Kris Barras Band announce new album 'Light It Up' and premiere new song

Blues-rock bastions Kris Barras Band will release their brand new studio album ‘Light It Up’ on Friday 13th September via Provogue/Mascot Label Group.

Author: Scott ColothanPublished 26th Jun 2019

Produced by Josiah J Manning at Momentum Studios in Plymouth, ‘Light It Up’ features 13 new songs including the single ‘Ignite (Light It Up)’.

Watch the official video filmed on the road right here:


Commenting on the songwriting process for ‘Light It Up’, titular band lynchpin Kris Barras says: “I kinda forced myself to write songs a different way.

“The biggest difference for this album was that I didn’t pigeonhole myself in any way, I didn’t feel like I had to conform. I just sat down and wrote songs I wanted to write, with a sound I wanted to produce, not thinking about genre whatsoever.”

Revealing that most songs were written between the hours of 11pm and 6am, Kris added: “I write most of my songs best through the night. I think it’s the de-clutter aspect, I’m quite a hyperactive person. During the day I find myself thinking of a million different things and at night I find that my mind doesn’t wander as much and I can just access the more creative part of me.”

Duly, there’s a track on the album called ‘6am’ and another love song called ‘Rain’ written in the early hours. Kris comments: “I was on the way back from a gig, about 1AM.

“I came up with the line, ‘I’ll be your roof in the rain.’ I pulled over into a layby and wrote it down and then got home to bed. I woke at 6AM with the lyrics and melody going around in my head. I made myself get out of bed, picked up an acoustic guitar and wrote the chords.

“The song was done in about 15-20 mins. Rain is a metaphor for anything a loved one might be going through and you’ll do your best to protect them and help them through it.”

Another song called ‘Let The River Run’ deals with battling against anxiety and depression, while album closer ‘Pride is Forever’ is named after Kris’ old cage-fighting mantra.

He explains: “It’s a trigger phrase, pain is temporary, pride is forever. I’ve transferred it to my music. Not everyone knows how hard it can be. Some things hurt, some things are tough, but if you push through that, it is only temporary and the glory of that will last with you forever.”

The 'Light It Up’ track-listing and artwork are as follows:

1. What You Get
2. Broken Teeth
3. Vegas Son
4. Ignite (Light It Up)
5. 6am
6. Rain
7. Counterfeit People
8. Let The River Run
9. Bullet
10. Wound Up
11. What A Way To Go
12. Not Fading
13. Pride Is Forever

Kris Barras Band follow the release of ‘Light It Up’ with a previously announced 13-date UK tour that also includes their two slots at Planet Rock’s Rocktober.

"We've had a crazy year,” enthuses Kris Barras. “We went from playing to 75 people a show in early 2018, up to selling out 500 cap venues just 12 months later.

“This October will see us head out on our biggest UK tour to date and will coincide with the release of the brand new album. Every tour that we do, we try to raise the bar and improve as a band.... I can guarantee that this one will be another step up."

See Kris Barras Band at the following shows:

OCTOBER 2019
Norwich Open – Sat 5th (Planet Rock’s Rocktober)
Chester Live Rooms – Thu 10th
Newbury Arlington Arts – Fri 11th
Sheffield O2 Academy – Sat 12th (Planet Rock’s Rocktober)
Bristol Fleece – Sun 13th
Bilston Robin – Tue 15th
Southampton 1865 – Wed 16th
Exeter Phoenix – Thu 17th
London O2 Academy Islington – Fri 18th
Glasgow Oran Mor – Wed 23rd
Stockton Arc – Thu 24th
Manchester Academy – Fri 25th
York Fibbers – Sun 27th

>> Click here to buy tickets <<

Kris Barras Band are Kris Barras (Guitars/Vocals), Josiah J Manning (Keyboards), Elliott Blackler (Bass) and Will Beavis (Drums).