The Nicholson Brothers Band

Deeply rooted in the blues, The Nicholson Brothers Band also pulls from R&B, Rock and Jazz. Growing up in the mountains of Virginia, brothers Mark and Steve Nicholson began playing music together in 1995. Mark’s guitar style is heavily influenced by the three Kings of Blues (Albert, Freddie, and B.B), and his vocals are reminiscent of Bobby Womack and Gregg Allman. As he immersed himself in blues history and culture, his brother/drummer Steve became interested in the infectious rhythms of Soul, Jazz, and World music. Drawing from such sounds as The Allman Brothers and Led Zeppelin, they rocked the club circuit in the Virginia mountains and the Shenandoah Valley with their Rock/Blues band “Midnight Sol”. Later teaming up with bassist Joel Kennedy, they formed the Nicholson Brothers Trio.

In early 2008, after gaining momentum and writing original songs, the band added jazz/blues guitarist Brian Mesko and singer Melissa Mesko from Nashville, TN. After studying jazz theory at a local University during high school, Brian earned a degree in Recording/Music Industry from Middle Tennessee State University. While living and playing in Nashville with many groups, he was able to share the stage with such jazz musicians as Les McCann, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Tony Monaco, John Jorgenson and Jeff Coffin. Melissa Mesko is a founding member of Oxford Mississippi favorite The Sweetbush Revival, who was honored back in 2004 to have an original song featured on the Beanland: Rising from the Riverbed DVD, which documents the rise of Beanland (the band that spawned Widespread Panic).

The Nicholson Brothers Band recently had the honor of sharing the stage with blues guitar legend, Bob Margolin, who was kind enough to let the guys sit in with him and the honor of opening for Bruce Katz at the Shenandoah Blues Festival 2010.