“Slide Monsters!” celebrates blues slide guitar, bringing together three masters of the slide guitar style: Brian Lee, Billy Stapleton, and Kevin Sutton- backed by the Orbiters’ Mark Dalton and Russ Kammerer! Add the intimate and energetic setting of The Spar, and this is one great show you don't want to miss!
These Northwest slide guitar greats each have a unique and distinctive slide guitar voice, and together they’re a perfect compliment.
Billy Stapleton is a stellar guitar player in both slide and standard styles. Since 2002, he has been the guitarist with Little Bill & the Bluenotes - the band lead by Northwest legend, Blues Hall of Fame award winner, and Experience Music Project inductee, “Little Bill” Engelhart. Little Bill & The Blue Notes have won “Best Band” awards so many times that the award is now named the “Little Bill & the Bluenotes Traditional Blues Act” award! With Little Bill, Billy Stapleton has continued to grow to become a foremost exponent of the craft of the North West Guitar style - an amalgamation of Blues, Jazz, R&B, Gospel & Rock.
Prior to joining Little Bill Engelhart’s band, Billy performed for eight years with vocalist/harmonica great Mark Dufresne. During those years, the Mark Dufresne Band won multiple awards including Best Band, and with Billy specifically winning “Best Guitar” and “Best Slide Guitar” awards from the Washington Blues Society.
In addition to being featured on multiple Little Bill & the Bluenotes and Mark DuFresne recordings, Billy has recorded two solo CD’s including “Slide Swiped”, a collection of all-slide-guitar performances. Billy is a slide guitar force to be reckoned with! We’re talking jaw-dropping playing!
Kevin Sutton won the 2012 International Blues Challenge in Memphis Tennessee, as front man for the Wired Band!
He has also won numerous Washington Blues Society "Best of The Blues" awards, including induction to the Hall of Fame for Male Vocalist in 2015! His awards also include Blues Performer of the Year 2011,2012, 2013, Male Vocalist 2012, 2015, Songwriter of the Year 2011, and Best Blues Band 2011,2012, 2013, 2015.
Kevin currently plays with The Stacy Jones Band, and a new project "Kevin Sutton and the Northwest All-Stars". He also performs solo and as a duo with Mia Vermillion. Kevin also plays with all-star line up Hot Wired Rhythm Band including Polly O'Keary, Frank "Hotrod" Holman and Steve Sarkowski. He's one in demand guy... he's super on slide guitar, guitar, keyboards, and is an amazing vocalist and entertainer!
Brian Lee leads Brian Lee & the Orbiters, and the Brian Lee Trio. Brian & the Orbiters were honored in 2015, 2014, and 2013 with “Best of the Blues” awards from the Washington Blues Society for Best Traditional Blues Act. They have also recieved several awards in previous years, including Best Blues Act in 2014. Their Identity Theft album hit #1 for radio airplay among Washington bands on the Roots Radio report, and hit #15 in the Living Blues World Wide Blues Radio charts in 2012. Their current “In Orbit” album is receiving airplay around the world as well.
Backing the Slide Monsters are the truly excellent Orbiters rhythm section with Mark Dalton on bass, and Russ Kammerer on drums.
Don't miss this fabulous celebration of blues slide guitar at The Spar!!!
Age limit: 21+