Chris Marshall is a performing songwriter and singer whose band, The August Light, plays a whimsical brand of rock, folk, and country. Chris has spent several years crafting a voice in the Portland, Oregon music scene, and lately has been gathering a cast of collaborators to flesh out the spirit of his sound and songs.

Leading up to the release of his debut full-length album (the In Music We Trust Records-released “August Light”), Chris appeared onstage with notable national acts like Tift Merritt, Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, Bill Mallonee, and Richmond Fontaine. During that same stretch, Chris began headlining shows of his own at landmark Portland venues like the Doug Fir Lounge and Mississippi Studios, where he’ll join Nashville luminary Elizabeth Cook for a bill in November of 2011. Performing steadily both locally and nationally since 2008, Chris has honed a live performance noted for its musicality and tenderness by both The Oregonian and The Portland Monthly, the latter calling him “a sweet-voiced local country boy with some righteous gospel in his blood.”

The August Light combines the lyrical palette of Chris’ songs, marked intuitively by folk and country undertones, with a magnetic blend of postmodern, American rock and roll. It features the string and vocal talents of local performing artist Patti King; the tasty guitar leads of up-and-coming songwriter Christoph Cesarez; subtle bass guitar brilliance from Adam Anaforian; and an earnest rhythm section led by Joel Swift.

The In Music We Trust Records release “August Light” is currently available everywhere good records are sold, and the band eagerly awaits the release of a new EP in February of 2012.