KEN
PUSTELNIKS
GROUNDHOGS
Way back in the halcyon days of rock, there came a trio of
'superheroes' known as the Groundhogs, riding the blues boom
into unchartered territory, they gained a reputation as one of
the most dynamic live acts around, and are influential and
inspirational to this day. The classic line-up of Tony McPhee,
Ken Pustelnik and Pete Cruickshank toured the world for 6 years
straight, including seminal shows with the Rolling Stones, John
Lee Hooker, John Mayall and Canned Heat, and at the legendary
1970 Isle of Wight festival along with Jimi Hendrix. In this
time they produced 4 renowned albums: 'Blues Obituary', 'Thank
Christ for the Bomb', 'Split' and 'Who Will Save the World'...
Now Ken Pustelnik brings you a new and exciting line-up -
Groundhogs, playing that classic material with verve and power,
and giving performances of energy and excitement that are as
fresh and relevant to the modern audience as the originals were
back in the day...
CATFISH
nternational
touring blues rock powerhouse Catfish are making waves on the
music scene in the UK and Europe. In 2018 they won the UK Blues
Award for Blues Act of the Year (England) to add to their 2016
British Blues Award. This year they were nominated for three UK
Blues awards, winning two of them - Band of the Year and Blues
Instrumentalist of the Year (Matt Long). In the last few years,
they have played at almost every major UK blues festival and
have established themselves as a real force in the British blues
scene. They now tour regularly in Europe and, although their
tours in March and April plus most of the summer festivals have
been cancelled this year due to Covid-19, they still have a
November tour of Europe in the diary.
Their first two
albums 'So Many Roads' and ‘Broken Man’ both reached no. 1 in
the IBBA airplay charts. The second of these, ‘Broken Man’, was
also nominated for a UK Blues Award and was named album of the
year by the IBBA. Their current album 'Burning Bridges' was
released in May 2019 and has received excellent reviews from the
UK and European music press. It was the third most played album
by the Independent Blues Broadcasters Association in 2019 and
has been nominated for a UK blues award for 2020 as album of the
year.
'Catfish are one of the finest live bands in
Britain today. The quality of musicianship is outstanding and in
Matt Long, they have one of the greatest young guitarists on the
scene today...' Blues Matters Magazine.
Stephen
Dale Petit and his razor sharp band debut his highly anticipated
new, sixth, album 2020 Visions along with some gorgeously
familiar blues classics; expect dynamic, guitar-based excitement
born of the blues, spiced with a refreshingly daring approach –
as Petit, one foot planted firmly in the roots of deep blues and
the other striding boldly into hitherto unexplored rock guitar
excellence visits influences from Charlie Patton and Blind
Willie Johnson to BB King and Chicago’s Chess, from Cream and
Zeppelin via John Mayall’s Blues breakers right up to new
millennium six string exploration. Stephen Dale Petit has
performed and collaborated with a veritable Who’s Who of
blues/rock alumni including Eric Clapton, Dr. John, Mick Taylor
and Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones, David Gilmour, Hubert
Sumlin, Chris Barber, Walter Trout and Paul Jones. ‘Blues guitar
sensation Stephen Dale Petit is the hot new ticket. Lily Allen,
Ronnie Wood and Chris Evans are already fans.’ Daily Mirror
‘Petit has a fluidity missing from most modern guitarists’ The
Sunday Times
JIM
KIRKPATRICK
The ultra-dependable frontline wingman JIM KIRKPATRICK is to
release a kajillion-watt, rockingblues, solo humdinger JIM
KIRKPATRICK is about to release a virtuosic and rambunctiously
rollicking new solo album — and it's an absolute triumph. “I
started out as a teen guitarist in a high-school band...” Jim
says. “I got into Rory Gallagher in a big way, but things
started to click when I got crazy for Ry Cooder, then Duane
Allman, Lowell George ( Little Feat) and Derek Trucks.” “I was a
huge Robert Johnson fan, but my interest in blues really started
with Jimi Hendrix, then the Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton,
and while I liked electric blues, I also loved the Beach Boys,
Paul McCartney and Queen.” Since the 1990s the reputable,
six-string, slide & glide gunslinger has been the hired
vigilante of choice for the best rock ensembles on the planet:
from the popular local band Heavy Weather, to a brilliant tour
guitarist for English folk-rock superstar Thea Gilmore (this
brought concert opportunities & radio shows across the United
