Ready to Sweat Instead of Shiver?

2/10/2019 

The snow is falling as I write this, but summer is on its way. How do I know this? Because Kelly has posted the entire summer concert schedule on line and that means it’s time to start preparing! What a great year of shows we have scheduled. We have a whole new set prepared for you with new and old tunes, and some surprises. I can promise you a good time and an entertaining show. We are ready to make memories again in 2019. Are you ready to sweat instead of shiver? 

See you soon! 

Chris Hawkey

Show Dates 

There are so many fantastic festivals and venue's booked for the upcoming summer music season! In addition to what we already have posted, there are even more awesome events being finalized to add to the calendar over the coming weeks. Grab your calendars and start making plans NOW! Check out the most up to date Chris Hawkey Band show dates.

Twin Cities Summer Jam presented by Mystic Lake 

Rock, Pop & Country Come Together for the 3-Day Music Festival In Our Own Backyard. 

Twin Cities Summer Jam presented by Mystic Lake is a brand new music festival coming to Canterbury Park July 18-20, 2019.  This will be the only music festival in the Twin Cities and the Upper Midwest that combines music formats - Rock, Pop and Country - for 3 days of great live music with major artists from around the country. 

Line-up announced February 21st. Be the first to know all the details by joining the mailing list at Twin Cities Summer Jam presented by Mystic Lake.

Hawkcast 

Would you like to learn more about the story behind the music? Chris recorded 10 special Hawkcasts, which are a track by track breakdown of each of the songs on his newly released album, "Set Free". Click here to listen.

"Again" Lyric Video 

The lyric video for Chris Hawkey's new tune, "Again", was recently released. Performance by the beautiful and wildly talented Cheryl Birch. Filmed and edited by Cyril James. (View in browser, or click here to view video.)

As 2018 ends and a new year begins, I want to thank you all for another year stacked with laughter, memories, and dreams come true.  
Moments...  
Life is about moments.  
We’ve had so many together.  
Are you ready for more? 
I’m very happy to release my new record SET FREE. 
10 songs written and performed by The Chris Hawkey Band, with just a little help from a few of our friends. 
It’s, by a mile, my most personal record.  
It’s also the realization of a dream my manager Sarah Jane and I came up with this past summer.  
To do one full record as a band.  
To do one full record in which I was a writer on each song.  
And... 
To do one full record that didn’t live within the realm of a single classification. 
This is not a country record.  
I should say, this is not just a country record. 
This collection of tunes spans every genre.  
Producer Alex Kiel and I agreed to let each song live as it was meant to live. Rock, country, R&B, classical, whatever. The songs live as they were born to. 
That’s a huge reason why the record is called SET FREE.  
In writing and recording this collection, I freed myself from genre, from expectations, and from any box that might hold back the creative flower from blooming. 
The result is a group of songs that open a window into my world. Is it a great record? I’ll let you be the judge of that. But I love it more than I could have imagined. I’m so proud to have written and recorded each and every one of these songs with my friends. Every musician knocked their performances out of the park. And I don’t mind telling you that I mentally wore myself to the bone writing these songs. 
I needed them to be right.  
As the record now enters the world, I can honestly say that this is the very best I could do. 
And for once I am satisfied with the result.  
We will support this record the entire year of 2019. I’m not sure what the future holds after that. But, if I’ve learned anything in this very lucky life it’s that a person must live every day to its fullest with the knowledge that tomorrow is promised to no one.  
Let’s take one more journey together, shall we?  
Let’s Set ourselves Free.  
Chris Hawkey  
12/19/2018 

*New Music is Available NOW via iTunes, Google Play (click links); and under the Music Tab on this website.

Summer is upon us and the CHB machine has begun moving full speed. This is going to be a very special run for us, not only because of the shows we have planned, but also because we have begun recording the next record. You’ve already heard "Happy" and you are about to hear our next single..."Cherry Hill". As you read this, we are in the process of recording the full record which will be titled “The Real Me”. We hope to have the collection finished by the end of summer. I couldn’t be more excited. This group of songs have been running around inside of my head for a very long time. They are very special to me and I’m hoping they will be special to you as well. This will be my most personal record to date. For good or bad, this is The Real Me. 
So get out your short shorts and your sunscreen. It’s time to hit the highway with the CHB. 

Are You Ready? 

Hawk

I hope you are able to take some time and truly enjoy the season with the people who mean the most to you.  With that in mind, I want to say Thank You, everybody.  The last month has been life-changing for me.  That’s not an overstatement.  Writing the song Happy with Matt Everson began a series of events that culminated in our SAVE event at the Mall of America’s Hard Rock Café. The response to the song, the event, and, particularly, my interview with Jana Shortal on KARE 11’s Breaking the News, has been overwhelming.  I won’t pretend that it has been easy to admit to the world that I have issues with depression, but the positivity and camaraderie that has come from taking that chance has been life-affirming.  I did my very best to respond to every message, but I simply couldn’t.  So I wanted to take this moment to say Thank You.  And also to say to anyone who is struggling with The Darkness, please talk to people, keep searching until you find the right therapist, and, above all,  ALWAYS GIVE IT ONE MORE DAY.

