Hootie and the Blowfish co-founder, guitarist’s new
collection is culled from three-year blog project showcasing Charleston, SC
music.
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Mark Bryan as photographed by Jonathan Boncek.
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Mark Bryan – Live
8/10/2017: Charleston, SC @ The Windjammer (Record Release Show)
8/11/2017: Charleston, SC @ Volvo
Car Stadium (Hootie and the Blowfish)
8/12/2017: Charleston, SC @ Volvo
Car Stadium (Hootie and the Blowfish)
9/7/2017: New York, NY @ Rockwood Music Hall
9/8/2017: Vienna, VA @ Jammin' Java
9/9/2017: Hershey, PA @ Music on Chocolate
9/8/2017: Vienna, VA @ Jammin' Java
9/9/2017: Hershey, PA @ Music on Chocolate
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As the co-founder and guitarist for the two-time
Grammy winning, nearly 20-million album selling band Hootie and The Blowfish, Charleston, South Carolina-based musician Mark Bryan’s playing was ubiquitous in
1995. Hootie’s Cracked Rear View earned
the biggest album sales of any release that year, and is now ranked as one of the
biggest selling albums in music history.
Success at that level brings all sorts of
pre-conceptions, so when first hearing the tunes on Bryan’s upcoming third solo album Songs of The Fortnight, (August 11th, Chucktown Music Group), listeners will
be surprised at the down-to-Earth songwriting that sounds like Southern
hospitality.
After Hootie
went on semi-hiatus almost a decade ago – the band will convene for a hometown
two-night stand in mid-August – Bryan
became passionate about producing other artists, which led to a prominent role
supporting the Charleston music scene. Indeed, ask anyone in the Charleston
music community about Bryan, and
they'll say, “Oh, everyone around Charleston knows Mark!”
As Bryan
began to amass dozens of production credits, he also started to record and
release songs on the fly – first his own, and then those of other artists he
was working with. This led to the launch of the “Song of the Fortnight” blog, where Bryan posted a new song of his own, or an artist he was playing
with or producing, every two weeks, for three years.
Eventually, there was enough material for an album,
which comprises the 11 songs on Songs of the Fortnight. The album
features ten Bryan originals, and an
opening cut that is another nod to Bryan’s
ease at throwing the spotlight; a barn-burning cover of Scruffy The Cat’s college radio favorite “Mybabyshe’sallright” (featuring frequent REM collaborator Peter
Holsapple on harmonica.)
In fact, Songs of the Fortnight functions as
somewhat of a capper – the “Song of the
Fortnight” blog could have continued indefinitely if Bryan hadn’t received an offer to work for the College of
Charleston, but the opportunity was right in line with his interest and
continuing passion for elevating the local music community.
Furthering his community efforts, Bryan also teamed up with the esteemed local venue, the Charleston Music Hall to launch a
television show “Live at the Charleston
Music Hall,” which recently
won a regional Emmy Award, and
he is also heavily involved in Carolina
Studios, a non-profit recording studio that allows children in low-income
areas to have a songwriting and recording experience free-of-charge. Bryan also brings his unique
perspective on the industry to his work managing the emerging Charleston-based
rock band Stop Light Observations.
“Charleston is an amazing city in the middle of a
remarkable renaissance,” Bryan says
of his adopted hometown. “I’m lucky to be part of its growth.”
Mark Bryan’s third album Songs of the Fortnight arrives August 11th via the artist’s
own Chucktown Music Group. Bryan is available for interviews.
Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic for more information.
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Mark Bryan
Songs
of the Fortnight
(Chucktown Music Group)
August 11th, 2017
Track Listing:
01. Mybabyshe’sallright
02. If You Saw Her (SOUNDCLOUD
| MP3)
03. Almost Loved Me
04. A Little Bit of Everything
05. The Great Beyond
06. Forgetting About Me (SOUNDCLOUD
| SPOTIFY | APPLE | MP3)
07. Whole Lotta Lovin’ (feat. Hank Futch)
08. Sweet Love (feat. Kathy Dempf)
09. Only Love Can Satisfy
10. A Song For Maryland
11. Maybe Then (Acoustic)
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Mark Bryan Links
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Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic Promotion
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