Artist name: John McGaraghan

Music style:

Famous Similar Artist(s): James Taylor, Steve Earle, Lyle Lovett, Ryan Adams

Artist Description: John's slant on acoustic songwriting revitalizes the classic sound of Americana music, and provides listeners with lyrics that go straight to the heart and mind and melodies to stir the soul. A combination of energy and intensity with simplicity and harmony helps John's songs transcend traditional musical boundaries, and garner nearly universal appeal. John's arsenal of instrumental abilities can be heard shining through on a host of recordings and performance associations, from countrified rock riffs and table steel guitar textures with King Harvest, to blistering rock guitar solos and acoustic country/bluegrass picking in Oversoul, to slinky lap steel sessions with San Diego's Pure Noodle, to singing and playing backup for groove and pop songs with the Redwood Project to shimmering mandolin, smooth keys, and heartwrenching vocals on his own solo recordings. Along the way this diverse set of talents has led John to share the stage with such artists as Lucinda Williams, Train, eastmountainsouth, Fishbone, Elvin Bishop, Merl Saunders, Vince Welnick, 311, The Untouchables, Zero, The Greyboy Allstars, Stroke 9, Ekhoostik Hookah, Pete and Alejandro Escovedo, Jambay, Hot Buttered Rum, New Monsoon, Calobo, Bill Magee, Tea Leaf Green, Jeff Berkley, Matt Curreri, The Seventh Day Buskers, The B-Side Players, Clyde's Ride, and Pure Noodle.

Musical influences: Drawing on varied influences such as bluegrass greats Bill Monroe, Doc Watson, and Ricky Skaggs, folk artists such as Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and James Taylor, alternative country pioneers like Lucinda Williams, Wilco, and Richard Buckner, as well as exper

Artist History: An accomplished and critically acclaimed California based singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, John McGaraghan has been playing original music for twenty years, both alone and with various ensembles. John's bands include San Diego's premeire

Members: John McGaraghan, occasionally featuring (in alphabetical order): Carolyn Balse: Violin Tanya Brown: Banjo, Vocals Matt Butler: Drums, Vocals Chris Haugen: Guitars, Weissenborn, Mandolin Bryan Horne: Upright Bass Zac Matthews:

Press reviews:

Instruments: guitar, dobro, mandolin, steel guitar, piano, organ, bass, drums

Album Names: Summertime In California, 2006; John McGaraghan & Lee Simpson Back in the Saddle, 2005; John McGaraghan LS, 2004; Lee Simpson (Songwriting) Ideas & Drafts, 2001; John McGaraghan King Harvest, 2000; King Harvest Alive & Pickin',

Artist's CD Sales Webpage: http://cdbaby.com/cd/oversoulmusic

Web site & Contact Info: http://www.johnmcg.com