Harmonica-slinger extraordinaire Mark The Harper returns to the stage in his first post-pandemic gig, with a hot new band! Mark was one of foremost harmonica-playing frontmen on the NY Blues scene from the late 1980’s through the early 2000s’, playing every important Blues venue in the Tri-State area, and some European music festivals. His album Man on a Mission, on the independent Turquoise City label, received airplay on college stations in the US and abroad, along with critical acclaim. Mark has sat in with many international artists including Warren Haynes, Bo Diddley, Robert Randolph, Sugar Blue, Dread Zeppelin, Jimmy Vivino, Eddy Clearwater, Tinsley Ellis, The Kinsey Report, Shemekia Copeland, Lonnie Brooks, and opened up for such notables like Koko Taylor, Gatemouth Brown, and Max Creek.
Guitarist Alexander Rastopchin, who hails from Beylarus was a lead guitar player for Russia’s premier supergroup, Pisnyari Песняры and performed all over the world, until he immigrated to the US and joined up with Mark in the mid 90’s. He’s recorded and produced many albums, and dozens of music videos. He also designs and builds custom amplifiers and effect pedals for the discerning musician.
Mark and Alexander are joined by bassist “Mad Kat” Arevalo & drummer Jeremy Driesen.
“Mad Kat”, was a preeminent rock bassist in her native city of Bogota Columbia. She performed with some of the most accomplished bands in that city, winning best bass player award in 2020, and is endorsed by Ibanez. She has her own solo project here in NYC.
Jeremy studied music at Berklee and has performed with a multitude of artists over the last 4 decades, including Billy Idol, Darlene Love. Lesley Gore, and the Spencer Davis Group.
MTH & Friends repertoire draws from Mark’s original blues and blues rock compositions, as well as from Blues artists like Muddy Waters, Little Water, Taj Mahal, Sonny Boy Williamson II, J. Geils Band, Canned Heat, and classic Rock from Chuck Berry, Rolling Stones, Hendrix, Creedence, Grateful Dead, The Funky Meters, and others. You will not be disappointed and will want to dance the night away!
www.marktheharper.bandcamp.com
www.facebook.com/marktheharper
www.youtube.com/marktheharper/videos
www.youtube.com/rastop1/videos
www.youtube.com/MadKat
