Craig Smith is a full time professional musician from Preston, Lancashire. His primary instrument is keyboards (piano, Wurly, Rhodes, organ, orchestral sounds etc), and he also plays percussion. Craig's plays regularly at weddings as a solo pianist or within various bands. He has amassed a huge amount of experience as a professional musician. (See biography).
Latest news: Craig supported both the Noisettes and Tinchy Stryder recently. Footage can be seen via our facebook page.
Bands [Top]
Craig has played with bands of all genres across the UK for around 10 years. These have been both original and covers bands at all levels: cozy pubs and social clubs, to bars and hotels, and large venues and theatres seating thousands.Craig is the keyboard player in popular Merseyside 'indie-folk-rock' combination Jessicas Ghost, and has recently worked as music director / keys player with Manchester's 'The Harriet Wood Band'.
He plays with various function/party bands across the north and also with a couple of singer songwriters. He is also working as a part of various duos at weddings and similar events, offering a range of styles and packages to suit all clients' needs.
Most of the Craig's band work has has seen him playing keys inclucing pianos, electric pianos, organs (Craig uses a Nord Stage, with a fantastically authentic Hammond B3 emulation) and synthesisers. He also contributes percussion including congas, timbales, bongos and several 'toys'.
Craig's background as a theatre MD and composer/arranger allows him to direct and arrange for bands in the popular genres too. He has worked as music director for artists (usually in R&B) on realising their recorded work live, often culminating in showcases for labels and publishing companies.
Session & dep work [Top]
Craig picks up the parts for songs very quickly, so he is a popular choice as a session and/or dep keys player, especially with function bands, where the songs are usually already a part of Craig's repertoire. Such sessions rarely include rehearsals. As long he has a precise set list including the songs' keys, annotated with any changes to the original structure or details of medleys, Craig can 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 the UK's best function/party bands.
Solo Performance [Top]
Craig is the popular choice with wedding couples looking for a pianist in Preston and nearby towns. Craig is available as a party pianist throughout Lancashire, usually providing mixed sets of swing, pop, rock and soul. Contemporary classical (think as Einaudi and Yiruma) sets are proving particularly popular at the moment as well. The set material is always based on the client's needs.Please see the Weddings page for details and prices for Craig's solo piano. Demos are on the Audio page.
Theatre & accompaniment work [Top]
Craig's early career was in musical direction, and he has top-class training in this field. He has worked as a theatre producer, composer and pit musician, both locally and for West End work. Shows on which Craig has worked include, but aren't limited to:- A Complete and Utter History of Liverpool 1207-2007 (Abridged)
- American Clock
- Chess
- Fame
- Godspell
- Grease
- Les Miserables
- Little Shop of Horrors
- Lucky Stiff
- Nunsense
- Return to the Forbidden Planet
- Sweet Charity
Craig is an experienced accompanist and has both a good ear and a high level of sight reading ability.