Craig Smith Music

Craig Smith is a full time professional musician based in Preston, Lancashire. His primary instrument is keyboards (encompassing piano, Wurly, Rhodes, organ and providing samples and orchestral sounds within bands too), and he also plays percussion. Craig's most regular live work is at weddings, be that as a solo wedding pianist or within a function band. Even at the age of 26, he has amassed a huge amount of experience as a professional live musician, and a look at his biography will highlight the calibre of his ability and training.

Bands [Top]

Craig has played with bands of all genres across the UK since the age of about 16, including rock bands, funk bands, soul bands, R&B bands, folk bands, pop bands, ska bands and electro outfits. These have been both originals and covers bands playing at all levels from cozy pubs and social clubs to night clubs and bars, hotels, and large venues and theatres seating thousands. There have been a few very enjoyable beer festivals thrown in along the way, too!

Craig is currently the regular keyboard player with popular Merseyside 'indie-folk-rock' combination Jessicas Ghost. Support work has seen Craig share a stage with both Tinchy Stryder and The Noisettes. He also provides programming and session keyboards for the Sub Doves Doves tribute.

He plays with various function/party bands across the North of England (mainly Manchester-based) and also with a couple of singer songwriters, all in either a regular capacity or as a session player (see below). He is also one half of several popular duos available for weddings and similar events, offering a range of instruments, styles and packages to suit all clients' needs.

Most of the band work Craig has taken has seen him playing keys consisting of pianos, electric pianos, organs (Craig uses a Nord Stage, with a fantastically authentic Hammond B3 emulation) and synthesisers. In many, he also contributes with percussion including congas, timbales, bongos and several 'toys'. To view a full list of Craig's equipment, please click here.

Craig's background as a theatre MD and composer/arranger has allowed him to cross over into directing and arranging bands in the popular genres too; he has worked as music director for artists (usually in R&B) on realising their recorded work in a live environment, with showcases for record labels and publishing companies often the end result.

Session & dep work [Top]

Craig is gifted with the ability to pick up the parts for songs very quickly, usually within the first couple of listens, making him a popular choice as a session and/or dep keys player, especially with function bands playing covers, where the songs are usually already a part of Craig's repertoire. Such sessions rarely include rehearsals, although Craig is happy to attend a rehearsal earlier in the day of performance (or another day if the band is either local or prepared to cover the costs of a rehearsal). As long as you can provide him with a precise set list including the songs' keys, annotated with any changes to the original structure or details of medleys, you can be sure that Craig will fit seamlessly into your band.

Craig has a good ear, professional attitude and is a very competent reader of both dots and charts.

Bands with whom Craig has depped (and some with whom he does so regularly) include some of the country's most highly regarded function/party bands.

Solo Performance [Top]

Craig has become one of the most popular choices with couples looking for a solo pianist for their wedding in Preston and nearby towns. Of course, his solo performances are not limited to weddings; Craig is available as a party pianist in Preston, Blackburn, Blackpool, Lancaster and all nearby areas too. He usually provides mixed sets of swing, pop, rock and soul, although his contemporary classical (think as Einaudi and Yiruma) sets are proving extremely popular at the moment as well. Each booking is different and the needs of the host will always be considered when compiling a set. Craig rarely plays the same set twice.

Please see the Weddings page for more details on Craig's solo performance. Prices for solo performance are also available from this page. To listen to demos of Craig's solo performance, please see the Audio page (up-to-date demos will be added soon).

Theatre & accompaniment work [Top]

Craig's early professional career was in musical direction, and he has top-class training in this field. He has also worked on and off as a theatre producer, composer and pit musician, both locally and for West End work. Shows on which Craig has work include, but aren't limited to:

Craig is an experienced accompanist and has both a good ear and a high level of sight reading ability. Please note that Craig is a full-time professional musician, and therefore his fees for accompaniment services are priced accordingly. Regrettably, this often means that his services are out of the budgets of local amateur dramatic societies.