Coral Creek - Coral Creek (2015)

The self-titled album, CORAL CREEK, marks the beginning of a new era for the Colorado-based Americana/Jamgrass band, as the first release with standout keyboard player Bill McKay and fiddlist Luke Bulla.


CORAL CREEK opens a new chapter this fall, releasing and touring in support of a breakthrough album produced by Tim Carbone of Railroad Earth. The eponymous album, CORAL CREEK, marks the beginning of a new era for the Colorado-based Americana/Jamgrass band, as the first release with standout keyboard player Bill McKay. Best know for his roles with Leftover Salmon and Derek Trucks Band, McKay joins songwriter/guitarist Chris Thompson at center stage, leading CORAL CREEK into new and unexplored sonic terrain.

CORAL CREEK is a Colorado band on the rise, featuring a diverse catalog of original music spanning the genres of rock, country/bluegrass, cajun, folk and island music. While the new album sits squarely in the Americana category, CORAL CREEK live performances transport audiences from the beaches of the Caribbean, down to the bayou and back up high into the Colorado Rockies – with instrumentation ranging from mandolin and fiddle to congas and steel pan.

The counter-balance to McKay’s fiery piano is the acoustic guitar of singer/songwriter Chris Thompson, stylistically blazing new trails in the shadows of Jerry Garcia and Tony Rice. Rob Garland (bass) and Jack Watson (drums) lock down the rhythm section, while special guest, Luke Bulla (of Lyle Lovett’s Big Band), elevates the music with a soaring bluegrass fiddle. Since forming in 2010, CORAL CREEK has performed on festival main stages, concert series and clubs across the US, Europe, Mexico and the Caribbean, sharing stages with distinguished musicians including Sam Bush, Peter Rowan, Bill Nershi and members of The String Cheese Incident, Leftover Salmon, Railroad Earth, Greensky Bluegrass, Yonder Mountain String Band, The Infamous Stringdusters and other fine acts. With the addition Bill McKay on keyboard and lead vocals, CORAL CREEK is a rising tide in the swirling jamgrass sea.

CORAL CREEK will be performing at Cervantes in Denver (10/22), Aggie Theatre in Fort Collins (10/21), Owsley’s in Boulder (10/17), Buffalo Rose in Golden (10/16), Barkley Ballroom in Frisco (10/23), CiderFest near Paonia (10/24), The Filling Station in Bozeman (10/14) and Yellowstone Valley Brewery in Billings (10/15). Please visit www.CoralCreek.net for a full schedule of Album Release shows and show times, including tours in the Northewest and Midwest.

CORAL CREEK, the album, will be available to order or download online at www.CoralCreek.net and www.facebook.com/coral.creek.band. The album features new original songs by Chris Thompson and Bill McKay, plus instrumental contributions by Luke Bulla (Lyle Lovett Band), Andy Thorn (Leftover Salmon), Anders Beck (Greensky Bluegrass), Tim Carbon (Railroad Earth), Tyler Grant (Grant Farm), Arthur Lee Land (Great American Taxi), Scott Messersmith (formerly of The Motet) and Tanya Shylock (True Blue Band).