Chris Bottomley
"True to his reputation as one of the big smoke's best bass thumpers" - NOW magazine, Toronto.
"As a songwriter I write all kinds of music. I was raised playing classical piano but quit that to become a rock and roll drummer, singer and bass player. These days I'm still active playing with my group BRAINFUDGE. As a band, we created our rock, funk, and jazz sound in Toronto's club and concert scene, often playing sweaty after hours clubs 'til the wee mornings."
Currently it's CB on Bass and Vocals, Great Bob Scott on Drums, Donne Roberts on Guitar and Vocals, Perry White on Tenor Sax, Rich Underhill on Alto Sax.
"I love playing with these guys, I feel like we can take the songs anywhere, and that's what we do. If you're coming to see us play live expect some adventure!"
CONTACT: crispy@chrisbottomley.com
NEW ALBUM RELEASE - Hi Vibrations Vol 1 & 2
CB returns to his rock roots on his new double album Hi VIBRATIONS Vol 1 & 2. There's a special blend of rock, downtempo grooves and roots rock reggae.
‘Somebody Help Me Now’ - “a good & grindy alt rock take on looking for a way out of an accursed head space, from this seminal, multi-genre Toronto artist.”
Earshot Digital Distribution System
Canadian Campus Community Radio
‘Cranked loud on a good stereo, ‘Somebody Help Me Now’ will hit you hard, right in the solar plexus. And if the down and dirty bass and guitar don’t get you, then Perry White’s baritone sax, which enters the fray at the 2 1/2 minute mark, most certainly will.’
Michael Panontin
Canuckistan Music
FREE SINGLE DOWNLOAD HERE of Somebody Help Me Now /track/4116548/somebody-help-me-now
Press / Reviews
“'Chris Bottomley might be the Little Richard of Toronto hybrid funk' ” - Lenny Stout
— TORONTO STAR
“Knotty Bits has as many grooves as Stevie Wonder's record collection... a heady trip indeed.” - Brent Hagerman
— NOW MAGAZINE
Press photos
Click on the album to listen live.
BIO
Chris Bottomley grew up an Air Force brat, living in Ottawa (Canada) Sutton (UK), Alberta (Canada) the Black Forest of Lahr (West Germany) and Toronto. Along the way he had a few laughs, and played a lot of music, starting with the early years of classical piano. He ditched all that after a decade to play drums and bass, and started a band with his brother John called Albatross. When his family was in Germany , he and his brother were gigging around the Black Forest, playing the local dances at the CYC and getting invited to play biker rallies in the country. All that changed when they moved back to Canada.
Bottomley first burst onto the Canadian music scene in the mid-80s with his post-punk rock band Tulpa , who he formed with his brother John Bottomley on guitar & vocals and drummer Mike Severin. Legendary New York City club CBGB's owner Hilly Kristol described Tulpa as “one of the best live bands I’ve ever seen.” Along with exposure by Daniel Richler on City TV's The New Music, Tulpa’s 1985 debut album Mosaic Fish earned the band touring dates, radio and video play, and media attention all across Canada and in 1988, they opened for punk-funk idols Living Color In NYC.
In the 90s, Bottomley was inspired by the fast-growing funk and groove scene in Toronto and started the Brainfudge collective that continues to this day. The band has had a few incarnations, starting with original members CB on bass and lead vocals , James Gray on keys, John Gzowski on guitar, Ian Menzies on guitar and vocals, Kathryn Rose on backing vocals, Ernie Tollar on soprano Sax and Nic Gotham on alto and baritone sax.
Currently including bass player vocalist and ringleader CB, Great Bob Scott (drums), Donne Roberts (African Guitar Summit, guitar) Richard Underhill and Perry White (The Shuffle Demons, saxophones), Brainfudge’s illustrious alumni list includes a who’s who of top Toronto players such as Howie Beck (Mixed Feist, Communism, Buffy St-Marie) Odel Johnson (Messenjah, Mikey Dread), the late James Gray (Blue Rodeo), Eric St. Laurent, Bryden Baird (Feist) and many more.
“The Fudge” lay Bottomley’s signature rock, Afrolatin and reggae-infused funk grooves thick and heavy, performing regularly at music clubs, festivals, and private events across Ontario. They’ve shared the stage with the likes of Adrian Belew, Grupo Fantasma, and Souljazz Orchestra.
With Brainfudge, Bottomley has released four full-length records --1995’s self-titled debut ‘Brainfudge’, The internationally-acclaimed ‘Knotty Bits’ (2003) which won a Unisong International Song Competition grand prize in the world-reggae category for ‘Belize City Bakin’ , the 2006 double instrumental album ‘Cerebral Lubrication’ which received airplay worldwide, and 'Bright Eye Day’ released in 2014.
In 2020 he released a single - ‘Lonely Days’ co-written with Russ Goozee. The following year 2021, he released ‘Brainfudge - Live at Supermarket 2007’ followed by two more singles - Summer (2022) and ‘Pull It Together’ with guest singer Kathryn Rose (2023). His new 24 song double album ‘Hi Vibrations Vol 1 & 2’ release date is late January 2025.
Over the years, he has played and collaborated with musicians such as Look People, Rich Underhill’s Funk Explosion, Donne Roberts, Mary Margaret O’Hara, Wayne Lavallee, John Bottomley, The Kensington Horns, Asani, Andru Branch & Halfway Tree, House of David Gang, Abjeez (Sweden), Eccodek, Ainike, Boogiewall Sound System and Vancouver's Mofunk Collective.
His songs ‘Seize The Day’, ‘African Head Dub’, ‘Brazilian Thunder Throb’ and ‘A Better Day Will Come’ have been placed in feature films and documentaries.
"True to his reputation as one of the Big Smoke's best bass thumpers” - NOW Magazine
AWARDS
2013 - Recipient of Ontario Arts Council Popular Music Grant
2012 - Recipient of Toronto Arts Council Composition Grant
2005 - Unisong International Song Contest - 2nd place award for ‘Belize City Bakin’ (World/Reggae)
2005 - Unisong International Song Contest - Top 20 Finalist - ‘Where Our Hearts Belong’ (Social/Political )