States and a tour with American folk-legend Joan Baez) onto
earning a place alongside rock legend Bernie Marsden as his
esteemed slide-guitarist in a Post-Whitesnake era, post
Moody-Marsden band. “Although I am almost thirty years his
junior, both Bernie and I come from the same place,
musically...” Jim says, about their partnering. “We both love
the sound of the twin guitar; we both yearn after gritty
electric blues [...] we bond and overlap like barrel-house blood
brothers...” “We have covered Rory Gallagher material
together... and although I have made no attempt to emulate Rory,
nor have I never been in a Gallagher tribute outfit, I have
often been associated with the hero guitarist and I'm regularly
told I sound and play like him.” But on Christmas Eve in 2004,
he talked to the landlord (in the gentleman's toilet) at a
canal-side bar in Cheshire. The landlord asked him if he knew
Steve Overland. He had, of course, who hadn't? Overland was a
rock giant. Overland had formed the quintessential AOR band of
the 80's — FM. “Oddly, it turned out, the reason I was asked was
because Steve lived just four doors down from me in the same
village! And the pub landlord wanted me to invite the guy in for
a gig! The end result was that I established contact with Steve
and we became Drinking buddies! To be honest, as busy musicians,
we were the only ones who wanted to get hammered on a Tuesday
night! We are always playing concerts on the weekends and our
mid-weeks were filled with rehearsals and band practice.” Being
a mate of Steve, Jim went along to watch the famous FM reunion
gig at Firefest in 2007 : “I thought, I'd love to be in a band
like this...” It was an inspirational moment. “Yes, I loved my
work with Thea and enjoyed my performances alongside Bernie, but
this classic rock band captivated me.” By chance, FM's long-term
lead-guitarist, Andy Barnett, said he couldn't commit to any
long-term plans, even though — after Firefest — it seemed FM
were headed once more into the big time: “So I asked Steve if I
could audition for the lead guitar role.” “By then I was writing
a lot with Steve, we became good mates, there was a bit of an
age difference, but we lived next door to each other and Steve
could travel with me (we got on) and we had the same ideas about
rock. I learned the material they asked me to audition for, I
learned all the live versions of their songs, all the studio
versions of their songs... I even got hold of their bootleg
recordings and learned those songs too. “I know all the
songs...” I told them. And it's true. I did. I certainly didn't
want an opportunity like this to slip through my fingers. After
I'd done, they said: “that was easy...” and they hired me.” Jim
has played with FM ever since (2008) and he significantly
contributed to the 2010 album “Metropolis” co-writing three of
the tracks, including the title song. Since then, Jim has toured
& recorded with FM and has played on the biggest stages and at
the most prestigious festivals, to support household names such
as Thin Lizzy, Journey, Foreigner, Kiss, Whitesnake and Heart.
And the hired-gun's work with Rhino's Revenge (Status Quo
bassist John Edwards' band) and with the Grammy-award winner
Mike Farris (of Double Trouble fame) as well as Robert Hart
(Manfred Mann's Earth Band singer) Nev MacDonald (Phil Campbell)
and famed rock vocalist Chris Ousey [plus many more] has brought
Jim high praise and unwavering admiration, as he continues to
add more impressive dimensions to a reputation that is already
considered impeccable and indefatigable. Jim is the most
appreciated riff-slinger in the business. “More recently,” he
says “I've been working with the highly respected Chris
Bevington Organization — a nine-piece, fast-paced, blues
project, bringing together a lot of talent, including luminaries
such as multi-instrumentalist Scott Ralph, Nearly Dan singers
Kate Robertson & Sarah Miller, and the bandleader Bevington, who
is a more than creditable bassist.” In 2006 Jim released his
first solo album, titled: Changed Priorities. “I had been
working with Thea and had got into Americana and I probably
didn't know where I wanted to be and where I wanted to go
properly at that stage — all I did know was that I didn't want
to make another Stevie Ray Vaughan reproduction and I thought
that any straight-down blues record that I might deliver would
never do as well as anything by Kenny Wayne Shepherd. ”
“Possibly, I didn't make it guitary enough for connoisseurs
(short solos) but I wanted the album to be more song-based than
guitar-based because that's where I was at the time.”
