Artists

A blazing guitarist, an evocative vocalist and a songwriter steeped in authenticity: At the crossroads of country music and rock and roll is where Mark Mackay makes his stand. Fronting a powerhouse band, he rocks the room with rowdy charm and persuasive conviction.

Headlining festivals, concerts and clubs and opening for country stars like Frankie Ballard, Eli Young Band, Cole Swindell, Tracy Lawrence and Old Dominion, plus legendary rockers The Marshall Tucker Band, 38 Special, Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi) and Orianthi, in a recent 12-month period Mark played 230 shows as Music Connection magazine named him on their annual list of the country’s Top 100 National Live Acts

Mark, who grew up south of San Francisco enthralled by country music and trained as a classical pianist, exemplifies a wide screen Western perspective in his songs. With two previous EP’s, he now ups the ante in a new eight-song collection.

Between the introspective journeys and boisterous shows, he locates the magic alchemy that defines his artistry.

Jamie Humphries is a UK guitarist, now based in Stockholm, Sweden. As well as being a highly respected guitar tutor and author, his touring credits include Brian May, Kerry Ellis, The Australian Pink Floyd Show, and the Scandinavian Queen show “Champions of Rock”. He has also toured with the American classic rock show “Flashback; The Mystic Orchestra”. He has performed with Queen, Jeff Beck, Mike Rutherford of Genesis, Ronan Keating, Richie Kotzen, Vinnie Moore and Chad Smith. Jamie has also toured extensively on the official Queen production “We Will Rock You” in both the UK and Europe, holding the position of principle guitarist on guitar chair one in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Jamie has filmed and recorded a large catalogue of DVDs and backing tracks for the award winning guitar instructional company Lick Library, filming DVDs on such artists as Pink Floyd, David Gilmour, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Def Leppard, Metallica, and many others. He also contributed video lessons for Guitar Interactive, and has a regular technique column in Premier Guitar. He has also written and transcribed for Guitar Techniques, Guitarist, Total Guitar, and Guitar World and has been featured twice on Young Guitar magazine’s DVD in Japan.

Jack’s insightful understanding of various musical styles and the ability to properly perform each makes him a first class instructor. He has taught at countless guitar clinics and workshops over the years and is expanding as host of his own clinics. He sees the need for others to learn techniques and touches that appear to be dying; either they are no longer passed down or, in some cases, are not correctly understood so are passed down incorrectly. His future plans for online instruction will allow him to reach players around the world who can study at their own pace.

Over the years Jack has also honed his skills behind the board and has earned ample credits for producing, engineering, mixing and mastering projects for others in addition to his own. It’s no surprise that Jack is an extraordinary producer and the proof can be heard on any of his solo recordings, possessing the ability to take a good song and record it in very different styles – not a common skill these days. Jack has said, “I’ve always believed that you can play a good song in any groove or tempo. A truly good song has a life of its own and then it’s just a matter of interpretation and production.” He wants to expand this role and produce more for other artists; drawing from his deep well of talented friends would make for a first rate production for anyone.

Jack Pearson has released four CDs all of which have received praise from critics, colleagues and fans and he’s always working on new music – writing and recording. He plans to release part of his stockpile of recordings as downloads through his own website.

Guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer, session-musician…many people in Nashville and beyond can claim those descriptors, but Jack Pearson is a truly gifted performer and an American musical treasure. “If you can only check out one player, make that player Jack Pearson!” Vintage Guitar Magazine.

Picking up a guitar at age 14, Alex ventured out into the world of clubs, honkytonks, and hole in the walls. Having a long family musical background, he knew the first time he strummed the strings he would pursue his love for music. Landing his first gig on the weekends playing in a music hall out of Dalton, Ga with his dad, he learned all the basics. Then soon to be joining jazz band in high school and playing for various local artists, learning the ropes of musicianship, loyalty, recording, songwriting and road life. Nashville became a dream that almost seemed out of reach after his graduation. But he kept driving and finding more and more opportunities. Persistency always succeeds and he found himself becoming close friends with local singer Kane Brown. He helped form the new band, and they set out on the journey. He is now residing in Nashville songwriting, doing session work and staying on the road with Sony Artist Kane Brown as lead guitarist

UK Guitarist Kris Barras has a genre-defying sound: a high-energy hybrid of no-nonsense Rock, Blues and Country. Winners of ‘Best New Band’ in the 2018 Planet Rock awards, the Kris Barras Band have become one of the UK’s fastest rising acts. Recently voted one of the ‘Top Blues Guitarists in the World’ (Music Radar) and winning the ‘Best Album’ accolade in the European Blues Awards, perhaps best demonstrates the band’s fluidity and appeal to fans of different genres.

In April 2018, it was announced that Kris would become the new frontman for USA super-group, Supersonic Blues Machine. The band feature’s legendary artists such as ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, Steve Lukather (Toto), Eric Gales, Warren Haynes (Gov’t Mule) and Walter Trout.

