“With a shoot-from-the-hip Memphis attitude, and a STAX-busting explosion of modern blues vision, GTBB represents a welcome changing of the guard.” -Living Blues.
MEMPHIS, TN – Beale Street’s latest success story, BBMA 2015 Nominee for “Best Blues Band” and 2014 International Blues Challenge Runner-up 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 even a hip-hop trombone player.
Horns, harmonies and homegrown instruments combined with an energetic and roots rich festival set makes Ghost Town Blues Band one of the “must see live bands on the festival circuit today.” Both Preston McEwen behind the drums and Matt Karner on the bass guitar are a punishing rhythm section behind multi-instrumentalist/frontman Matt Isbell with raunchy cigar box guitar licks and raspy “Dr. John-like, whiskey and gravel-soaked vocals.” With the addition of Trombonist Suavo Jones, Jeremy Powell on keys and Taylor Orr on lead guitar, the grooves go from funky to “funk-nasty” as the band gains more notoriety in the blues festival and jam circuit. You can catch Ghost Town Blues Band all across North America at 17 different festivals this summer.
“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
GTBB 2016 Featured Tour Dates:
Wichita, KS – Wichita Blues Society Spring Blues Crawl 4/24
Memphis, TN – Beale Street Music Festival 4/29
Shreveport, LA – Mudbug Madness Festival 5/27
Gladstone, MO – Gladstone Blues Festival 6/4
Las Vegas, NV – The Cannery Rhythm & Blues Festival 6/11
Eureka Springs, AR – Eureka Springs Blues Weekend 6/17
Topeka, KS – Spirit of Kansas Blues Festival 7/4
Midland, TX – Tall City Blues Fest 7/9
Thorold, Ontario, Canada – Canal Bank Shuffle 7/14
Mt. Tremblant, Quebec, Canada – Festival Intl’ Du Blues De Tremblant 7/15
Norwich, NY – Chenango Blues Nights 7/21
Blenheim, Ontario, Canada – Shrewsbury Ribs & Blues Fest 7/23
Toronto, Ontario, Canada – Beaches Intl’ Jazz Festival 7/24
Madison, IN – Madison Ribberfest *opening for Johnny Lang 8/19
Morgantown, IN – Bean Blossom Blues Festival 8/26
Rockford, IL – Crossroads Blues Festival 8/27
Marquette, MI – Marquette Blues Festival 9/3
Albert-Stonewall, TX – Texas Cigar Box Guitar Festival 9/17
Springdale, UT – Zion Canyon Music Festival 9/23
San Francisco, CA – Biscuits & Blues 9/29-9/30
Brooksville, FL – Camping with the Blues at Live Oak 10/22
2015 BLUES BLAST AWARD NOMINEE for BEST BLUES BAND
2015 Support act for Steve Miller Band, John Mayall, Keb Mo, Bobby Rush, just to name a few.
2015 2 months in the top 20 on the LIVING BLUES CHARTS
2015 Top 10 on the Roots Music Report 8 weeks in a row
2014 International Blues Challenge 2nd Place
2013, 2014 & 2015 BEST OF MEMPHIS Nominee
2013 International Blues Challenge FINALIST
2011 # 17 on the Roots Music Report
2010 WINNER of the Independent Label Music Award (Europe)
2010 # 1 i-tunes Blues Song – Austria
Visit Ghosttownbluesband.com for more info
To check out some of Matt Isbell’s custom Cigar Box Guitars visit Memphiscigarbox.com