Joe Satriani Invites Alt Bluesman Markus James on Fall European Tour
“This is about as raw as blues gets. James’ dirt-road vocals, Blind Willie Johnson-like bottleneck, and the mantra-like drumming are presented in all their lo-fi glory – recorded on porches and in carports. In fact, a state-of-the-art studio would only mess up a good thing.”–VINTAGE GUITAR MAGAZINE, MAY 2015
Guitar Legend Joe Satriani Invites Alt Blues Slide Guitarist Markus James
to Join Fall European Tour
(San Francisco) Guitar legend Joe Satriani has invited alt blues slide guitarist and singer Markus James to open sixteen dates on his September-October European tour. James plays 1-string diddley bow, cigar box guitar, slide dulcimer, gourd banjo, as well as electric slide.
James, whose critically-acclaimed Mali, West Africa-based albums and award-winning documentary film have been lauded by NPR
and world press, has released a new album, recorded on porches and in barns and carports in North Mississippi’s hill country.
The album, Head For The Hills, is receiving rave reviews around the US and in Europe:
“Head For The Hills is undoubtedly one of the finest releases of recent years, both within the genre and beyond…”–BLUES MATTERS (UK)
“Geniale e imperdibile.” –IL BLUES (Italy)
“…an immediately engaging disc that will continue to fascinate and resonate with repeated listens.” –LIVING BLUES
“…superb” –BLUES IN BRITAIN
“…primitive, raw, powerful and as real as it gets.” –REFLECTIONS IN BLUE
“This record, which is mighty, mighty fine, would make a perfect score for an apocalyptic noir-western-thriller.” –NO DEPRESSION
The European Tour dates are:
Sep 17, 2015 Zénith Nantes Métropole Nantes, FR
Sep 18, 2015 Espace du Crouzy Boisseuil, FR
Sep 19, 2015 Théâtre Fémina Bordeaux, FR
Sep 20, 2015 Casino Barriere Toulouse, FR
Sep 21, 2015 Silo – Marseille Marseille, FR
Sep 22, 2015 Amphithéâtre de la Cité Internationale Lyon, FR
Sep 24, 2015 Grand Rex Paris, FR
Sep 25, 2015 Théâtre Sébastopol Lille, FR
Sep 26, 2015 Limburg Hall Heerlen, NL
Sep 27, 2015 De Roma Antwerp, BE
Sep 28, 2015 De Oosterpoort Groningen, NL
Oct 03, 2015 Salle Garnier Monte-Carlo, MC
Oct 05, 2015 Teatro della Luna Milan, IT
Oct 06, 2015 Teatro Obihall Florence, IT
Oct 07, 2015 Auditorium Parco della Musica Rome, IT
Oct 08, 2015 Palariviera San Benedetto del Tronto, IT
Two brand new Markus James videos here:
About Markus James:
Roots-Blues songwriter and Blues traveler Markus James first made his way to the village of
Niafunke in Northern Mali, West Africa, home of the legendary West African guitarist and
bluesman Ali Farka Toure, in 1993. Ali Farka Toure became Markus’ friend and inspiration and
his collaborations with traditional musicians in Timbuktu, including Hamma Sankare who had
performed with Toure for 30 years, resulted in 5 critically-acclaimed albums of original, Blues-
based music, and the award-winning documentary film “Timbuktoubab” which was seen around
the US on many PBS and satellite TV stations. Two of Markus’ Mali-based tracks have been
included on compilations of desert blues, alongside Ali Farka Toure, Tinariwen and Robert Plant,
among others.
New Release is “Head For The Hills”
While traveling and performing in Mississippi, Markus met several old-school drummers in the
North Mississippi Hill Country, and returned often to record there. Markus’ latest album,
Head For The Hills” was recorded in North Mississippi in a barn, on a
porch, and in an open-air carport, and features the drumming of Calvin Jackson (RL Burnside, Jr Kimbrough, Jessie Mae Hemphill, Fred McDowell), and Kinny Kimbrough (RL Burnside, Jr Kimbrough). Markus plays acoustic and electric slide guitar, gourd banjo, 3-string cigarbox guitar, 1-string diddley bow, slide dulcimer, and harp. Head For The Hills has received widespread critical acclaim in the US and Europe. Touring behind the album, Markus performs as a duo with Gospel drumming great Marlon Green, who was the last drummer to tour and
record with the legendary John Lee Hooker. They have appeared at the Montreal International Jazz Festival, and Telluride Blues Festival, among other venues, and have been invited to open 16 shows in Europe in Fall 2015 for international rock guitar hero Joe Satriani.
label contact: info@www.firenzerecords.com
US press contact: Mindy Giles: mingiles@gmail.com
European Press Contact: Peter Holmstedt: peter.holmstedt@telia.com
