Short Performance BIO
Chris Hersch hails from Orefield, PA, a rural network of cornfields and farmland outside of Allentown. He grew up in the country, listening to his Dad’s old blues and jazz records that scattered the house. This landscape (and soundscape) provided a uniquely Americana backdrop to his childhood, eventually leading him to study Jazz Guitar at The New England Conservatory in Boston, MA (2000 – 2004).
After his time at NEC, Chris found himself playing country, jazz, and rock n’ roll in Nationally and Internationally touring bands across New England – including Oneside, Girls Guns & Glory, Sarah Borges & The Broken Singles, Gracie Curran & The High Falutin’ Band, Amy Black, Monica Rizzio & The Roundup, Samantha Farrell, and East Coast Soul.
From 2007 – 2016 Chris was on the road for an average of 200 dates a year, including tours in 48 States and a dozen tours overseas to France, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Netherlands, Germany, Norway, and England.
Chris has received two Boston Music Awards (2011 & 2013 with Girls Guns & Glory), and was voted among the ‘Best Roots Guitar Players Nationwide’ (2014 The Alternate Root). He has opened for notable acts including Albert Lee, Los Lobos, Dale Watson, J.D. McPherson, Bill Kirchen, The Derailers, Driving and Crying, among others.
In 2016 Chris co-founded Say Darling with Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Celia Woodsmith, the band was voted ‘Rock n’ Rollers of the Year’ (Red Line Roots 2017).
Chris is also the founding member of Chris Hersch & The MoonRaiders, a western swing band that was nominated for ‘Best Roots Act of the Year’ (2019 New England Music Awards).
He was nominated for another Boston Music Award nominee for ‘Best Blues Act of the Year’ (2019 Gracie Curran & The High Falutin’ Band)
Most recently, Chris was included in Jazz Guitar Today's overview of the Boston Jazz guitar scene (2022)