boston) The Empty Bottle, The Red Line Tap, Reggies (Chicago) Googies, Sidewalk Café, The Annex, Vox Pop (NYC), Café Coco, Windows (Nashville), Black Water Hatties, Flying Monkey (Hunstville) 400 Bar (Minneapolis) The Frequency (Madison) Club Havana, Bernies (Columbus) The Shadow Lounge (Pittsburgh) The LAB (Asheville) The Space (Detroit) Art Bar (Milwaukee) Raven Lounge (Philadelphia) Wonderroot (Atlanta) BigFoot (Portland OR), Club Q (Reykjavik Iceland) Parihaka Peace Festival (Auckland, New Zealand) Hudson Valley Pride Festival, Rockfest 2009, and too many fond memories to mention.
PRESS
"Musical Prism"
-The Weekly Dig September 2010
I've been crushing hard on the Kristen Ford Band since I saw them perform Kristen Ford, at twenty-three, is swaying me from thinking that the best front person of a band should never play an instrument. Kristen Ford could be a Somerville hipster but you'd never know it since she smiles throughout each performance. No brooding emo antics going on here. She's what you'd call The Real Thing. Her camaraderie with band mates Sarah Icklan and Paul Hendrick show a solid foundation"
-Exploit Boston, September 2010
Kristen Ford is authentic, crazy talented and a lot of fun
-Exploit Boston, July 2010
Despite the precarious implications of its title, Kristen Ford's "Walking On A Wire" is an easy, cozy, "why-don't-you-have-a-seat-in-my-living-room" comfort of a song that rolls along just quick enough to stay interesting, but just easy-going enough to invite anyone to jump on board. The sound of this song is deceptively deep - its structure and arrangement seem simple enough, but there are many, many things to hear in this mix.
Kristen Ford's vocals add yet another dimension. her inflection is admirable, adding a level of emotional dynamics to a track that so many lesser vocalists might simply sing through. Her singing style is almost conversational, and the level of her voice rises and falls as it might in an excellent, engaging conversation.
-Boston Band Crush"
"When Chi-town Musical cuisinart Kristen Ford decided to adopt Boston as her new stomping grounds, we were pumped to have her, and all 17 genres she manages to play at once…delight in her take on acoustic disco"
-The Weekly Dig July 2010
"For those who don't know about Kristen Ford, her music is a blend of rock, folk and reggae with sexy sprinkles on top."
Cul de Sac Magazine July 2010
"Filthy Nasty" is easily one of the most promising debut albums I have heard in a long time. This Kristen Ford is a real rocker…There is no easy was to categorize the music of Kristen Ford. All of this musical diversity is what makes Filthy Nasty so appealing. Add to that striking melodies, the strong musicianship and her honest direct lyrics, and you've got the real deal."
- The Greenfield Recorder February 2009
"To speak to Kristen Ford is like talking to a child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Ford never settles on one genre, dabbling in folk, rock, disco and reggae."
- The Huntsville Times, April 2009
"An unexpected, eye catching blend…music is a fusion of varying elements, like heavy guitars and dance beats… creates music that speaks to everyone: gay, straight, black, white, whatever. [Kristen Ford] strives to be a new breed of rock."
- Windy City Times April 2008
"Sounds like she was born with a Guitar in her hand. A Multi-instrumentalist with dozens of songs under her belt, she effortlessly glides between pop, rock and roots."
- Diva Magazine October 2007
"She's an ambitious girl, who plays guitar and records as a solo artist. Her live sets are never boring… this is how a girl with a guitar builds a fan base"
- Columbia Chronicle December 2006
