In 2011 British Blues Guitarist Mick Clarke continues to play live dates with his band, promoting his new album "the Rambunctious Blues Experiment" as well as working on the fourth album release for Killing Floor. In 2009 he released "Solid Ground" his twelth solo album, and he has also recently re-issued six of his previous albums on BGO Records.
Recent live dates have included a return to Scandinavia for the Norretljes Blues and Rock Festival near Stockholm, Sweden, and London shows with SALT, Mick's 70s blues rock band formed with Stevie Smith - the first new SALT gigs for 33 years.
Upcoming live shows include club dates for the MICK CLARKE BAND in Belgium and Switzerland, as well as a second SALT re-union tour in September.
Mick began his solo career in the early 80s and has become an established name on the European scene, touring regularly in every country from Finland down to Italy. Praised for his fiery "straight from the wood" guitar sound, he has appeared on numerous festivals with artists such as Robert Cray, Johnny Winter and the late Rory Gallagher.
Recent tours have included appearances at the Baden Blues Festival in Switzerland, "Rock at Sea" in Stockholm, Sweden, Harelbeke Rock and Blues in Belgium and the Bragdoya Blues Festival in Norway. In 2005 Mick headlined the Saturday night at the Great British R&B Festival in Colne, England as part of the British Blues All Stars.. also featuring Kim Simmonds and Maggie Bell.
Mick has also toured several times in the U.S.A. and appeared with artists such as Johnny Winter,Canned Heat, Big Jay McNeely and C.J.Chenier plus rock shows with Foghat, Savoy Brown and the Paladins. The Southern California Blues Society called him "One of the finest blues players to come out of England".
Mick began his career with Killing Floor part of the British blues boom of the late 60s. The band backed Texas blues guitar star Freddie King and toured with legends such as Howlin' Wolf and Otis Spann. . In 2003 the original band got together again to record a brand new CD, and in January 2004 Killing Floor released "Zero Tolerance" - its first new album for 32 years. The band has now begun to play selected festival appearances around Europe, and a fourth album is currently in production.
In the mid 70s Mick co-formed SALT a powerful blues-rock act who were a big hit on the London scene in the 70s playing regularly at the Marquee and other top venues. The band played at the Reading Festival and also opened for Muddy Waters at two major London concerts. SALT has also reformed for occasional re-union tours.
Micks first solo album Looking For Trouble came out on the Italian label Appaloosa in the early 80s and sold well. More albums quickly followed including West Coast Connection recorded in Portland, Oregon with local musicians. Recent releases have been on the German label Taxim, including the classic "No Compromise",and "Happy Home" on Mick's U.S. label Burnside features just Mick with Lou Martin on piano and some old favourite songs. "Live in Luxembourg" is Mick's first ever live album, recorded in 2002 at the "Big Blues" in Luxembourg, and the 2007 "Solid Ground" contains thirteen brand new original blues rock compositions.
Mick's new album "The Rambunctious Blues Experiment" was recorded at Mick's home studio in Surrey, and is an attempt at a completely spontaneous blues recording. Tracks were recorded first take with no rehearsal, therefore capturing a live feel that would be difficult to achieve otherwise. The album features Mick with Russell Chaney on Drums and Dangerous Dave Newman on harp. Released on Rockfold Records / iTunes - international distribution is through BGO.
THE MICK CLARKE BAND originally started working around the London area in the early 80s, but quickly received offers of work from mainland Europe and the United States. Early festival appearances such as the Belgium R&B Festival in Peer confirmed their appeal for continental audiences, while the US tours established a world wide reputation for the band.
Mick leads a band of top musicians, tearing up audiences where-ever they go..players have included Chris Sharley, Lou Martin, Mick Hawksworth, Dave Lennox and Ian Ellis. The current line-up includes Dangerous Dave Newman on harp, Eddie Masters on bass and Russell Chaney on drums.
With a combination of original material and blues standards Mick's brand of rocking blues never fails to deliver the goods. As one U.S. reviewer put it - If you don't see THE MICK CLARKE BAND kick yourself!
"Excellent, Excellent British Guitarist"
Living Blues Magazine (USA)
"Clarke proves that he can hold his own among todays blues rock stars"
Blues Revue (USA)
"One of the finest blues players to come out of England"
The Southern California Blues Society, Los Angeles, California
"The ultimate tip for all blues brothers"
Metal Hammer Magazine, Germany
"Clarke has "The Tone" most guitarists search for like the Holy Grail"
The River Reporter, Narrowsburg, N.Y.
"A lethal mixture of people like Rory Gallagher, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Roy Buchanan, Albert Collins etc."
Deuce Magazine, Switzerland
"Smashing guitar work"
Blueprint Magazine, England
"Clarke chews off big, gritty chunks of the blues with his guitar style,thick, timeless and true"
Willamette Week, Portland, Oregon
"Raw,Roadhouse blues and boogie (from) ace blues guitar hero"
Time Out, London
"A journeyman musician who always delivers the goods"
Rock'n'Reel Magazine, (USA)
"Exciting guitar and great compositions"
Buscadero, Italy
"A hot guitarist with a good ear for material and a tight band"
L.A.Reader, Los Angeles, California
"this band knows what the blues is all about"
Blues Bytes(USA)
"Mick Clarke came on like a steamroller out of control...a burning night of electric blues"
Cascade Blues Society, (USA)
"The man holds back nothing and gets his audience involved from the start"
Positively Entertainment, Portland, Oregon
"Some of the hardest rocking blues you'll ever get a chance to shake a leg to"
Detroits Magazine, Olympia, Washington
..a guitarist who's qualities of passion and consistency have never been compromised by changing fads or the slightest suggestion of a Hendrix/SRV fixation
Soundcheck Magazine, London
"A premier British blues guitarist"
Music City Blues, (USA)
For more background information see Reviews & Features
Live Highlights..