Nevertheless, the 2006 album was much commended by the music
press who thought it demonstrated Jim's more reflective side,
and brought some wonderful, soft country-rock textures. But
Jim's new album is not so “acoustical.” It's a masterpiece of
technical bravado and driving rock... “I called in a drummer and
a bass player — so it's more power-driven and electrifying. I
know what people are expecting now and I know what I want from
an album that has my name on the sleeve.” “Ballad of a Prodigal
Son is a twelve-track, blues-rock outing with some songs
co-written with friends and some fine contributions from many of
my colleagues...” Contributors include: John 'Rhino' Edwards
(Status Quo), Steve Overland (FM), Bernie Marsden (Whitesnake)
Sarah Miller (Chris Bevington Org), Jem Davis (FM), Neil 'Kegsy'
McCallum (Chris Bevington Org), David Levy (Rory Gallagher)
Richard Newman (Paul Rodgers), Scott Ralph (Chris Bevington
Org), Didge Digital (FM), Neil Murray (Whitesnake) Paul Westwell
(SinnerBoy) and wizard bass players Chris Bevington and Chris
Cliff. “ The opening-song Ballad of a Prodigal Son (I'm partly
the prodigal son of the yarn, so this is my cheery nod to a
return to solo work) — though actually it's a semi-fictional
portrayal of somebody else I knew, set in Florida, a guy I used
to work with,” Jim says. “ Songs come into my head, I tend to
write from inside then pick up a guitar later; lyrics start with
a title and perhaps the first few lines...” “I have co-written
songs with Scott Ralph, Thea Gilmore and Bernie Marsden (Always
On the Road) and covered a much-loved John “Rhino” Edwards
penned Status Quo number “Gravy Train” that is one of my
favorite numbers to play live.” Neil Mach June 2020
JO
HARMAN
AWARD WINNING RADIO 2 PLAY-LISTED
ARTIST JO HARMAN Widely regarded as one of Europe's finest ever
soul/blues fuelled voices, JO HARMAN is an international touring
and recording artist who remains a genre-defying, independently
minded artist of rare credibility. An artist who makes sincere
and heartfelt music, The Mirror proclaimed her 'UK's finest
female soul blues voice' who, according to Classic Rock, writes
'lip-biting beautiful songs'. Jo released her second studio
album 'People We Album' to much critical acclaim (see accolades
at foot of the page) and no little commercial success. Indeed
the 'lead single', 'When We Were Young' (featuring Michael
McDonald) achieved BBC Radio 2 play-listing, as well as play
listing on other mainstream national stations across Ireland
(RTE1) and Europe. The album has also made various 'best of'
lists, internationally. Last summer Jo duetted on 'Reach Out
(I'll Be There)' with Motown song-writing legend Lamont Dozier,
the lead single from his 'Re-imagination' album which also
features Gregory Porter, Graham Nash, Todd Rundgren, Rumer and
other notable international names. A multi award
winning/nominated performer, Jo has achieved considerable
success at home and abroad, headlining prestigious venues and
festivals throughout Europe and beyond, including playing as one
of eleven artists to 300k people at Parkpop, in the Hague.
Amongst many other highlights, Jo was asked to perform for, and
alongside, Joan Baez at Amnesty International's prestigious
'Ambassador of Conscience' awards. Last Autumn Jo was asked by
Festival Director Leo Green to open London's BluesFest
performing a set at the 20k capacity O2 Arena. Last month Jo was
asked to swap vocal licks with multi million selling US Soul
Superstar Will Downing as part of an all star Charity version of
the Isley's classic. 'Work To Do' as the only Brit to be invited
to perform alonmgside a host of legendary US sidemen and artists
associaed with Tower Of Power, Hall and Oates, Average White
Band and more. Rag 'N Bone recently took to social media to
proclaim her 'one of this country's finest talents' and soul
super star Michael McDonald advised 'hearing her cover one of my
songs was a spiritual experience'.
