The Vincent Hayes Project-2011 Blues Music Award Nominee

Artist Information

Biography

2011 Blues Music Award Nominee for "Best New Artist Debut"

2011 Blues Blast Award Nominee for "Best New Artist Debut" and "Rising Star Award" (Voting ends Aug 31, 2011)

2011 WYCE Jammie Award Recipient for "Best Album, Best Blues Album, Best Group, and Song of The Year!"

Led by Vincent Hayes on vocals and guitar, and fueled by one of the tightest rhythm sections in modern blues, the Vincent Hayes Project has recently been receiving world wide critical acclaim for their debut original CD release titled, "Reclamation." Nominated by The Blues Foundation in Memphis, TN for a prestigious 2011 Blues Music Award for "Best New Artist Debut", as well as the recipient of four 2011 WYCE Jammie Awards (Best Album, Best Blues Album, Best Group, Producer of the Year), the West Michigan based ensemble released "Reclamation in the spring of 2010 on Hayes's own independent label North 61 Records. By late May the disc had been added to regular rotation on a growing list of over 200 radio stations in ten different countries, including the nationally syndicated program "Blues Deluxe." In June, Reclamation made its debut on the National Living Blues Top 25 Radio Chart, where it spent two consecutive months during the summer of 2010, and also made the national Roots Radio Chart where it remained on the chart for most of the summer.

Finally, in September 2010 Reclamation debuted on "B.B. King's Bluesville" on Sirius/XM Radio Channel 74, fast becoming a favorite CD of legendary radio jock Pat St. John. In November it reached #4 as a "Pick to Click" on Blues Foundation President and Bluesville host Bill Wax's program "Rack of Blues", where the disc remains in regular rotation on the station.

After being a favorite solo acoustic blues performer on the Michigan club and festival circuit for nearly a decade, Hayes formed The Vincent Hayes Project in early 2004 as a blues power trio. In 2006 and 2007 they competed as semi-finalists in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN, and in 2007 the band was asked to back counter-culture icon John Sinclair as his band of "Blues Scholars" on a leg of his summer tour. They have also opened for Steve Miller Band, Ludicris, Joe Bonamassa, and more, and are fast becoming favorites on the club and festival circuits.

Live, the band has a reputation as a high-energy unit, driven by an unstoppable rhythm section featuring David "The Butcher" Alves on bass guitar and Donnie Hugley on percussion. Led by Hayes’s dynamic guitar work, and punctuated by a world class keyboard section comprised of Steve "Doc" Yankee and Christian Van Antwerpen, the five piece band's performances are dominated by powerful dynamics and lively showmanship inspired by the true greats.

The Vincent Hayes Project is on a mission to maintain respect for the roots of the genre, while remaining open to experimenting with the diverse array of influences within the band. This is a band equally at home in a traditional blues club as they are at a rock or jam festival. This is perhaps what best sets the band apart; the ability (and determination) to transcend cliches’ without dishonoring the essence of the blues, while being delivered in a powerful modern package by five seasoned professionals. Hayes says, "We play from the soul and not from the head, and each one of us is an integral part of the creative process, both live and in the studio.”

"Honest, sensitive blues, played with passion from a point of desperation with the huge intensity that should be required of any band to play the blues. GREAT.”
Vicente’ Zumel, La Hora del Blues

“(there is) a realism to the band that you soon learn applies to everything that they do. The lyrics aren't forced, and neither is the playing. The music is natural.” Fulltime Blues

Instrumentation

Steve "Doc" Yankee - keyboard
Christian VanAntwerpen - keyboard
Vincent Hayes - Guitar, Lead Vocals
Donnie Hugley - Drums/Percussion
Dave "The Butcher" Alves - Bass Guitar. backing vocals

Discography

"Reclamation"-North 61 Records
Released March, 2010

*Nominated for 2010 Blues Music Award in category of "Best New Artist Debut"

*Recipient of 4 WYCE Jammie Awards in the categories of "Best Album, Best Blues Album, Best Group, and Song of the Year"

*Reached #4 as a "Pick to Click" on BB King's Bluesville on Sirius/XM Channel 74. Remains in active daily rotation.

*Spent two consecutive months on the National Living Blues Radio Chart June/July 2010

*Added to July 4 playlist on Blues Deluxe program, syndicated nationally to over 100 stations in the US

*Airplay on over 200 terrestrial radio stations in 10 different countries (including US, Frand, UK, Autralia, New Zealand, Argentina, Spain, Canada, more)

*Top 10 Seller on CDbaby.com in the genre of Blues

* Number #1 Selling CD on CDbaby.com for entire genre of Electric Blues

*Now on Pandora Radio! get your own VHP Station now!

In the fall of 2009, the band enlisted Grammy winning producer/engineer Glenn Brown (Greg Nagy, Root Doctor, Spinal Tap, Larry McCray) to help them record “Reclamation.” Glenn also owns the infamous “Muscle Shoals” 1978 8098 Neve mixing board, which is the very console used on legendary recordings by Bob Dylan, The Allman Brothers, Eric Clapton, and countless others. The result is a big, warm sound, reminiscent of those early analogue Muscle Shoals recordings.

“Reclamation” is a blues record that will take you into the trenches of the tumbling Michigan economy, where the once thriving auto-industry has been laid to waste, and given rise to the highest unemployment rates in the U.S. This is what it feels like to live the life of a working blues man in the 21st century modern world of Middle America. This is blues from the heart, played with passion, and written with honesty, depth and wit.