Baden Blues Festival 2006, Switzerland
Open Air Gross Lindow 2006, Germany (with Killing Floor)
Harelbeke Rock & Blues 2006, Belgium (with Killing Floor)
Rockland BluesRocking Summerfest 2007, Sweden w/ Joe Bonamassa
Willem Tell 10th Anniversary 2006, Belgium
Patersdreef Blues Festival 2005 & 1992, Tielt, Belgium
Trescore British Blues Festival 2007, Italy (with Killing Floor)
Rock at Sea 2004, Stockholm, Sweden
Reading Festival 1977, England (with SALT)
Rocking the Blues Festival 2005, England
Big Blues 2002, Luxembourg, w/ Bo Diddley
Belgium R&B Festival, Peer, Belgium, w/ Robert Cray
Bonn Blues Festival, Bonn, Germany, w/ Rory Gallagher
Tanzbrunnen Open Air, Cologne, Germany, w/ Johnny Winter
Blues'd Up Festival 2005, Belgium
Blues at Sea 2006, Stockholm, Sweden (with Killing Floor)
Rock at Sea 2006, Stockholm, Sweden (with Killing Floor)
Bragdoya Blues Festival 2004, Norway
Farmer Phil's Festival 2004, 2003 & 2001, United Kingdom
Bergen Jazz and Blues Festival 2005 & 2002, Netherlands
Darlington Blues & Brews 2004, United Kingdom
Harderwijk Blues Route 2003, Netherlands
Great British R&B Festival 2005, Colne, England (with British Blues Allstars)
Piazza Blues Festival 2004, Bellinzona, Switzerland
Alcamo Blues 2000, Sicily
Welons OpenAir 2003, Wintelre, Netherlands
Harelbeke Rock and Blues 2002, Belgium, w/ Tony Joe White
Easter Rock Festival 1972, Hamburg, Germany (with Killing Floor) w/ Black Sabbath
Amersfoort Blues Festival 2001, Netherlands
BohRock Xtra, Bocholt, Germany, w/ John Mayall
Kirkby Rock and Blues 2000, Kirkby, United Kingdom
Carrot Blues Festival 2003, Wervershoof, Netherlands
Live in Reitwein 2001, Frankfurt(Od) Germany
Blues Route, Utrecht, Netherlands
Thun Blues Festival 2002, Switzerland
Manchester Free Trade Hall 1969, England (with Killing Floor) w/ Howlin' Wolf, Freddie King
White and Blues Festival 2000, Sora, Italy
Blaublues 2002, Belgium
Belgian Blues/Rock Festival Houthem, Belgium
Bury Blues Festival 2002, United Kingdom, w/ Hubert Sumlin
Assen T T Nacht 2000 and 2002, Assen, Netherlands
Jazz in Duke Town, Den Bosch, Netherlands
Ehornli Rock 98, Eschenbach, Switzerland
Kajaani International Jazz Festival, Kajaani Finland
Burnley Mechanics Blues Festival, Burnley, United Kingdom
Open Air, Empfenbach, Germany
Bonn Blues Festival, Bonn Germany w/ Canned Heat
Fiamene, Verona, Italy
Swing 90 and 94, Wespelaar, Belgium
Open Air Aarau, Switzerland
Waterfront Blues Festival, Portland, Oregon, U.S.A
Nuvolaro 2000, Cuneo, Italy
Frog and Roll Festival, Lillers, France
Woodstock 90, Lugano, Switzerland
Kwadendaam Blues-Rock, Netherlands
Granicher Hohlenfest, Switzerland
Kijk Uit, Beernem 90 & 92, Belgium
Take a Walk Festival, Sittard, Netherlands
Bemd Festival, Arendonk, Belgium
Ichtygem Blues Festival, Belgium
Zweissimen Rock, Switzerland
Pump Up The Blues, Geertruidenberg, Netherlands
Big Day Out, Henstridge 99, United Kingdom w/ Ze 'Amsters!
Midzommer Blues Festival, Wychen, Netherlands
Roots Rock Festival, Nidrum, Belgium (two years)
Ravenna Blues Festival, Italy w/ Little Charlie and the Nightcats
Handzamme Blues Festival, Belgium (two years)
Chapella Festival, Switzerland
Heineken Blues, Emmen, Netherlands
Blandford Music Festival, Blandford Forum, United Kingdom
Drijf-in Blues Festival 99, Giethoorn, Netherlands w/ The Animals
Open-Air Nunningen, Switzerland w/ Luther Allison
Swelmpop, Holland 99 w/ The Animals
Fort Festival, Einsedeln, Switzerland
Sommerrockfest, Eichstatt, Germany
Harley Davidson Super-Rally, Murrazano, Italy
Nave Blues, Italy
Ovezande Blues Festival, Netherlands
Beach Party, Gersau, Switzerland
For all booking enquiries please email us here where we can either book direct or refer you to the sole agent for your country.
Mick Clarke uses Gibson,
Fender Squier and
Danelectro electric guitarsTanglewood electro acoustic guitars,
Marshall amplication and
GHS Strings with Graph Tech string saddles.