DIANA
SILVEIRA
Incredible Portuguese born
vocalist Diana Silveira, an exceptional talent who is turning
heads and catching ears wherever she performs, both here in the
UK and across parts of Europe. "Money Ain't No Truth" debut
video with Redtenbacher's Funkestra has seen it's US premiere in
Soultrack.com after an exclusive track debut play on Roger
Mccormick and David 'Kid' Jensen Radio Show - The Blues Spectrum
(UK). Diana’s ability to sing a wide range of genres with
authority and her ability to switch from sweet tones to a full
out rock and roll vibe makes her a force to be reckoned with!
Gerry
Jablonski & the Electric Band An International touring band with
a 10 year portfolio of festival, theatre and club gigs
throughout Europe, Scandinavia and the UK. Gerry Jablonski & the
Electric Band are a standout act with an energetic,
noholds-barred stageshow. They have a unique, trademark Heavy
Blues Rock sound and style producing gutsy music with hooks,
melodies and an intense presence that wins over any audience,
anywhere, anytime. Guaranteed.
• 2018 Blues Awards - UK
Blues Act of the Year nominee • Live UK TV performances on
STV and radio play on BBC Radio 2 & Planet Rock • 10 years
road experience throughout Europe, UK and Scandinavia •
Sell out headline shows 2 years running at Vienna and
Edinburgh jazz and blues festivals • 6 albums to date, all
reviewed and recommended by Classic Rock magazine • Double
A side single recorded with Robert Plant’s Grammy award
winning producer • Latest album, Live at the Blue Note on
Classic Rocks’ most recommended list • Festival, theatre and
club gigs in Austria, Czechia, France, Germany, Poland and all
over the UK in 2020 • Sell out appearances at Sheffield O2
HRH Blues festival and Rory Gallagher Festival • Latest video
/ single release, Goddam, sponsored by Dan Aykroyd’s Crystal
Head vodka “Go see this band - the best band you never heard
of!” Classic Rock Magazine
RAINBREAKERS
are noted for their distinctively forlorn vocals and moodily
contagious songs that explore the complex struggles of life. The
U.K. based four-piece formed when Ben Edwards [lead vocals &
guitar] put together a band with his brother Sam Edwards [on
drums] and later finding friends Ash Milburn [on bass] and the
truly phenomenal musician Charlie Richards [on lead guitar] to
complete the vision the brothers had for a unique sound.
The band
seeks to shape a musical marque for themselves as they continue
to explore their unique brand of Rock and Soul and aim to
cultivate the roots of their own introspective brand that's a
subtle variety of brooding, English, roots-rock. Bottling the
anger and frustration they witness in modern-day living and they
siphon off their feelings into suitable musical containers that
allow raw emotions to bleed out during passionate live
performances and on high-quality recordings.
Having
toured across the UK and mainland Europe, this tenacious
four-piece from the West Midlands, have won over crowds with
their unmistakable sound, sharing stages with artists such as
The Temperance Movement, The Kris Barras Band, Samantha Fish,
Devon Allman and Wille and the Bandits.
Rainbreakers
have been playing to capacity crowds at iconic venues such as
The 100 Club, The Borderline, The Sage and Rock City.
Performances at festivals like the Great British Rock and Blues
and Wilderness Festival have seen the band receive accolades
including nominations for the UK Blues Challenge and Best
Emerging Artist in The British Blues Awards. Cementing
Rainbreakers status as one of the brightest acts to materialise
in recent times.
Félix
Rabin
Félix Rabin
is a singer-songwriter and gifted guitarist
The French 23 year was inspired by
musicians like Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Pink
Floyd.....his style embodies these influences and blends
contemporary Rock, with inventive riffs and moody melodies
Loving music as long as he can recall, the desire to play came
suddenly and when Félix picked up his first guitar at
15.......this is when the story began.
After
touring around France, playing several times at the prestigious
Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland where he was born and
lived since childhood, Félix is now ready to take his music and
open doors in new territories. Fortunately, one of these is the
UK!
