Chris Koza is a composer and performer based in Denver, Colorado and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Both solo and with his band Rogue Valley, he has supported and shared the stage with artists such as Brandi Carlile, Gordon Lightfoot, Ingrid Michaelson, The Jayhawks, Neko Case, Kathleen Edwards, Dan Wilson, and Stephen Kellogg,  among others. His music appears regularly on ABC’s General Hospital, 60 Minutes, and Good Morning America, and his song Be Wild  was featured in a State of Minnesota tourism campaign. His song (Rogue Valley) The Wolves and the Ravens was featured in Ben Stiller’s film The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Chris often performs solo with an acoustic guitar but also performs as a duo, trio, and 4-or-5 piece band. 

In his writing, Chris both honors and builds on the vast genre of Americana music. For every song that sounds like it could be strummed from a boxcar clacking slowly across a grassy midwestern plain, there's a tune sailing from a city rooftop, echoing across a valley of streets and traffic, or a melody twisting and shimmering like a dim frequency deep into the starry night. 

Solo, with Rogue Valley, and his moniker Nobody Kid, Chris has self-produced, written, and released sixteen albums and EP's. Last October, Rogue Valley released their 6th album Shell Game. Chris is currently working through a trove of rediscovered sessions called Graveyard Shift; a collection of songs and sparks spanning the last twenty years. 

Sep25

Chris Koza @ Swallow Hill Music

Swallow Hill Music, Denver, CO

CHRIS KOZA

Chris Koza is an internationally-recognized Americana artist. Since 2005, Chris has supported legendary musical artists such as Gordon Lightfoot, Patty Griffin, Brandi Carlile, Ingrid Michaelson, Lucinda Williams, Andrew Bird, Dan Wilson and many others. His music appears regularly on ABC’s General Hospital, 60 Minutes, and Good Morning America. His song, The Wolves and the Ravens, was featured in Ben Stiller’s film The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.

Chris’s take on the Americana genre comes across in his thoughtful, illuminating lyrics and clear, melodic delivery. His songwriting is inspired by the places, relationships and experiences from years of writing, performing, and traveling. His forthcoming album, Millsmoke On The Skyline, recognizes some of the great wordsmiths of the 20th century, such as Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, and Joni Mitchell, and poignantly references many of the rural farming and industrial communities throughout Minnesota. The album will be Chris’s 18th across his solo work and his band Rogue Valley.

While the new music is steeped in Midwest lore, the coming-together of the album has leaned heavily on collaborators in Colorado and beyond. Having fully committed to the Rocky Mountain State in 2022, coinciding with the birth of his son, Chris has been assimilating as a Coloradian as much as his schedule between gigging and parenting will allow. Mixed by John McVey at Cindersound Studio in Longmont and Mastered by David Glasser in Boulder, the album includes key vocal contributions from renowned Colorado songwriters Megan Burtt and Monica LaBonte.

The Denver release show - Friday September 25th - at Swallow Hill will feature an opening set from Denver-based artist Lonely Choir. Chris will play the middle slot, beginning solo before being joined by members of Road Pony to finish his set. The evening will conclude with a headlining set from Road Pony - Denver’s newest original country super group featuring Megan Burtt, Lauren Friehauf, David Devine Jr, and a band of heavy hitters.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Website: https://bit.ly/32OFrwI
Facebook: https://bit.ly/39lfHdF
Instagram: https://bit.ly/2IlWyfU

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