“As the bandleader of the critically acclaimed rock septet Thank You Scientist, Tom’s unique voice as an instrumentalist and arranger/producer has caught the ear of many adventurous listeners. His unique usage of fretless guitar, as well as non-traditional rock instruments such as shamisen and sitar has garnered him considerable attention. Thank You Scientist’s most recent release, Stranger Heads Prevail (produced by Monda), debuted at #14 on the Billboard rock charts and broke the Billboard Top 200 upon its release, an unprecedented achievement for a band so left of center.

The band has toured and performed with a wide array of artists, including Coheed and Cambria, Devin Townsend, Fishbone, The Aristocrats, Periphery, Yes, Adrian Belew, and many others. Tom is an in demand sideman in the greater New York City area, performing in a myriad number of stylistically divergent musical contexts including but not limited to jazz, world music, hip hop, r&b/gospel, free improvisation, pop and country. As a sideman Tom has performed with Bumblefoot (Guns N’Roses), Ike Willis (Frank Zappa), and many others. While not on tour, he maintains a weekly residency in Asbury Park, where his trio performs deconstructed jazz, pop and funk classics with reckless abandon.

Tom is also an active educator and clinician, with a student roster featuring a number of accomplished professional musicians. Tom holds a degree in Music Education/Jazz Guitar from Montclair State University. He is a contributing author for Premier Guitar Magazine, and in addition has been featured in publications such as Young Guitar and Guitar World.

“Assaad Lakkis a.k.a. Bull Funk Zoo

Imagine a big bad bull rocking out, wildly stomping the blues into rubble. Hendrix having a drink with Tom Waits and Rage Against The Machine decided to tear it up! The birth of Bull Funk Zoo has made a strong impact in the Dubai music scene, playing shows in virtually every venue and festival across the country. Touring internationally, Bull Fuck Zoo opened for Sting in March 2013 playing his original album material to an incredible audience of 10,000 people. Also supporting internationally renowned Timbaland, Sade, Habib Koite, Stanley Jordan, Courtney Pine and gaining sponsorship from Red Bull and Wampler.

Currently touring the region and working on album number 3, Assaad know as ‘Bull Funk Zoo’‚ is considered one of the hardest working musicians/producers in the UAE, achieving best act nomination at the Time Out and Hype awards.¬’Bull Funk Zoo’ released the new album ‘Dangerous Radio’ (in September 2016) which Assaad composed, performed, engineered and produce in its entirety, along with accompanying music videos. The album has been receiving excellent reviews in the UK/European publications with 4 stars out of 5.

Bull Funk Zoo’s debut, self titled album, got the highest rating of 4 stars for an unsigned band in Rolling Stone Middle East and was a best seller in Virgin Megastores in the UAE. The album entered into the IMA Awards USA, with the song ‘Oblivion’ reaching the semi finals.

Chad Laniewski is a guitarist, TV and Film composer and producer. Chad has been a musician since the age of eight and has played with various bands throughout the years. With his passion for instrumental music Chad decided it was time to focus on his instrumental guitar music. In 2011 – 2012 Chad joined Grammy award winning guitarist / composer Steve Vai\’s label Digital Nations – Favored Nations Entertainment. After the freshman release of the album ”ELEVATED” Digital Nations Entertainment was shut down. A year later in 2013 with the sophomore release of the EP ”CATTLE HERD SHUFFLE” released through Media Music Composers, a company that Chad implemented. It was an experimental album with new sounds and musical ideas. During the making of ”CATTLE HERD SHUFFLE” music for TV and Film had become of an interest. Shortly after the album, composing music for TV, Film and media had become a passion. Instrumental guitar music is still a passion alongside of his musical compositions for TV and Film. Chad works as an independent composer for TV, Film, Advertising, and all media. He is also a contract composer for Erik Turner and Jerry Dixon from the band ”WARRANT” and their company Down Boys Music / Records. Chad\’s music has been placed with TV shows on Animal Planet, A & E, Discovery Channel, Independent films, podcasts and more.

Skinny Webb is a multi-instrumentalist specializing in guitar and mandolin. He has collaborated and performed with Los Lobos, Jim Dandy (Black Oak Arkansas), Hank Redd (Stevie Wonder), Rick Derringer, George Hamilton, Nashville recording artist Grace Maher and many others. Skinny started playing guitar at the age of 5 and soon began performing for audiences at country and bluegrass festivals in the style of Chet Atkins and David Grisman. At 14 he discovered rock music and began studying the guitar craftsmanship of artists like Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Rush, and AC/DC. After High School he went on to study classical guitar and obtain a music degree. The next step was the road where he has played with numerous original and cover bands over the years. Skinny plays an eclectic and varied style of music running the spectrum from hard rock instrumentals, bluegrass flatpicking, country chicken picking, and jazz fusion. He has played on and produced over 50 album albums for other artists and has released several solo albums. He also stays very busy doing session work and as a hired performer for numerous artists.

Rufus is a session musician based in the UK, he writes, performs and publishes his own material – he is currently touring the world with Sting.