HARRISON COUNTY

In 2006 a strange thing happened - what had previously started as a fully-live 4-piece band (under the name of 'Southern Union') had, in one short year, transformed firstly to a trio, and then to simply a duo. The reasoning was quite simple, the Country scene simply can't afford to pay 4 people even the barest minimum wages to keep it afloat, but in the case of this particular duo 'Harrison County' it was certainly a blessing in disguise – Chris Harris had found his most obvious, and very logical, platform in Country music: a multi-instrumental & versatile Country duo.

Chris Harris himself, of course, has a prolific & distinguished background in music already with an early start in his career as a lead guitarist/singer, then a singer-songwriter – with songs published both here and on the other side of the Atlantic, and getting into the final selections for entry into the Eurovision Song Contest (in fact we’d have probably fared better if one of his songs had been entered, wouldn't we?) but throughout all this he still got his biggest kicks from singing and playing the guitar.

By 2002 he found himself on the Country scene – really enjoying singing & playing a brand of music that had intrigued him for may years, and by early 2004 had been asked to 'front' a new all-live, versatile Country band called 'Southern Union' which ultimately (as shown above) brought him the formation of the duo Harrison County.

Chris was always very 'picky' when it came to fellow musicians, so when it came down to having only ONE on stage with him each night he was obviously very fussy – so he took the obvious route and simply chose the very best - a multi-instrumentalist called Jimmy Martin had been playing in the John Douglas Band at the same time as Chris, and apart from his obvious musical talent he was (in Chris's own words) 'in every way the perfect partner – a top-class player and a complete gentleman to boot, I couldn't have asked for better' and not many musicians get that sort of recognition, do they? Jimmy has for a long time been recognised as a virtuoso on the steel guitar, but many people don’t realise he also plays rhythm guitar, fiddle, mandolin (and God alone knows what else) as well as providing excellent harmony backing to Chris’s vocals.

So this then is the duo calling themselves 'Harrison County' – probably one of the most under-rated, but top quality, acts plying the Country circuit today….. musically they supply an immensely varied selection of songs for their audiences, and are thus able to please not only the 'Line & Western Dance' fans but the more hard-core Country lovers as well – but the quality remains unchanged regardless. A lively act, an interesting show, or a raunchy Country night? Whatever you want is what they hope you’ll get – they just like to please.