GET HAPPY. AN EVENING WITH CHRIS HAWKEY 

BENEFITTING SAVE AND HARD ROCK HEALS 

Friday, Nov. 17 at Hard Rock Cafe Mall of America 

Bloomington, Minn. (Updated Nov. 3, 2017) --- On Friday, Nov. 17, Hard Rock Cafe Mall of America will host a “rocking” awareness and fundraising event featuring entertainment by popular singer/songwriter Chris Hawkey. Hawkey, who is also the producer for the KFAN Power Trip Morning Show and host on the Vikings Entertainment Network, is donating his time and talent for the event to help get the message out about suicide prevention.  

The motivation for the event was stirred by Chris Hawkey’s recent single, “Happy.” Inspired by the untimely passing of musical artists Chris Cornell and Chester Bennington, Hawkey co-wrote and recorded the song about his own struggles. 

“An acquaintance of mine mentioned that he didn't understand how someone who was rich and famous could be depressed,” says Hawkey. “I thought to myself, ‘This person doesn't understand depression.’ So, I sat down and wrote the song ‘Happy’ to some music that (co-writer) Matt Everson had given me earlier.” 

“It took a total of 17 minutes to write,” Hawkey continues. “It came out of me like a sigh. It is not a plea for help. It is an explanation. I have suffered from depression for most of my life. I don't know why. I'm an extremely fortunate man. But there are days that the darkness finds me just as it did Mr. Cornell and Mr. Bennington. Sadly, they were no longer able to fight for their sunshine. I hope that this song finds its way to people who need to hear it.” 

Proceeds will benefit both SAVE: Suicide Awareness Voices of Education and Hard Rock Heals. 

WHEN:     Friday, Nov. 17, 2017 

        6 p.m.             Doors open 

        6 –7:30 p.m.   Silent Auction 

        7 p.m.             Performance by Alex Kiel 

        7:30 p.m.        Announcements by SAVE representatives 

        9 – 9:30 p.m.  Chris Hawkey performance 

WHERE:    Hard Rock Café Mall of America 

        Located off Nickelodeon Universe, south entrance 

TICKETS:    General admission is free, but donations for the charities will gladly be accepted at the door. 

        VIP tickets are sold out. 

About SAVE: Suicide Awareness Voices of Education 

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the US and the 2nd leading cause of death among 15-34 year olds in Minnesota. SAVE is the leading agency and only national nonprofit suicide prevention organization headquartered in Minnesota working to prevent suicide through public awareness and education, reducing stigma associated with mental illness, and serving as a resource to those touched by suicide. SAVE.org. 

About Hard Rock Heals Foundation 

The Hard Rock Heals Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization and oversees all philanthropic outreach for Hard Rock International. Music is energy; it stirs emotion, inspires, connects and restores. The Hard Rock Heals Foundation exists to improve lives through the power of music. Since its inception in 1971, Hard Rock International has brought people together through the power of music. We have developed partnerships with artists ranging from emerging to iconic in support of charitable efforts around the world. The Hard Rock Heals Foundation provides grants and assistance to individuals whose goal is to heal through the power of music. Partnerships with like-minded, music-centric organizations allow Hard Rock Heals Foundation the opportunity to improve lives and promote wellness. For more information, visit hardrockheals.com. 

Hard Rock International 

With venues in 73 countries, including 178 cafes, 24 hotels and 11 casinos, Hard Rock International (HRI) is one of the most globally recognized companies. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world's greatest collection of music memorabilia, which is displayed at its locations around the globe. Hard Rock is also known for its collectible fashion and music-related merchandise, Hard Rock Live performance venues and an award-winning website. HRI owns the global trademark for all Hard Rock brands. The company owns, operates and franchises Cafes in iconic cities including London, New York, San Francisco, Sydney and Dubai. HRI also owns, licenses and/or manages hotel/casino properties worldwide. Destinations include the company’s two most successful Hotel and Casino properties in Tampa and Hollywood, Fl., both owned and operated by HRI parent company The Seminole Tribe of Florida, as well as other exciting locations including Bali, Chicago, Cancun, Ibiza, Las Vegas, and San Diego. Upcoming new Hard Rock Cafe locations include Phnom Penh, Cairo, Wroclaw and Chengdu. New Hard Rock hotel, casino or hotel-casino projects include Atlanta, Atlantic City, Berlin, Budapest, London, Los Cabos, Maldives, New York City, Davos, Ottawa, Dalian and Haikou in China. For more information on Hard Rock International, visit hardrock.com