Journeyman doesn’t do Mark Newman service when describing his talents and voyage through the early decades of 21st-century music. He’s taken his gifts in many directions since embarking on his professional journey, enjoying success as both an accompanist and a solo performer. His tenure playing with legendary performers spanning the gamut from Sam Moore of the renowned Sam & Dave duo, The Yardbirds’ Jim McCarty, John Oates from Hall & Oates, Sam the Sham, and Bobby Whitlock, among others, has paid off handsomely.
TOUR DATES: https://marknewman.us/tour
It’s brought him untold artistic satisfaction while allowing him to share stages with performers such as Elvis Costello, Sting, and Travis Tritt. He currently tours intermittently with The Hitmen and the Roy Blumenfeld-led version of The Blues Project. His touring itinerary for April through June features dates touching on various aspects of his career. He’s appearing at The Paramount Founders Room in Huntington, New York April 4th with John Oates and Naomi Margolin. Late April has him booked with Margolin again in Oneonta, New York’s B Side Ballroom before he returns to his Big Apple stomping grounds for a show with his solo band at the famed Cutting Room on 44 East 32nd Street.
His multi-instrumentalist talents powered his numerous solo original releases. Fluent on electric, acoustic, and lap steel guitar, Newman is also an accomplished dobro and mandolin player. Singles such as “At the Border”, inspired by the plight of those fleeing the Ukraine war, a cover of Janis Ian’s “From Me to You”, and “Tulsa”, inspired by the 1921 race riots in that Oklahoma city, are among his most recent standalone achievements and testify to his considerable gifts.
His latest studio album Empirical Truth scored a Long Island Blues Society Best Album award in 2019. It was also the New York area’s entry in Memphis’ International Blues Challenge. Earlier releases such as 2006’s Must Be a Pony, 2010’s Walls of Jericho, and 2015’s live acoustic EP Brussels are notable peaks in a career that has moved from strength to strength since launching. Concertgoers will likely hear a generous sampling of that material at those aforementioned live dates and late May and early June concerts. His appearance with the Mark Newman Band at Lansdowne, PA’s Jamey’s House of Music is a prime spot to hear them, as is the following gig six days later at the Montauk Music Festival.
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His May 31st appearance with Little Feat tribute act Sailin’ Shoes at Amityville, New York’s The Warehouse highlights his musical range. He rounds off this spate of concerts with a night playing at Rosyln, New York’s famed My Father’s Place billed with Kerry Kearney in a Tribute to Robert Johnson. Mark Newman’s packed slate reflects the trust experienced musicians place in him to faithfully render live material, his enduring audience appeal, and the merits of his solo catalog. He’s deep into his musical journey, without question, but shows no signs of slowing down. Long may he run and play. This music “lifer” wouldn’t have it any other way.
Garth Thomas