LIGHTNIN’ GUY Winner Belgian Blues

Challenge 2011

HIGH INTENSITY ROOTS Slide Guitar & Harmonica

Active member of the

Media Kit ENGLISH - 2012

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LIGHTNIN’ GUY IN 2012 It sounds like a dusty cliché but Lightnin 'Guy is "the hardest working performer" of the Belgian blues & roots scene. Since last year he also regularly played concerts at several European venues and toured in France, Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, Spain and Slovakia. His last album "The Banana Peel Sessions" was in 2011 the best selling Blues album of Belgium. EUROPEAN BLUES CHALLENGE BERLIN (DE) In October 2011 Lightnin' Guy won the Belgian Blues Challenge with 41% of the votes and represented Belgium at the European Blues Challenge ‘12 in Berlin. Because of his growing popularity these concerts were incorporated in a bigger tour through Germany. DIXIEFROG RECORDS (FR) At end of 2011 Lightnin' Guy signed with the prestigious French record company Dixiefrog Records. He is one a of the few Belgian blues artist who were offered the chance to record for this label. Lightnin’ Guy now is part of the same record label as Sonny Landreth, Eric Bibb, Duke Robillard, Joe Louis Walker, Poppa Chubby, Magic Slim, Kenny Neal, ... NEW CD/DVD: LIGHTNIN’ GUY PLAYS HOUND DOG TAYLOR On August 6, 2011 Lightnin' Guy recorded his new live CD/DVD "Lightnin' Guy Plays Hound Dog Taylor" in the Borderline Diest (BE). By playing the music of Hound Dog Taylor in the same setting and style; Lightnin' Guy honors with this album his slide guitar hero and inspiration. This album and videos are the perfect alternative to experience the magic and energy of a Hound Dog Taylor concert. Dixiefrog Records released the CD/DVD in February 2012 in collaboration with Parsifal Records. PLANS 2012 • Blues in Schools: is an educational music program for schools about the history of the blues. • European Tour Lightnin 'Guy & the Mighty Gators: After intensive touring in Belgium, the band will mainly focus to play shows in Europe. • Tour with Lightnin' Guy Plays Hound Dog Taylor: The CD/DVD release of Lightnin' Guy Plays Hound Dog Taylor is accompanied by an intensive • Solo CD "Blood For Kali": The release of his solo CD is scheduled for September 2012 and will be followed by a European solo tour in October. • Recording the first Studio CD: In the autumn of 2012 Lightnin 'Guy will record his first long awaited studio album, which will appear early 2013. • Blues Jam Sessions: To give young musicians opportunities to play and socialize with experienced musicians, Lightnin’ Guy organizes in his hometown Ghent every 1st Wednesday of the month an electric blues jam and every 3rd Wednesday of the month an acoustic blues jam. In this media kit you will find all necessary information about Lightnin' Guy. Nico A. Mertens Parsifal Records

THE BLUES IS A VITAL ORGAN!

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PROJECTS LIGHTNIN’ GUY & THE MIGHTY GATORS Lightnin’ Guy & the Mighty Gators are currently Belgian’s blues pride and deliver show after show a high energy genuine foot stompin’ blues & roots music experience. By playing in the ‘Louisiana swamp & Chicago slide & harp’-tradition, the band always succeeds in making everybody dance and sing along to their tight, groovy, honest riffs & licks. Lightnin' Guy is not only an excellent musician & singer, but also an all-round entertainer. It does not matter for whom he plays nor where he plays with his Mighty Gators, people always start shaking their asses and having a mighty good time. Laissez le Bon Ton Roulet!!! After countless shows in Belgium & Holland, the band started to knock on Europe’s blues door. in March ‘12 the band represented Belgium at the European Blues Challenge in Berlin (DE). Line Up

• Lightnin’ Guy Verlinde: vocals, slide guitar & harmonica • Willy Devleeschouwer: guitar (Louisiana Red, Kenny Neal, Joe Louis Walker, Ana Popovic,

Zora Young, ...) • Karl Zosel: bass (K’s Choice, Boogie Boy, Raymond van het Groenewoud, …) • Thierry Stievenart: drums (Maxwell Street Blues Band, Bill Roseman, Phil Clayton, …) • On request

Patrick Cuyvers: hammond (Lurrie Bell, Sister Monica, Dallas Hodge, Phil Guy, James Harman, …) LIGHTNIN’ GUY PLAYS HOUND DOG TAYLOR

