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ERIC GALES
Eric Gales is a blues firebrand. Over 30 years and 18 albums, his passion for the music and his boundless desire to keep it vital has never waned, even when his own light dimmed due to his substance struggles. Throughout it all, he continued to reinvigorate the art form with personal revelation in his lyrics and bold stylistic twists in his guitar playing and songwriting. Five years sober, creatively rejuvenated, and sagely insightful, Eric is ready for the fight of his career. Aptly, he calls his masterful new album, out January 2022 on Provogue/Mascot label Group, Crown. Here, Eric opens like never before, sharing his struggles with substance abuse, his hopes about a new era of sobriety and unbridled creativity, and his personal reflections on racism. The songs are delivered with clarity and feature Eric's personal experiences and hope for positive change. In addition, the 16-track collection boasts his finest singing, songwriting, and his signature guitar playing that burns throughout. Produced by Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith, this is Eric at his most boldly vulnerable, uncompromisingly political, and unflinchingly confident.
Crown was forged in tragedy but rises triumphantly. The day before Eric left Greensboro, North Carolina to Los Angeles, California to work with Joe and Josh, he heard the news about the George Floyd murder. As a Black man in America, he had a lot on his mind when he touched down in Music City to write songs for Crown. “What made George Floyd any different than me?,” Eric asks. “As I began to chat about this to Joe and Josh during preproduction, raw and unnerved emotion came out of me, and Joe furiously scribbled down notes about it all. These songs came from those outpourings. They’re about my life, and what’s happening in the world right now. When it came time to sing, I had to take breaks between vocals to cry and let it out. I was sharing my experiences as a Black man, and my private struggles. This is me letting the world know what I’ve been through.” Since 1991, the Memphis-born guitarist has blazed a path reinvigorating the blues with a virtuosity and rock swagger that have him being heralded as the second coming of Jimi Hendrix. He was a child prodigy with bottomless talent and fierce determination, and at just 16 years-old released his debut, The Eric Gales Band, on Elektra Records. He’s earned high praise by guitarists’ guitarist and household name axe men such as Joe Bonamassa, Carlos Santana, Dave Navarro, and Mark Tremonti. In addition, he has held his own with some of the greatest guitarists in the world, including Carlos Santana at Woodstock 1994, Zakk Wylde, Eric Johnson, and a posse of others as a featured guest touring with the Experience Hendrix Tour.
The story behind Crown dates back to the early 1990s when as teenagers Eric and Joe were both hailed as blues wunderkinds and torchbearers. Eric is three years older than Joe, and Joe used to open for Eric. The pair went on to very different lives and careers, but Eric’s full potential was hampered by his substance abuse issues. “While I was dealing with my affliction, Joe’s career skyrocketed. I put myself in the backseat through my drug addiction. The world knows me, but the world doesn’t know me,” he says. In 2009, Eric hit bottom and served jail time at Shelby County Correction Center for possession of drugs and a weapon. Eric and Joe reconnected grandly in 2019 when Joe invited Eric to play with him onstage at a blues cruise encore performance. It was the first time the guys had played live together onstage in 25 years, and it has since been named one of the most explosive guitar duels ever, amassing over 3 million plays on YouTube. “There was always a brotherhood with us. When we reconnected, Joe said to me, ‘You’re a badass guitarist; it’s your turn to get your seat at the table to wear your crown’,” Eric recalls. Shortly after their iconic face-melting jam, Eric approached Joe to produce him. Eric reveals: “We cried when we talked about it, he said ‘you have no idea how long I waited for you, now I am going to do my part to lift you where you’re supposed to be.’” Crown finds Eric stepping up to receive his due.
ARTUR MENEZES
GuitarPlayer Magazine "Top 25 Best New Blues Guitarists" says about Artur Menezes:
"Brazilian Artur Menezes has made serious waves in the blues community ever since he released his debut album, Early to Marry, in 2010. His playing is a distinctive blend of fiery, hard-rocking blues that at times borders on shred, combined with an ability to effortlessly switch gears into swinging, jazz grooves.
His Brazilian roots add a unique flavor to the mix and further distinguish his playing from that of his contemporaries. Menezes' songwriting sparkles as it switches between straight-ahead blues and funk-flavored workouts, and his vocals channel the deep emotional content of his songs as effectively as his guitar playing.
Fading Away, Menezes' latest album (produced by Josh Smith and featuring a guest appearance from Joe Bonamassa), was a serious step up in both writing and playing. Its arrival laid down a clear marker for his place among the front-runners of the new breed of blues guitar heroes."
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Based in Los Angeles, Artur is currently working on a new album (he got signed by a major label with a record deal to be announced) while managing his time with tours in Europe, US, and Brazil. He also teaches guitar at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA.
His previous album “Fading Away” (2020) was released through VizzTone Label Group. The album features Joe Bonamassa and it was produced by Josh Smith.
In 2022 and 2021, Artur was touring Europe and South America, playing Festivals and Clubs in Germany, France, Ireland, Belgium, Portugal, Poland, Romania and Estonia.
In 2019, Artur performed at the Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival after winning the Grand Prize in a contest promoted by Ernie Ball.
He also won Gibson/Albert King Award for Best Guitarist by the Blues Foundation and scored 3rd place at the 2018 International Blues Challenge in Memphis.
In 2020, Artur Menezes got his Green Card granted by the US based on his recognition and efforts on promoting the Blues.
In the US, he played at Doheny Blues Festival (biggest blues festival in California); regularly plays at the world famous The Baked Potato Jazz Club and headline at Cadillac Zack Presents the Blues in Southern California; headlined the Walla Walla Guitar Festival in Washington; played clubs in Florida, Texas and Tennessee.
In 2017, Artur shared the stage with Joe Satriani in a festival in Brazil for a 20 thousand people audience.
7 years ago, when he was still living in Brazil, Artur was the headline of numerous festivals. In 2014, headlined at Augustibluus Festival in Estonia and played clubs in the UK. In 2015, he toured twice in Mexico and in 2013 in Argentina.
In 2012, Artur played the opening shows for Buddy Guy in his South American tour in Brazil.
As an educator, Artur teaches guitar at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA and has online courses and masterclasses with TrueFire, JamPlay, JTC and Pickup Music.
Concerned about disseminating and expanding access to blues in Brazil, Artur was one of the founders of the society "Casa do Blues" (House Of Blues), which promotes weekly shows with free admissions, workshops and lectures about the Blues. He remained on the board of the project until early 2013.
Artur was a speaker at TEDx,, an annual event licensed by TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) in 2013, where personalities share their experiences and knowledge in presentations broadcast live on the Internet and later released on video, the TEDTalks accessible to billions of people worldwide.
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Event Venue
600 14th Street NW Washington DC 20005, 600 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20005-2002, United States,Washington D.C.
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