Chris Burkich may be 16, but his talent’s full-grown
A new generation of teenage musicians is taking the world by storm. Gareth Laffely, a 15-year-old flutist showcased his talents at the Chattanooga Pow Wow last week—and now 16-year-old Chris Burkich is taking the stage at Rhythm & Brews.
His dad was a singer/songwriter, so music backgrounded Burkich’s childhood and introduced him to the music world at an early age. He started warming his vocal chords at five, tickling the ivories and strumming the guitar at nine, and uploading songs onto iTunes at 13. At 16, Burkich combines his musical talents to create a unique sound.
His performances blend cover and original songs. Like Laffely, his songs showcase a high level of maturity that vaults him into the company of much more weathered musicians.
Themes range from his religious beliefs to the days of young love. The lyrics are described as having, “elements of irony, doubt, truth, reflection; in a word—wisdom” and “layers that many adult songwriters don’t achieve.”
Burkich will perform an all-ages, no-alcohol show on April 12 at 3 p.m. at Rhythm & Brews. Tickets are $3 for adults and free with a student ID.
— Madeline Chambliss