“Hound Dog Taylor & the Houserockers” were all about rhythm and groove. Taylor’s slide guitar style was raw and wild. The choice for Brewer Phillips on rhythm guitar (instead of a bass player) & Ted Harvey on drums, resulted in the deepest and roughest house rockin’ blues in Chicago. From the late '50s through the mid '70s they probably played more gigs than any other band in town; always playing till late at night, making people party & forget their troubles. Lightnin’ Guy pays tribute to Hound Dog Taylor by playing his music in the same setting as he did. Songs as: Take Five, Hawaiian Boogie, It’s Alright, Give me Back My Wig, Let’s Get Funky, Sadie … all are on the playlist. If you never got the chance to see “the Dog” live; this is a perfect alternative to recapture the magic of a Hound Dog Taylor concert. Line Up

• Lightnin’ Guy Verlinde: vocals & slide guitar • Bart “Brewer Jr.” Mulders: rhythm guitar (Gene Taylor, James Harman, Keith Dunn, …) • Erik “King Berik” Heirman: drums (Studebaker John, Super Chikan, …)

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LIGHTNIN’ GUY SOLO It all started with an acoustic guitar & a harp. And though Lightnin’ Guy never picked cotton in the fields, but he surely had his share of bad luck and trouble, happiness and hope. You can hear these feelings and thoughts in his contemporary acoustic blues songs, with deep roots ranging from Flanders’ clay, over the Mississippi Delta to the swamps of Louisiana. Lightnin’ Guy not only writes in the style of the old Delta Masters, but also is strongly influenced by contemporary songwriters as Chris Whitley, Ben Harper, Xavier Rudd & John Butler. Of course he also honors during his solo shows the huge blues legacy by digging up some old songs people forgot about or which never hit the charts. During his acoustic shows Lightnin’ Guy takes his audience back to the roots of his musical career and plays a variety of resonator guitars, a weissenborn guitar, diatonic & chromatic harps and an old suitcase as a bass drum. An acoustic show is ideal for a small pub or to give an extra touch to a brunch, dinner or reception. BLUES IN SCHOOLS

Blues is generally regarded as the cradle of modern pop and rock music. Born from the Working Songs of the African-American slaves in the cotton fields of Mississippi, and considered as the "Devil's" party music of the Chicago blues clubs; this musical style formed the basis of the soul, funk, disco and rock & roll music. The Blues was the inspiration of many pop and rock musicians from the past like Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, James Brown, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, ... but also contemporary stars like Lady Gaga, Amy Winehouse, Adele, Eric Clapton, The White Stripes, Foo Fighters, Lenny Kravitz, ... The "Blues in Schools" project is an educational musical program where Lightnin 'Guy gives young people an overview of the different styles (Delta Blues, Chicago Blues, ...), the most influential musicians (Muddy Waters, BB King, ...), the most important instruments (guitar, harmonica, ...) and highlights the socio-cultural background with stories and anecdotes. Each story is illustrated by live played musical examples. The Blues gave Lightnin 'Guy so much in his life. Now it is time to give something back, by teaching young people about the blues. Hopefully like that he can pass on his passion for the blues to a new generation.

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HIGHLIGHTS 2011

• Shows @ Reigen Vienna (AT), Sang A klang Luxembourg (LUX), Laboratorium Stuttgart (DE), Chorus Blues Douzy (FR), M.O.B. Bratislava (SK), Labadoux Festival Ingelmunster (BE), Blues on the River Rotterdam (NL), Jazz Festival Breda (NL), Fonnefeesten Lokeren (BE), Jazz & Blues festival Gouvy (BE), Wespelaar Swingt Wespelaar (BE), Banana Peel Ruiselede (BE), Culemborg Blues Culemborg (NL),

• Shared the stage with: Sherman Robertson (US), Canned Heat (US), Memo Gonzales (DE), Ian Siegal (UK), Johnny Mastro & Mama’s Boys (US), John Primer (US), Hook Herrera (US), Hendrik Freischlader (DE), …

• Toured with Studebaker John (US), Guy Forsyth (US) & Aminata Seydi (S) • Played in Holland, Germany, Spain, France, Luxembourg, Slowakia & Austria • 15/12: Record deal with French label Dixiefrog Records • 06/11: Endorsement deal with Eastwood Guitars • 17/10: First “Blues in Schools” show in La Louvière (BE) • 16/10: Winner of the Belgian Blues Challenge with 41% of the votes • 06/08: Recording CD/DVD “Lightnin’ Guy Plays Hound Dog Taylor” at the Borderline - Diest (BE)