Given the amazing response he has
received after only a handful of appearances in this country, he
says; "As a French guy, I really can feel that music is much
more into the culture of English people - I mean you can feel
that Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and all the other great ones come
from here !"
Plans are in
hand to release his debut album in 2019 and it's fair to say;
there are exciting times ahead for this young Frenchman....
Is
the New Undisputed Female Rising Star of Blues Rock!
Manhaton Records is pleased to announce one of the most exciting
Blues rock singers SARI SCHORR. Her debut album “A Force of
Nature” is produced by the legendary Mike Vernon whose credits
include Fleetwood Mac, John Mayall & the Blues Breakers, David
Bowie, Savoy Brown, Chicken Shack, Eric Clapton, Peter Green,
Christine McVie and Ten Years After.
The first leg of
Sari's celebrated UK/European and US tour has
catapulted Sari and her electrifying band The Engine Room into
the spotlight. The Engine Room features stunning ex Robert Plant
guitarist INNES SIBUN. Sari has been featured in Classic Rock
Magazine, Rock Society Magazine, Blues Matters, Blues In
Britain, Bluesnews, R2 Magazine, Fireworks
Magazine, Downbeat, Guitar Techniques, Rocktopia and many more.
The critical acclaim for Sari Schorr & The Engine
Room is unanimous!
Sari Schorr & The Engine Room have
performed at many great festivals around the world. Highlights
include the Guitar En Scene Festival in France, and Montreux
Jazz Festival, Switzerland, sharing the stage with Santana,
Steve Vai and Twisted Sister and Nottoden Festival in Norway,
playing the same stage with Walter Trout and The Supersonic
Blues Machine, fronted by Billy Gibbons.
Sari was also
featured on the Lead Belly Fest at Carnegie Hall with Buddy Guy,
Eric Burdon and other legendary artists. Sari's performance
of Black Betty was met with such rave reviews it became the lead
singe for the album. Watch the official video: A Force of
Nature: "A hailstorm of an album sure to go down in blues
history.” – Blues Rock Review
The new album A Force of
Nature features Walter Trout, Engine Room guitarist Innes
Sibun, Oli Brown (RavenEye) and keyboardist John
Baggott (Massive Attack, Portishead). The album hit #1 in the
UKand was the highest new entry on the UK Official Jazz and
Blues albums charts, which is no mean feat! It also cracked the
Top 10 of the UK Americana charts too.
The reaction to
the album has been extraordinary. Maximum Volume Music give it
a 10/10 and said, "The quality of the record frequently touches
jaw-dropping. Sari Schorr & The Engine Room have just made one
of the blues records of the year.” Classic Rock Society magazine
made it their featured Blues album of the month for Sept/Oct.
Futhermore, Sari was nominated for two European Blues
Awards: Best Album and Best Singer.
THE
SHARPEEZ
William “Bill” Mead had a cult following in the late 1970s
with his raunchy London and Kent R&B band, Rebel.
They
became hot favourites alongside Dr Feelgood and The Stranglers
in all the major London pub rock venues of the time., such as
The Hope and Anchor and The Marquee.
Today, Bill’s high
energy rock and blues band The Sharpeez have established
themselves as ‘a band for all seasons’, who can be relied upon
to deliver a sizzling set on any stage across Europe and the UK.
The individual musicians in the five-piece line-up have
fabulous playing pedigrees, but as a unit they have chemistry
you could cut with a blunt knife!
Bill can pen a decent
song too, and collectively they effortlessly transfer that
on-stage power and energy to record, as evidenced on their
critically acclaimed latest CD, “Wild One”, released in May 2018
on the 3MS label.
The album dented the upper reaches of
the IBBA chart (Independent Blues Broadcasters Association)
based on the vast amount of radio airplay the tracks attracted.
