CRAWFORD DOWNS

“With his heart on his sleeve and guitar strapped around his shoulders, Crawford Downs brings new meaning to what love, heartache and reminders of home are like...”
--Outlook News
"Lonely Ain't Broken,” showcases his ability to craft melodic country road songs filled with imagery of love, heartbreak, longing, and nostalgia... “
--Lonesome Records
"Somebody needs to tip that guy!..."
--NASCAR Driver Dale Jarrett
"He writes really good songs man..."
--Wayne "The Train" Hancock
Latest "She Is My Home" iTunes Reviews
"Real and raw are simple formula for any good country or folk record in my opinion, “She Is My Home” is just that. A powerful display of the talent that the Great American South has to offer the art of well crafted songwriting. Downs has a tenor that hints of MORRISSEY and an earnest delivery that could awaken the sleeping ghost of HANK WILLIAMS SR. Do yourself a favor, pour a glass of whisky, take the phone off the hook and play this album! your soul will thank you!..."
""She Is My Home" is the newiest album in a long line of great albums released by North Carolina singer/songwriters and Crawford Downs is yet another blossoming flower on an already beautiful North Carolina musical dogwood tree..."
"Downs' high, sad tenor brings light and texture to his spare country songs, some simple, others (like standout tracks "Virginia" and "Midnight At The Fran Mar") extraordinary melodic and beautiful. All great debuts make listeners clamor for more. I'm already anxiously anticipating the second record from this great new artist..."
"Crawford Downs and The Royals weave a tapestry of love, loss, and heartache. As a whole, this album is a journey through the heart and soul of one of North Carolina's newiest and brightest singer/songwriters..."
North Carolina singer-songwriter Crawford Downs reflects a long-standing southern tradition of classic country and folk songwriting that dishes out heartache by the handful. Born and raised in Hickory N.C., Downs found himself constantly surrounded by music growing up. "There just seems to be something about music that keeps its hold on me no matter what I am experiencing at the time," says Downs who was inspired to become a singer-songwriter by such well-known North Carolina acts as Ryan Adams and Thad Cockrell.
With hopes of carrying on the southern melancholy roots-rock tradition that seems to be deeply rooted in North Carolina country and folk music, Downs began his songwriting career by playing in local coffee shops, bars, and any open mic nights he could find. In late 2006, he independently released his first demonstration ep, titled "Lonely Ain't Broken”, which quickly moved through the local and regional area and showcased his ability to craft melodic country road songs filled with imagery of love, heartbreak, longing, and nostalgia. Now in 2008 Downs’ has released his long anticipated flow-up entitled “She Is My Home” which he recorded with his band “The Royals” that includes regional music veterans Donnie Ray Bolton and Robert “Mike” Long. Downs’ new album shows his songwriting versatility and is filled with just as much or more heartbreak than his first album. Fans of Downs have compared his voice to that of a young Bruce Springsteen, as well as Steve Earle.
Those attending Crawford Downs' live shows can expect to receive a healthy dose of heartfelt americana folk songs that guarantee not to leave you empty handed and, especially, not empty hearted. Downs also has shared the stage with other growing regional North Carolina acts such as Dylan Gilbert, Heidi Sidelinker, Israel Darling, Actuaries, Linus Van Pelt and Airspace. When asked about what inspires him to create such heart-grabbing music, Downs thoughtfully responds by saying "I love listening to music and I love writing songs. People say that a picture is worth a 1000 words, but I think that the right song is worth a whole lot more. The songs I write give me an emotional outlet that I need and if by some chance it does the same for someone else, well then that means that much more to me."