Kris Barras Band celebrate Top 5 UK album with intimate Exeter gig

Kris Barras performing at The Cavern in Exeter
Kris Barras performing at The Cavern in Exeter -Credit:Deni Barras


Torquay's Kris Barras band have celebrated the remarkable achievement of reaching the Top 10 UK official album charts for the first time with a special intimate gig in Exeter. The rock band's fifth album Halo Effect hit number five in the charts last weekend, coming close in behind new entries from Linkin Park, Mark Knopfler and James.

Lead singer and former MMA fighter Kris Barras treated fans to a special intimate acoustic gig at The Cavern in Exeter last night, April 21, to promote indie store only CD, Halo Effect - Piano and Acoustic Edition. He was joined on stage by keyboard player Josiah Manning and together they performed a mesmerisingly raw 45-minute set.

The respectfully quiet audience became more vocal when Kris jokingly told them to become more lively after having just returned from a gig in London, the band's last date of their short Halo Effect tour. He told of their 'incredible' week which saw them for the first time secure a top five UK official chart album ranking adding that without such tough competition, they may have reached an even higher position.

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The performance began with the emotionally charged new song Landslide with Kris's superb voice bellowing around the small confines of The Cavern. More new songs followed with Hourglass and Secrets being played in stripped-back versions. Kris then picked up his guitar and proved why he is rated among the top 20 blues guitarists in the world as he treated fans to an instrumental jam with the equally talented backing of Josiah.

Other highlights included crowd-pleasers Savages and Hail Mary with full audience participation. The evening ended perfectly with My Parade with Kris and Joshia then making the evening even more special with a meet and greet with fans and signing copies of the new album, joined by the other members of the band.

Kris Barras performing at The Cavern in Exeter
Kris Barras performing at The Cavern in Exeter -Credit:Deni Barras

Overwhelmed by an incredible few weeks, which has included the release of Halo Effect on April 12, and a sold-out homecoming gig at The Foundry in Torquay on April 6, Kris told DevonLive: “The response to the new album has been absolutely amazing. We were aiming for a Top 10, but ended up getting a Top Five, in the toughest chart week of the year so far. That is just mind-blowing for me.

"The way our fan base and the wider rock community rallied behind the release was just incredible!”

The band will next be performing festivals in June and August, the nearest to Devon being Bristol Sounds at Canons Marsh Amphitheatre on Saturday, June 22, when they will be joined by Skindred and Reef.