Ghost Town Blues

About this event:

Genre
Blues Funk Rock

Band Members
Matt Isbell- Vocals, Guitar
Suavo Jones- Trombone
Taylor Orr- Lead Guitar
Matthew Karner- Bass
Tim Stanek- Keys
Andrew McNeill- Drums

Hometown
Memphis

Record Label
Independent

About
2014 IBC Runner Up!
“With a Shoot-from-the hip Memphis attitude, & a STAX-busting explosion of modern blues vision.” – Living Blues Magazine

Biography
Beale Street’s latest success story and 2014 INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE 2nd Place Winner is Ghost Town Blues Band. Not your grandpa’s blues band, their live show has been captivating audiences in the U.S. and Canada with a second-line horn entrance, cigar box guitars and electric push brooms to Allman Brothers style jams and their rapping trombone player. Both Preston McEwen behind the drums and Matt Karner on the bass guitar are a punishing rhythm section behind frontman Matt Isbell with raunchy cigar box guitar licks and chainsaw rhythms. With the addition of Trombonist Suavo Jones, Jeremy Powell on keys and finally Josh Roberts on lead guitar, the grooves go from funky to funk-nasty as the band gains more notoriety in the blues and jam circuit.

Ghost Town Blues Band is a modern blues band with an intimate knowledge of both blues, rock and improvisational jams. At the same time, the band’s raw energy and intensity is reminiscent of some of the best blues that rock n’ roll has ever offered. The band can turn on a dime from North Mississippi hill country grooves to classic electric urban blues and funk and Allman Brothers style jams. This Memphis-based, gritty, seven-piece has been touring the US and Canada since its inception in 2009, gaining a strong following within the Blues and Jam Band circuit.

“GTBB shows what can happen when the past is distilled through young sensibilities, voices, and instruments. This is 21st century blues at its best.”
– Living Blues Magazine 2011

Awards
2015 Blues Blast Music Awards nominee (Best Band)

2014 International Blues Challenge 2nd Place

#18 Debut on Living Blues Charts

2013-2015 BEST OF MEMPHIS Nominee

2014 Best of Yelp nominee

2013 International Blues Challenge Finalist

2010 WINNER of the Independent Label Music Award (Europe)

# 1 on i-tunes – Austria Oct 2010

Current Location
Memphis, TN

Influences
Robert Johnson, BB King, Kenny Hayes, Jimi Hendrix, Allman Brothers, Howlin’ Wolf, W.C. Handy, Hubert Sumlin, Herbie Hancock, Albert King, Buddy Guy, R.L. Burnside, North Miss Allstars, Derek Trucks, Warren Haynes, Thelonius Monk, Muddy Waters, Screamin Jay Hawkins, Booker T and the MGs, Memphis Slim, T-Bone Walker, Eric Clapton, Gov’t Mule