Name: Chris Smither and The Motivators
Start: 2025-12-11T22:00:00-05:00
Location: The Landing in Scotts Valley

Join us at 251B Kings Village Rd, Scotts Valley, CA 95066 to hear Chris Smither and The Motivators. Having distilled his own signature sound of blues and folk for over 50 years and twenty records, CHRIS SMITHER is truly an American original. A profound songwriter, Chris continues to draw deeply from the blues, American folk music, modern poets and philosophers. From his early days as the New Orleans transplant in the Boston folk scene, through his wilderness years, to his reemergence in the 1990s as one of America’s most distinctive acoustic performers, Chris Smither continues to hone his distinctive sound. He has always traveled his own road and stayed true to his musical vision. He has developed and maintained loyal friendships over the years with kindred-spirited musicians like Bonnie Raitt, Jorma Kaukonen, and Tim O’Brien, while at the same time throughout his career been inspired by and inspiring to today's next-generation of musicians like The Suitcase Junket and Peter Mulvey. He may be best known for writing "Love You Like A Man" which Bonnie Raitt and, more recently, jazz great Diana Krall have covered. His music has been covered by numerous artists and featured in soundtrack albums, independent films, television, and commercials. Reviewers continue to praise his dazzling guitar work, gravelly voice and songwriting.
Chris Smither and The Motivators embark on a rare band tour featuring musicians from the recording session for All About the Bones (2024 Signature Sounds), Chris’ 20th recording. The record sports the unmistakable guitar sound Chris has made his own meshed with spare, brilliant songs, delivered in a bone-wise, hard-won voice. The Motivators are: producer/musician David Goodrich, Zak Trojano, and BettySoo.
NEW YORK TIMES: folk-blues stalwart Chris Smither has been contemplating mortality throughout his decades of songwriting; at 80, he’s more convincing than ever”