Unique, intimate concert performances featuring artists from a variety of musical genres. Be sure to check the Concert Archives for photos, video and more from past events.
Mark Stuart
- Wednesday, May 21, 2014
- 7 pm - 8:30 pm
- Central Library
- Free, open to the public. No ticket required.
Rock, Blues, Country, and Folk
Mark Stuart’s 2014 tour will feature a rare segment of paying homage to some of the notable artists he has toured and recorded with in his earlier career as a sideman guitarist (Freddy Fender, Steve Earle, Joan Baez, Steve Forbert, and wife Stacey Earle). Along with anecdotes and tribute songs done in his own style Stuart will dazzle with his in-demand guitar playing and self-written tunes from his various albums.
About Mark Stuart
After growing up in Nashville, TN and playing professionally from age 15 on, Mark Stuart set his sights on being a recording/touring artist. Much of the time in the 1980s and 1990s he fronted his own roots music band in the US southeast. The rock, blues, country, and folk mixture that poured from his vocals/guitar/piano/songwriting defined him as being more versatile than most artists, musically speaking. At times, he took jobs as a guitarist for hire to get a respite from being a bandleader, front man, self-booking agent. This is how he became visible to some as a guitar wiz, instead of the singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist that he is. Some periods he toured with Texas legend Freddy Fender, or folk-rocker Steve Forbert. Then, there were stints with country-rocker Steve Earle (who became his brother in-law). While being an opening act (with wife, Stacey Earle) for folk icon Joan Baez, Stuart so enamored the headliner that she would bring him onstage during her show to showcase his guitar work. This took place nightly on a two month tour!
In 1998, Stuart and his wife made her first album on their own label, Gearle Records. Mark’s co-producer and guitar/vocal “stamp” was very present on Stacey Earle’s Simple Gearle CD. And, this lead to his own record Songs From A Corner Stage, the next release on their label. After touring hundreds of dates in the USA, Canada, UK, and Europe the couple decided (in 2001) to join forces as an official duo (Stacey Earle & Mark Stuart). Some two thousand concerts later, Mark has re-embarked on a solo career, as the duo is dormant.
In 2014, Mark Stuart is touring heavily and his performances are littered with great guitar pieces, self-penned songs from his solo records and duo records. Also, he does “tribute” songs to those notable artists he used to work for, and, includes fascinating stories about the experiences along the way. (www.markstuart.net)