Watch “The Making Of Reclamation”, the new short movie about The Vincent Hayes Project at: vimeo.com/north61

Available on CDbaby, iTunes, Pandora Radio, Airplay Direct, Amazon.com, and more!

Links

• Facebook
• Last.fm
• MySpace
• Twitter
• Reverb Nation

Audio

• Insecurities
  Listen  
• Thank-You Baby
  Listen  
• You Hit Me High
  Listen  
• Halfway Out the Door
  Listen  
• I Just Want To Get You High Tonight
  Listen  

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Vincent Hayes Project wins nomination for Blues Music Award [+ Show ]
  

  WEST MICHIGAN — It's one thing to release a great album that is received positively by the blues com...WEST MICHIGAN — It's one thing to release a great album that is received positively by the blues community. It's quite another when that album helps you win a nomination for the Blues Foundation’s Blues Music Award, recognized as the highest honor blues artists can receive.
  
  “It feels amazing, almost surreal,” said Hayes of being nominated. “This is something I've wanted to accomplish for 20 years, so I have to pinch myself sometimes.”
  
  When The Chronicle last covered Grand Haven resident Vincent Hayes and his band, Vincent Hayes Project, it was to report the release of “Reclamation,” an album that was five years in the making. Listen to clips.
  
  “Reclamation” was formally released at Muskegon's Alley Door Club last March, and was, in turn, well received across the blues board.
  
  “The ballot is balanced between familiar names ... and more than a dozen first-ever nominees,” said Jay Sieleman, executive director of the Blues Foundation in Memphis, Tenn. The Vincent Hayes Project is one of those, being nominated for Best New Artist Debut.
  
  Recognized in both Living Blues and Big City Blues magazines, “Reclamation” snagged the No. 6 spot on XM Radio’s “B.B. King's Bluesville” channel just a few weeks ago.
  
  “We were on the charts for about five weeks,” said Hayes. “We're still in rotation on that station as well. Now it's time to take Memphis by storm.”
  
  The Blues Foundation’s annual awards ceremony will be held at the Cook Convention Center in Memphis on May 5, 2011.
  
  Winners will be decided by user vote. Hayes fans can go to blues.org to register and vote.
  
  In addition to the Blues Foundation nomination, Vincent Hayes Project has been nominated four times by West Michigan radio station WYCE 88.1 FM for this year's state Jammie Awards. The nominations include Best Album, Best Blues Album, Best Group and Song of the Year for “Hit Me High, Hit Me Low” from “Reclamation.”
  
  The Jammie nominations include two categories where listeners can vote in support of the Vincent Hayes Project. Go to wyce.org to register and vote.
  
  “We're trying to encourage our friends and supporters to sign up and vote for us, so we can bring this glory home to West Michigan,” said Hayes.
  
  The band includes Hayes, lead vocals and guitar; former Muskegon Heights Fire Chief David Alves on bass; and Donny Hugley, also of Muskegon Heights, on drums. Keyboardists Steve “Doc” Yankee of Lansing and Christian Van Antwerpen of Ferrysburg joined the group during production of “Reclamation.”
  
  “Reclamation” producer Glenn Brown has been nominated for a Jammie Award as Best Producer of the Year.
  
  Copies of “Reclamation” can be purchased through the band’s website, www.vincenthayes.com.

• Greg Johnson [+ Show ]
  

  “Every year there seems to be at least one great guitar album that comes out and just slaps me full ...“Every year there seems to be at least one great guitar album that comes out and just slaps me full in the face and makes me take notice. This year it’s the Vincent Hayes Project. Reclamation just may be one of the most enjoyable albums I have heard all year long.
  
  What great songwriting and musicianship. Terrific rhythm section, killer keyboard players, superb guitar playing and well-written lyrics. These guys are smokin’ start to finish. Vincent Hayes can work those strings in spades.There is just nothing not to like about this disc. A follow-up cannot come quick enough for me!”

• Peter Blewzzman Lauro [+ Show ]
  

  "Great bass leads, hot percussion, and zealous organ. Had me holding my breath. Absolutely amazing w..."Great bass leads, hot percussion, and zealous organ. Had me holding my breath. Absolutely amazing work."

• Review of Reclamation
  

  "This is a CD that you must have in your collection!"

• Vicente’ Zumel [+ Show ]
  

  “Honest, sensitive blues, played with passion from a point of desperation with the huge intensity th...“Honest, sensitive blues, played with passion from a point of desperation with the huge intensity that should be required of any band to play the blues. GREAT.”

• Graham Clarke [+ Show ]
  

  “Hayes is an excellent guitarist and vocalist and the band is equally impressive in support. Reclam...“Hayes is an excellent guitarist and vocalist and the band is equally impressive in support. Reclamation is an exceptional set of modern blues.”

• John Mitchell
  

  “He is an excellent guitarist who can cover all parts of the blues repertoire with ease.”

• Gary von Tersch [+ Show ]
  

  “Inspired, persuasively pensive guitar work that might even cause Clapton to raise an eyebrow in app...“Inspired, persuasively pensive guitar work that might even cause Clapton to raise an eyebrow in appreciation. Two thumbs up!”
  
  "Few musicians these days can sustain that inner aura of moodiness that is at the core of the blues for ten minutes on even one album cut-here Hayes does it twice.”
  
  “Brilliant, cliché’ free lyrics”
  
  

Setlist

Currently touring in support of our debut original blues CD "Reclamation". Sets are a balance of high energy passionate originals and interpretations by artists such as Albert Collins, BB King, Buddy Guy, Freddie King, Marvin Gaye and more.

Basic Requirements

Calendar