2010

• Played @ Bluesfestival Kwadendamme (NL), Swing 2010 Wespelaar (BE), Nuit du Blues Charleroi (BE), Blues at the Attic Herent (BE), Blues in Schoten (BE), Oetslovenblues (BE), Gentse Feesten Gent (BE), Bluescruise Dordrecht (NL), Tramblues Mortsel (BE), Jazz by Duurstede (NL), Fiesta City Verviers (BE), Bluesfestival Acosse (BE), …

• Shared the stage with: Canned Heat (US), Eddie C. Campbell (US), Sherman Robertson (US), Joe Louis Walker (US), The Fabulous Thunderbirds (US), Enrico Crivellaro (IT), Carvin Jones (US), Chris Jagger (UK), Dr. Feelgood (UK), The NightHawks (US), R.J. Mischo (US), …

• Played in Holland, Luxembourg & Austria • 30-31/08: Recording Live CD: Banana Peel feat. Guy Forsyth • 11/04: First acoustic show @ The Lane Oostburg (NL) • 01/04: 8 page interview in Belgian Magazine Back to the Roots

2009

• Played @ Blues Peer Festival (BE), Gouvy Jazz-Blues Festival (BE), Bluesplein ‘09 Eindhoven (NL), Goorblues Gooreind (BE), Borderline Diest (BE), Blues Conncection Rijen (NL), Nuit du Blues Montignies-Sur-Roc (BE), L’esprit (Rotterdam (NL),

• Shared the stage with: John Fogerty (US), Jeff Beck (UK), Steve Winwood (US), Derek Truck (US), John Mayall (UK), Kenny Barron (US), Sonny Rhodes (US), Carvin Jones (US), James Harman (US) Watermelon Slim (US), …

• Toured in Holland & Austria • 01/10 Release of “Live From the Heart“ on the Blue Sting Label of Parsifal Records • 09/09: Signed the record deal with Parsifal Records

2008

• 01-02/11: Recording 1st album “Live from The Heart” • 18-26/10: Tour Austria (AT) • 11/05: First show @ Monmartre Club Brussels (BE) • 12/02: Lightnin’ Guy founds Lightnin’ Guy & the Mighty Gators

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BIOGRAPHY THE BEGINNING Lightnin' Guy was born on the 22nd of March 1976 as Guy Verlinde in a small village near Bruges. As a child he was always obsessed with music: making his own toy guitars, being a bedroom dj, singing in the church choir, being a local playback star, playing in the local harmony … But it all started to fall into place once he bought his first guitar and harp at the age of 16. After moving to Bruges, he discovered the blues through the massive record collection of a friend’s father. Soon after he founded his first band Smokin’ Chillums at the age of 17. They played intensively the Belgian & Dutch blues scene for 6 years. Because of his energetic performances his fans gave him the nickname “Lightnin’ Guy”. MIYAGI SAN Every talent needs a master, a guide and a bullshit detector. After moving to the city of Ghent, he met slide guitar player Marino Noppe of the legendary bluesband Maxwell Street. He spent countless hours in his house, listening to old vinyl & blues stories, playing his old vintage guitars, … With Marino he learned everything about being a blues musician. As the backing guitar player of Maxwell Street he toured through the States and Europe playing with Hash Brown, Johnny Moeller and Louisiana Blues legend Roscoe Chenier. HARPIN’ Together with Marino Noppe he started the band Mo’ Rice where Lightnin’ Guy for the first time really focused on the blues harp. During that time he developed himself as an energetic harp player influenced by Sonny Boy Williamson II, Junior Wells, James Cotton and Lester Butler, who had a big impact on his playing.

SLIDIN’ Since he started playing the guitar, Lightnin’ Guy felt attracted to the slide guitar. First influenced by Chris Whitley and later blown away by Hound Dog Taylor it became clear that this was his path to walk. Even though he incorporated the soul of the traditional slide guitar players as Fred McDowell, Bukka White, Elmore James … he also got inspired by contemporary artists like John Mooney, Anders Osborne, Sonny Landreth, Ben Harper and John Butler. HIGH ENERGY PERFORMER As his slide & harp style are very emotional, unique & authentic, a Lightnin’ Guy show is always very energetic. As he says:“ In a world of plastic & virtuality, people want real things“. A Lightnin’ Guy show is all about energy and total surrender to the audience. This makes him a real crowd pleaser.