Their fifth album - named after the classic Marlon
Brando movie. Recorded in France, where they teamed up with
acclaimed recording engineer Paul Madden, who has worked with a
myriad of stars including The White Stripes, Jack Bruce, Robin
Trower, The Stranglers and many others. The material, the
performances and the production all have equal importance across
the new record, but Bill’s innate story telling skills are to
the fore in the song writing. There’s groove galore, ample
feel, and they get down and dirty with some sizzling slide
guitar licks. But the boys can really rock out too. The
album’s formidable “A Team” of craftsmen/woman are: William Mead
on guitar and lead vocals, Loz Netto on slide guitar, Baz Payne
on bass, Brendan O’Neill on drums (who played with Rory
Gallagher and Nine Below Zero), and Teresa Revill on backing
vocals. The record was mixed by Loz Netto. Bill penned six of
the nine songs, co-writing the other three cuts: “Bullet” with
Strawbs member Brian Willoughby and Nashville-based Cathryn
Craig, “Stiletto Heels” with former Sharpeez guitarist Pete
Goodey and “Desperate Man” with Pete Feenstra. The band shot a
video for the opening track and radio hit, “Automatic Mode”.
The Sharpeez also scored with their previous albums, especially
2011’s “Open For Surgery” and 2014’s “Mississippi Thrill”.
Bill Mead released his first single “Rocka Shocka” with
Rebel in the 1970s. He was signed by Fischer Z Management, and
he wrote and recorded the album, “Strangers in New York” for Red
Admiral Records.
Loz Netto is an internationally
respected musician, composer, songwriter, vocalist, guitarist,
producer and recording engineer. He began his professional
career in the 1970’s and at 17, was hired to play guitar on tour
for Drifters legend, Ben 'E' King.
Loz became a founder
member of Sniff 'n' the Tears and by 1978 the band had a
worldwide award-winning hit record with “Driver’s Seat”, from
their acclaimed album “Fickle Heart”.
He recorded two
albums with the band and toured the world, including a
three-month tour of the USA, playing huge football stadiums. He
appeared on Top of The Pops, The Old Grey Whistle Test and other
major TV shows in Europe and the US.
In 1982, Loz
launched a solo career signing to Polygram Records, and recorded
his debut solo album at George Martin’s Air Studios. His first
single “Fade Away”, appeared in the U.S top 40 for six weeks.
The single went Top Ten in Holland and charted in most European
countries. He recorded two albums for Polygram.
He was
then signed to Atlantic Records by label founder Ahmet Ertegun,
and his album for the label received critical acclaim, and
various songs were used in U.S films and T.V shows. His songs
have been covered by Chaka Khan, Joe Walsh, Rick James, Kenny
Loggins and others, and used on many TV and movie soundtracks.
Today’s core ‘on the road’ line-up of The Sharpeez is Bill
Mead on guitar and lead vocals, Loz Netto on guitar and vocals,
David Tettmar on drums and Michael Steed on bass.
Bassist Michael Steed has a solid CV. He played with The
Marmalade, The Rubettes and spent 18 years with hit pop band
Love Affair. He has also been a sought-after bass player for
theatre bands, in hit shows such as The Rocky Horror Show and
The Blues Brothers. Drummer David Tettmar played in the
acclaimed Rosco Levee Band.
The band’s sound unashamedly
nods towards their main influences such as Rory Gallagher, Dr
Feelgood, Tom Petty, The Rolling Stones, George Thorogood, Paul
Kossoff, Paul Rodgers and Andy Fraser.
But they mix that
all up in the pot with their own recipe, and out comes a unique
main course. Good time British R & B never tasted so good, as
gig/festival audiences and “sold out” signs across Europe and
beyond would confirm!
James Oliver has
already rubbed shoulders with many of the greats of the guitar
firmament. Now, having recorded three vital, very contemporary
albums with his band Glas, he is preparing to write a new
chapter of not only his career but also Welsh music history.
His progress since forming Glas in early 2012 has been
steady rather than spectacular, playing every gig in the Valleys
before expanding horizons beyond. See him on stage, though, and
spectacular is very much the word. Little wonder the late, great
Deke Leonard of Man/Iceberg fame was moved to say that ‘Speaking
as a guitarist, James Oliver scares the hell out of me.’ Taff
Williams and Tweke Lewis, who have played with him, were
similarly impressed. Oliver’s propulsive guitar won Glas an
invitation to play the prestigious Monaghan Blues Festival in
Ireland – the first Welsh act to do so – while other festivals
at Tenby and Colne soon followed. His rootsy, Fender-fuelled
music has been heard supporting the likes of Albert Lee . Bill
Kirchen,and, only this year, Played London’s legendary 100 Club.
