Will Scott
New York City, New York, United States | SELF
Music
Press
Semi-finalist in Rock and Blues (You Said You'd Take Me To Spain, and Gnawbone) - International Songwriting Competition
Top 10 Blues Albums of 2011 (for Keystone Crossing) - Classic Rock Magazine
Nominee for Best Blues Song (results pending) for "Last Rest Stop" - Independent Music Awards
"Scott is gifted and innovative, a skilful and insightful songwriter with a fantastic voice. Deep and seductive, it adds further emotional resonance to already spine tingling compositions. A commanding performance - I loved him!" - Americana UK
"Will Scott's Keystone Crossing continues to stake his claim as America's most soulful country blues artist." (Four Stars) - Q Magazine
"Will Scott, his voice as thick as blood, sometimes accompanies with guitar; his weird liturgies bring out the pathos." - New York Press
...A remarkable artist, who knows good songwriting... Just Class!" - Blues Magazine, The Netherlands
"Gnawbone is a beauty... finished to perfection, both instrumental and vocal." - RootsTime Belgium
Top 50 tracks to download. "Indianan adds a tribal beat to his Delta blues and sounds like that ol’ hellhound isn’t too far off his trail. Few people manage to make the blues modern. Will Scott is one of them." - Q Magazine
"Scott has the unique ability to deliver a song vocally with the soul and passion that drives a song home. His vocal presence is astounding." - Americana Roots
"Top Ten best selling records of the year, 2009, at Music Matters" - Village Voice
"Gnawbone is a true Americana album with all of the early sounds of country, folk, rock and roll, and then there are modern twists to keep you on your toes... Chew on Gnawbone for awhile. It won't go stale." - FolkWax
"Will Scott’s debut studio solo recording draws on southern rock, blues and music akin to Jim Morrison of the Doors even, as he embraces everything that is good in Americana music... One of the most impressive new acts of his kind to come along in quite some time." - Americana UK
"It's the slightly twisted, even maverick nature of his original songs that's the most intriguing." - Folk and Roots
"Pure heavy duty Americana... a powerhouse vocal performance from Scott. That's the way to do it." - Blues in the Northwest
"Readers with a taste for Americana have probably already bought this album, and are enjoying it immensely!" (8/10) - Blues in Britain
"Keystone Crossing... shows off Scott's rich, deep, trembling voice in the very best possible light." (9/10 stars) - Americana UK
"It's the voice that gets you. A deep, dark, hurt thing, it compels you to listen, whatever story it's telling." - Rock'n'Reel
"Will Scott is [...] an eclectic master of all things Americana. His latest album Keystone Crossing is a characteristically dark, fearless, completely original mix of both acoustic and electric blues, oldtime country and gospel sounds. It’s the best thing he’s done, and it’s one of the best albums that’s come over the transom here this year." - LucidCulture
"Brings blues, country, gospel, and Western swing to the table and delivers cohesive, haunting results." (Four Stars) - Guitarist Magazine
"Once you've heard Will Scott it's hard to forget him... gutsy blues-tinged voice, distinctive guitar style and soulful songwriting" - The Guardian
Discography
"Too Damn Cold" (1998) with The Forecasters
"Solo Electric Blues" (2002)
"Gnawbone" (2009)
"Keystone Crossing" (2011)
Photos
Bio
Will Scott is known for his bluesy voice, distinctive guitar-playing, and crafty songwriting. Blending blues and Americana, Scott's music has captivated crowds all over the US and overseas. His energetic, soulful, live performances, and his acclaimed recordings have made Will Scott "one of the most impressive new acts of his kind to come along in quite some time" (Americana UK).
Raised in Indianapolis, IN, and Chicago, IL, Scott grew up in a musical family tradition, surrounded by a mix of blues, bluegrass, traditional country, jazz, and rock & roll. His first recording project, Too Damn Cold, with The Forecasters (1998) garnered international acclaim. (Will Scott has a good vibrato and a knack for surprises Blues Revue). Scotts first solo record, Solo Electric Blues, caught the attention of Ben Vaughn (That 70s Show, Third Rock) and other notables in the California music industry. While a home-cooked recording project, that album helped launch Scott into New Yorks music scene in 2002.
Scott's 2009 solo release, "Gnawbone, was produced by gold record recipient, Preacher Boy (Blind Pig Records, Eagle Eye Cherry). Featuring guest performances by Jolie Holland, Samantha Parton, and Jan Bell, "Gnawbone" was one of five album finalists in its category at the Independent Music Awards 2009. It continues to receive excellent reviews in the US and Europe.
In 2011, Scott released "Keystone Crossing" to critical acclaim in the UK and Europe. The recording features performances by some of the top West Coast musicians including Ben Peeler, Dave Piltch, Jerry Roe, and guest performances by John Lee Hooker veteran Deacon Jones and Dayna Kurtz. "Keystone Crossing" is scheduled for official US release in June.
Will Scott has shared the stage with respected and legendary artists including those listed above, Buddy Miller, Elizabeth Cook, Band of Heathens, Sam Myers (blues legend), Bubba Hernandez (two-time Grammy winner for Polka), Kent Burnside, and many others.
Scott is an icon of the New York roots music scene and tours regularly in the US and abroad. He was recently featured at both the Maverick and the Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival and is a two-time Glastonbury Festival veteran.
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