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DISCOGRAPHY Lightnin’ Guy Plays Hound Dog Taylor 2012 © Copyright Dixiefrog Records –DFGCD8718 “Hound Dog Taylor & the Houserockers were all about rhythm and groove. Lightnin’ Guy pays tribute to his slide guitar hero & inspiration by playing his music in the same setting as he did. This album and video’s are a perfect alternative to recapture the magic of a Hound Dog Taylor concert.”

1. Take Five 2. Taylor’s Rock 3. Sadie 4. She’s Gone

5. Hawwaiian Boogie 6. Roll Your Money Maker 7. Freddie’s Blues 8. Let’s Get Funky

9. 55th Street Boogie 10. Wild About You Baby 11. You Can’t Sit Down

Banana Peel Sessions Ft. Guy Forsyth 2010 © Copyright Parsifal –Blue Sting 046 “Guy became a lot more than only a bluesman. This live record shows a versatile all rounder, dyed in the wool of a wide range of southern American musical styles”

1. Love Light Shine 2. Soul Jivin’ 3. Fallin’ For You 4. Poison 5. If You Walk With The Devil

6. No Time To Waste 7. Long Distance Shuffle 8. Lovestrong 9. To Be With You 10. I Will Rise

11. Me & My Blues 12. Rock & Roll on My Radio 13. Crazy ‘Bout My Baby

Live From The Heart 2009 © Copyright Lightnin' Guy & the Mighty Gators “Live from the Heart’ is a powerful live album and takes you on a trip from Chicago to New Orleans. 15 steaming songs in 80 min. perfectly capture what an audience experiences during a Lightnin' Guy & the Mighty Gators show”

1. Highway King 2. Goin’ Down 3. Cut You Loose 4. Ain't No Sunshine 5. Congo Square

6. Automatic 7. Gator Bop 8. Out Of The Rain 9. Junko Partner 10. Gone Pecan

11. Nine Below Zero 12. Linda Lu 13. Hip Shake 14. Do That Boogie 15. Bon Ton Roulet

Lookin’ Back 2008 © Copyright Lightnin' Guy “Lookin’ Back reflects Lightnin’ Guy’s development as a young blues & roots artist. This album is a selection of studio, live & previously unreleased songs recorded between 1998 & 2008.”

1. Hipshake 2. Lovestrong 3. Howlin’ For My Darlin’ (Live) 4. I Rather Feel Lonely Tonight 5. Rock & Roll On My Radio 6. Bankstreet (Live)

7. Here I Am 8. Crosscut Saw (Live) 9. My Thoughts Are Flowin’ 10. Mellow Down Easy 11. Bottle Up & Go (Live)

12. Just Your Fool 13. Shavin’ Sideburns (Live) 14. Look What You Do To Me 15. Broke & Hungry (Live) 16. Smokestatic Buzz

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CONTACT: WWW.LIGHTNINGUY.COM Lightnin’ Guy: Guy Verlinde info@lightninguy.com www.lightninguy.com www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1024658762

Record Companies: Parsifal Records Dixiefrog Records info@parsifal.be dixiefrog.pl@wanadoo.fr www.parsifal.be www.bluesweb.com

General Management: R&S Music 0032 495 320 310 contact@blueboxprod.fr www.blueboxprod.fr

Bookings France: Concert Büro Loesche France 0033 6 08 81 17 87 jpblues11@orange.fr www.concertbueroloesche.de

Bookings Holland: King Bee Music Gerda van Eldik 0031 06 20181528 0031(0)183 623608 info@kingbeemusic.nl 0031(0)6 33826486 www.kingbeemusic.nl gerdavaneldikpr@gmail.com

Bookings Germany: King Bee Music 0031 06 20181528 info@kingbeemusic.nl www.kingbeemusic.nl

Bookings Spain & Portugal: SP Bizz Producciones 0034 678 719910 javier@bizzproducciones.com www.bizzproducciones.com

Guitar Endorsement: Eastwood Guitars UK eastwoodguitars@gmail.com http://www.eastwoodguitars.co.uk

MORE THAN JUST A ROOTS ARTIST It becomes obvious that Lightnin’ Guy is far more than just another blues & roots artist. His live shows are a truly unique experience for the audience. Always excelling himself, he gives the audience the time of their lives. And now after Belgium & Holland he’s ready to conquer the European stages ...