Biography
2006 Cape Fear Blues Society Blues Challenge Winners
2007 International Blues Challenge Top 10 Finalists
2007 Disc Maker's Independent Music World Series Finalist as selected by the editors of Billboard Magazine
2007 Charlotte Blues Society Blues Challenge Winners
2008 International Blues Challenge Semi-finalist
2008 Southern Fried Blues Society Blues Challenge Winners
2009 International Blues Challenge Semi-Finalist
Regular rotation on Sirius/XM Radio: BB KING'S BLUESVILLE channel 74:
#1 Pick to Click for the week of March 14, 2009
Latest release, "Oktibbeha County," spent 16 weeks on the AMA Charts: peaking at #20 for the weeks of March 9th & March 16th 2009
If blues music grows and expands its audience over the coming years it will be bands like WSNB leading the way. The WSNB sound flirts with swampy rock and roll and soul while keeping a deep blues root running through its core. This ain't your mama and daddies blues. The twin leads from guitarist Nate Brown and harpist Willie Shane Johnston create a signature sound that’s topped off by vocals from Willie Shane that are as unique and soulful as the great Bobby Blue Bland. Rounding out the lineup is the rock solid rhythm section of Clay Ford on bass and Jason Gardner on drums.
Two things jump out when listening to Jomo Swamp Root Boogie, the debut release from WSNB. First is the distinct musical sound. No other band sounds like this band. Second are the wonderfully written songs. In years gone by blues was a music of protest, of heartache, of loss, of hope, of celebration. There was always a message in the music. In a time where most new blues cds are one cliché song after another, WSNB has put the message back into the song. Whether the songs are of protest, like Honeywell, despair and anger over Katrina (In A Bowl), stories of a Mississippi voodoo priestess (Cascilla) , or the slow burning blues of 3 O’clock questioning love, there is nothing cliché about the music of WSNB.
Festivals and Appearances
CANAL BANK BLUES SHUFFLE: Thorold, Ontario, Canada
JAZZASPEN SNOWMASS LABOR DAY WEEKEND FESTIVAL: Snowmass, Colorado
FLAT ROCK MUSIC FESTIVAL: Flat Rock, North Carolina
INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE (2007 Top 10 Finalist): Memphis, Tennessee
FRENCH BROAD RIVER FESTIVAL: Hot Springs, North Carolina
DISC MAKERS - INDEPENDENT MUSIC WORLD SERIES (2007 Top 6 Finalist): Nashville, Tennessee
XM SATELLITE RADIO STUDIOS: Washington, DC
SUNRISE BLUES CRAWL: Southern Pines, North Carolina
STEPPIN' OUT FESTIVAL: Blacksburg, Virginia
MATTHEWS ALIVE! LABOR DAY WEEKEND FESTIVAL: Matthews, North Carolina
HOT SPRINGS BLUES FESTIVAL: Hot Springs, Arkansas
DAY-GLO MUSIC FESTIVAL: Golden Valley, North Carolina
ART OF SOUND - FOOT O' THE HILLS FESTIVAL: Shelby, North Carolina
HICKORY HOPS BREWFEST: Hickory, North Carolina
SPRINGING THE BLUES FESTIVAL: Jacksonville Beach, Florida
EUREKA SPRINGS BLUES WEEKEND: Eureka Springs, Arkansas
BELE CHERE FESTIVAL: Asheville, North Carolina
COW PIE BLUES FESTIVAL: Caledonia, Michigan
CINCINNATI BLUES FESTIVAL: Cincinnati, Ohio
CAROLINA DOWNHOME BLUES FESTIVAL: Camden, South Carolina
COLUMBIA BLUES FESTIVAL: Columbia, South Carolina
Instrumentation
Clay Ford - Bass Guitar
Nathan Brown - Guitars
Jason Gardner - Drums
Willie Shane Johnston - Vocals & Harmonica
Discography
"JOMO SWAMP ROOT BOOGIE" - All original songs + 1 cover - released Feb. 2007
"OKTIBBEHA COUNTY" released Dec. 2008 - To hear a track from the cd, go to www.myspace.com/wsnb
Links
| http://www.wsnbmusic.com |