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Mark Green Band ing the lines where styles intersect
and produce something new.
Michael Hornbuckle
East Coast Blues Society
His influences range widely, and
Band
Mark Green was born and raised his original songs feature engaging
stories, soulful vocals, and
From the mountains to Mem-
Mile High Blues Society
on the island of Newfoundland,
and ever since he was old enough infectious grooves. He is joined
phis, the Michael Hornbuckle
to be in high school you could find by longtime friends Greg Griffiths
Band proudly represents Denver’s
him playing guitar in a local blues on bass and Andrew Massey on
Mile High Blues Society. The singing
quartet of Denver native Mi-
club. Over the next 30 years he drums. The Matt Roberts Trio are
honed his incredible showmanship
and unique vocals while tour-
to share their music with audi-
Andrews (bass), Andras Csapo
thrilled to be here in Memphis
chael Hornbuckle (guitar), Jeff
ing throughout Canada, both doing ences and fellow musicians and
(Hammond B3 and harmonica),
his own gigs and playing guitar to absorb all the great music assembled
here for this year’s IBC.
ton (drums) delivers soulful vo-
and Desmond “Motown” Washing-
for some very notable Canadian
blues artists. The band’s current
cals and hard-edged guitar riffs
lineup was formed in late 2014.
in the spirit of their roots in the
Backing up Green are Ron Sims Matthew Robinson
blues. Hailing from Detroit, Oakland,
and Hungary, these gen-
on guitar, Greg Siddall on bass and the Jelly Kings
and backup vocals, and Thom
Austin Blues Society
tlemen were pulled together by
Cooke on drums. The band plays
invisible strings that were spun
songs that are focused on groove, With a tear-your-heart-out guitar
out of Denver, where they all reside
and met Michael. They “keep
emotion, and big-energy performances
that leave audiences no from sweet as a lover’s lips to
style and a voice that can move
it simple, stupid,” says Michael.
choice but to get up and dance. stripping paint off a Missouri-Pacific
freight at 20 paces, all coming
“It’s all about the pocket and
groove these days, and I’ve got
out of a life that is a blues song,
the crew.” From swamp to swing,
Markey Blue there is no more authentic Texas
funk to grit, these guys deliver
Atlanta Blues Society bluesman than Matthew Robinson.
Robinson is Texas to the bone. You
Markey Blue is a dynamic, highenergy
band that fuses classic
Michael Lee Band
won’t fit him into a box. Soul, jazz,
gospel—it’s all in there, and yet always,
with no doubt, Texas blues.
blues and soul into original songs
San Angelo Blues Society
that really connect with the audience.
Their 2014 release, Hey
Matthew brings to the party some
Texas has always been a breeding
of the most respected of Austin
ground for great bluesmen, and
Hey, debuted at No. 1 on the
players, the Jelly Kings: Jeff Hayes,
Michael Lee is no exception. His
blues debut charts and rode high
Pete “The Beat” Langhans, Steve
passionate vocals and expressive
on both the roots music album
Power, and Joe Lee King. Nobody
guitar playing, paired with a commanding
stage presence, make
and singles charts. Markey was
can work that jelly like Matthew
named by the Atlanta Examiner
Robinson and the Jelly Kings.
the Michael Lee Band a must-see!
as a Top Female Blues Artist to
Lee is backed by national touring
Soar, and the band was named
musicians Lewis Fluellen, Chris
one of the 10 emerging artists in Melissa B. Band
Gipson, and “Face” Hayes, providing
an explosive rhythm experi-
blues to watch. They were nominated
for Best Blues Debut Artist
Jazz Society
ence. Often compared to a ’50 s
Wyoming Blues &
at the 2015 Blues Blast Awards,
soul singer, Lee has a voice that
and Best Blues Act, Best Blues
Melissa B. is a powerful singer
takes you back to another place
Performance for the 2015 NIMA
with a confident, nuanced, and
and time. His guitar playing is an
Awards. After they signed a multimedia
publishing deal, Mar-
evocative voice. She is both classically
trained and steeped in
honest, simple, yet innovative approach
that expresses his soul.
key Blue’s music is now playing
American roots music—a combination
that brings a fresh feel
Original songs like “Ain’t Missing
You” and “Don’t Leave Me”
on TV shows and in movies.
to this classic form. A Wyoming
native, Melissa B. has been gigging
regularly across the region
show the truthfulness conveyed
through the most honest and passionate
genre in music, the blues.
Matt Roberts Trio
since the late ’90s. She is backed
Sydney Blues Society
by blues veterans Gary Small on
The Matt Roberts Trio have come guitar and Rick Davis on blues
all the way from Sydney, Australia,
and this is their first time pertion
of Fred Serna (drums) and
Soul Drivers
harp. A rock-solid rhythm sec-
The Mighty
forming in the U.S.A. Matt is a Jobe Jennings (bass) provides
Connecticut Blues Society
lover of all kinds of blues and roots a killer groove. The Melissa B.
music, and especially enjoys walk-
The Mighty Soul Drivers bring the
Band proudly plays the blues.
classic soul/blues sounds of Mem-
112 H BANDS The Blues Foundation • blues.org
phis, Muscle Shoals, and points
south to the hills of New England.
The Mighty Soul Drivers take
their inspiration from the giants of
Southern soul and blues, and combine
that with contemporary tunes
written in the classic style. Years
of playing all kinds of gigs, from
major festival stages to corner taverns,
have honed each member’s
skills to a fine edge. They mine the
deepest old soul/blues nuggets
and breathe new life into them
while finding the cream of Memphis-style
contemporary tunes and
creating their own soulful originals.
Mojo Risin’
The Music Preservation
Society
Based out of the Muscle Shoals
area of Alabama, Mojo Risin’ was
formed in 2009. The band is committed
to keeping the blues and
old-school R&B alive, entertaining
audiences with covers by some of
the greatest musicians in those
genres. They have performed at
Mississippi State College’s BBQ
& Blues benefiting the Children’s
Miracle Network, blues festivals
such as Champy’s Blues Festival
in Chattanooga and Muscle
Shoals, and have performed annually
since 2010 at events during
the W.C. Handy Music Festival
in Florence, Alabama. The band
consists of dynamic vocalist Shirley
Rowell, guitarists Zachariah
Thigpen and Edward Armstead
II, bassman C.J. Anderson, and
drummer Skip Skipworth.
Mojo Theory
Northeast Ohio
Blues Association
Mojo Theory is a five-piece ensemble
that unwittingly carved out a
niche in our blues community. This
unique band from Columbus, Ohio,
holds true to the rich traditions of
the blues, which blend perfectly
with their signature sound. They
write and produce their music in
different styles, drawing the admiration
of blues enthusiasts as well
as today’s progressive listeners.
With three all-original CDs to their
credit, They continue to ignite and
32nd International Blues Challenge
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