Former Love Sculpture/Dave Edmunds bassist John David has worked
with Jamesin the studio, further enhancing a more than
respectable CV.
As music business veterans will tell you,
success is 10 per cent inspiration and 90 per cent perspiration.
As he enters the next stage of his career, James Oliver has a
track record that shows he will not allow an ounce of his
talents to be wasted. And with new musicians to interact with,
chances are the music in store will exhibit hitherto unheard
dimensions to delight his growing army of fans. Blues, rock a
billy, rock and country…it’s all here in one explosive pickin’
package.
Brothers
Keith and Stu Xander were discovered on YouTube by Gibson Brands
CEO Henry Juszkiewicz and during their subsequent performances
for the company at numerous international events from LA to
Dubai the band caught the attention of not just an ever-growing
collective of fans but also industry legends such as Eddie
Kramer (Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Kiss, Rolling Stones) and
Rick Allen (Def Leppard).
Defying all
expectations, lead singer and guitarist Keith Xander was born
without a right arm below the elbow and plays guitar using a
prosthesis and hook with a pick attached at the end. Although
many who have seen Keith play believe him to be an extraordinary
guitarist despite of his perceived ‘disability’ he is a virtuoso
musician in his own right and his playing rivals the best in the
industry.
In 2014 the
band ended their 5-year tenure as the resident band at
Liverpool’s iconic Cavern Club pub and went on to support the
likes of Joe Bonamassa, Joe Satriani, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band,
The Temperance Movement, ex-Whitesnake’s Bernie Marsden and even
Bon Jovi at Old Trafford Stadium to name a few.
2016 saw the
band release their debut album, titled ‘11:11’, on V2 Benelux
Records, recorded at the world-famous Wisseloord studios in
Hilversum, outside of Amsterdam. The album went on to receive
critical acclaim from the likes of Classic Rock, Planet Rock
Radio and from BBC Radio’s Bob Harris.
With
haunting riffs, genius melodies and a uniquely infectious
charisma, Xander and the Peace Pirates continue to share their
musical passion to standing ovations, while spreading a
universal message of peace, love and harmony.
The
Hitman Blues Band
The Hitman Blues Band
is getting worldwide recognition. The new release “The World
Moves On” is being hailed as "the best yet!" Their previous
release, “Blues Enough”, was in the running for two Grammy
nominations. “Two Minute Warning” (from “Angel In The Shadows”)
is available as an add-on to RockBand.
They’ve had
six successful tours of the U.K. and two in Europe, playing at
clubs and festivals including the Great British R&B Festival at
Colne, the Eel Pie Club, The Limelight Theater, the BluesExpress
Festival in Luxembourg, the Maryport Blues Festival (Main
Stage), and many others. Of course, at home in the U.S. they’ve
played up and down the eastern seaboard, working clubs and
festivals as a four piece or with their new horn section added.
With a live
show that engages the audience with great musicianship, great
music, and a liberal dose of humor, The Hitman Blues Band will
light up your audience!
Mark
Harrison has established a growing reputation for making a
unique kind of all-original music, based on the style of the
early blues and folk/blues artists, with a modern twist. His
highly individual music, with its memorable tunes, striking
lyrics and strong and compelling rhythms, has been going down
very well with audiences of all kinds.
Mark’s songs all have something to
say or a story to tell. They’ll make you move, make you think,
make you smile. He is doing something genuinely fresh and
different, tapping into the timeless quality of ‘old’ music to
produce something brand new and totally relevant to the present
day.
Mark is a thrilling, rhythmic,
finger-picker and slide player, with a very distinctive style.
He recently released his third album, The World Outside. Like
his previous albums, Crooked Smile and Watching The Parade, it
has been unanimously praised by influential and knowledgeable
figures across a wide range of areas of the music world,
receiving a very great deal of airplay and highly enthusiastic
reviews. |