Damon Fowler’s side project, Southern Hospitality, has been in the studio in New Orleans with famed blues/swamp guitarist Tab Benoit. If this keeps up this side project may move to the center in Damon’s career.
Southern Hospitality is a collaboration between Damon, Florida guitarist J.P. Soars and Memphis keyboardist Victor Wainwright. Each has their own successful solo careers but came together to form Southern Hospitality because of the great musical camaraderie between the three great musicians. They really are a supergroup on the way up.
“I really like playing with JP and Victor and am very excited about the project,” Fowler said by phone from his home in Bradenton Beach. “It’s come together for a really nice blend. The last tour in August was very musically satisfying.”
The band reached a high-water mark earlier this year with a great performance at the star-filled Heritage Blues Music Fest in West Virginia. They’ve been playing to great reviews actually since they formed last year. They recently performed at The Brandenton Blues festival and you can watch some videos from that show here.
This was my first time seeing Southern Hospitality and it’s clear they have an amazing future in front of them. Let’s keep an eye on them to see what develops with these amazing your players.
In addition to live shows, Southern Hospitality just inked a deal with Blind Pig Records. The famed label has issued albums by everyone from Muddy Waters and Buddy Guy to Fowler’s recent solo releases.
Tab Benoit, winner of three Blues Music Awards this year including the prestigious “B.B. King Entertainer of the Year,” is producing Southern Hospitality’s debut album. It’s expected to include originals by all three chief members. Recording took place during Thanksgiving week at the Whiskey Bayou Studio in Houma, La.
“Tab is at the top of his game,” Fowler said. “He’s an awesome singer with great taste in music who I feel we can connect with and all speak the same (musical) language and come out with a great record.”
To learn more about the great young blues guitarist Damon Fowler you can visit this page.
Some of this information came from Wade Tatangelo, features writer/columnist at The Bradenton Herald, can be reached at 941-745-7057. Follow him at Twitter.com/wtatangelo.
