To the website of professional harmonica player & musician Spider MacKenzie
Spider is no regular harmonica player but rather one who has a unique technical ability matched with an inimitable talent to convey the emotion of a song. Hence it's not surprising numerous, notable artists are keen to choose to work with him. Whether it's in Europe with his long term musical duo, companion Steve Crawford, Perrier award winning singer Niki King or across the pond with former Texas Musician of the Year Chris Gage or Grammy nominated artist Bill Kirchen in the United States of America. Spider's music is "sure to touch your heart and bring a smile to your face" to quote Sugar Blue the Grammy Award winner who has played with legends from Willie Dixon to The Rolling Stones.
After hearing Steve and Spider's recent album "Celticana" Charlie McCoy the most recorded harmonica player in history, Grammy-winning, Country Music Hall of Fame legend wrote "Spider's harmonica is a high spot. Put an ear on this one. You'll be glad you did"
A quick word from Spider - Thank you for taking the time to visit my website. You will find information on projects and shows I'm involved with. It's April 2021 as I write this and I hope to be performing live again as soon it's safe.
In the mean time I have been kept busy recording at home for a number of projects. Session playing on some lovely tracks for friends. I will keep you posted when their CDs, records come out.
I'd love it if you would join my mailing list so we can keep in touch.
I'd also like to express my gratitude to the following people.
Thanks to Sutherland Trading for their support and supply of my Hohner Harmonicas & to Valerie Fremin for the great photography.
Finally thank you to all the press, musicians and friends for all the lovely comments.
Hope to see you soon.
Love & hugs
Spider
Xx
“Colin MacKenzie 'Spider' as we all know & love him, is one of the finest musicians I have ever had the privilege of playing live & recording with Class A on both counts. I can assure you Awesome Bluesman but then there is this other whole side to Spider that makes him stand out, jazz & almost Avant Garde area he can inhabit that is way off the map, both articulate and free spirit combined, but also he takes direction great, so fantastic to work with if you are a songwriter, he also knows when to back off, which is a weakness for many musicians of all levels or genres But more important, Spider is a great man too! Solid as they come and a great friend to have I am proud to call him a brother in music.”
Martin George Stephenson Ex Capitol & London Records recording artist
“Colin “Spider” MacKenzie is a wonderful player, he has a fluid, clean and sensitive style that is sure to touch your heart and bring a smile to your face, listen and enjoy!!”
Sugar Blue - Grammy Award winner who has played with legends from Willie Dixon to The Rolling Stones
"Spider is simply one of the best harp players there is. He's also one of the best musicians I've ever had the pleasure of working with. When we play songs together, he has an innate ability to remain sensitive to what the songs need. Whether that's creating some luscious soundscape, providing a nice groove or finding the right spaces, he always manages to know what serves the song best. But when it comes to taking a solo, then all I can do is sit back and gaze in wonder at what he can achieve with his instrument! And if this wasn't enough to make a great musical partner, then he's also one of the finest human beings I've ever known!"
Steve Crawford - singer, songwriter, multi instrumentalist, session musician
“Spider – a polite, unassuming guy… Until you put a harmonica in his hand. At that point he’ll take a song, and make you feel it. In your bones.” – Texas Lifestyle Magazine
“Spider is clearly a virtuoso harmonica player” - Blues Matters magazine
"I just listed to "Celticana: with Spider MacKenzie and Steve Crawford. The CD is full of great songs, great vocals and Spider's harmonica is a high spot. Put an ear on this one. You'll be glad you did" - Charlie McCoy most recorded harmonica player in history, Grammy-winning, Country Music Hall of Fame legend.
“the contributions of the harp player were very tasteful (keys were good too, but I thought the harp was excellent" Bruce Iglauer legendary CEO/Founder of Alligator Records
“Intensely moving harmonica sound”
“Massively exciting naturally talented harmonica player”
“I would cheerfully walk 100 miles over hot coals to feel some of his music” - Blueprint - magazine
“I still prefer the sensitive virtuosity and imagination of Aberdeen’s junior James Cotton, Spider MacKenzie” - The Sunday Times
“Harmonica virtuoso”, “Star of bloos moothie” - The Aberdeen Evening Express
“I bet you think every town has a blues harp player this good. They don’t and we should cherish him.”
The Aberdeen Press & Journal
“Top class music from Scotland” - WAZ newspaper, Germany
“Informed harmonica playing, adding atmosphere and filling spaces where spaces need filling. A formidable player who knows when to hold back and when to dive deep into a solo” - Northern Sky
“Very talented Scottish harmonica player” - Roots Time Belgium
Spider guests, performs with the wonderful singer songwriter / guitar player Michael Hearne & South by Southwest and the Music Legends Hall of Fame singer-songwriter Shake Russell at Michael Hearne's 20th annual Big Barn Dance, Music Festival, Taos, New Mexico.
Spider guests, performs with the wonderful singer songwriter / guitar player Michael Hearne & South by Southwest and the Music Legends Hall of Fame singer-songwriter Shake Russell at Michael Hearne's 20th annual Big Barn Dance, Music Festival, Taos, New Mexico.
Spider guests, performs with the wonderful singer songwriter / guitar player Michael Hearne & South by Southwest and the Music Legends Hall of Fame singer-songwriter Shake Russell at Michael Hearne's 20th annual Big Barn Dance, Music Festival, Taos, New Mexico.
Acoustic Music Centre @ Ukranian Community Centre, 14 Royal Terrace, Edinburgh, EH7 5AB
John Carnie and Spider Mackenzie explore Dylan's bluesier side, which has influenced half of his canon of over 500 songs, as well as interpretations of his other classics. John Carnie is the author of the Scottish Guitar Book and Spider Mackenzie is one of UK's top blues harmonica players. 'Spider is clearly a virtuoso harmonica player' (Blues Matters). 'Carnie is an incredibly talented musician' (UK Guitar Show). 'An exposition of fleet-fingered guitar flatpicking that swings like a cat' (Scotsman). 'Mackenzie has a sensitive virtuosity and imagination' (Sunday Times).
Regular £12.00, Concession £10.00, Student £8.00, Unemployed £8.00
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Acoustic Music Centre @ Ukranian Community Centre, 14 Royal Terrace, Edinburgh, EH7 5AB
An aural delight of soulful, melodic jazzy-blues, pop & folk-blues through to shake your tail-feather and boogie-blues is promised from two renowned musicians. Spider regularly performs and records across Europe and in the USA. "Sensitivity, virtuosity and imagination" (Sunday Times on Spider). "Massively exciting, naturally talented harmonica player" (Blues in Britain). Paul has worked as a session musician for many bands. His tasteful expertise has been used on numerous TV series and specials and he has shared stages with many notables including: Jools Holland, Martin Taylor and Texas
Regular price £13.00 , Concession £11.00, Family £10.00
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Das dritte Sommer Open Air im wunderschönen Garten an der Klostermauer, in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Schützenverein Klosterlechfeld.
Scottish Folk und Americana vom Feinsten, zelebriert von Steve Crawford (Gesang, Gitarre) und Spider MacKenzie (Mundharmonika), beide aus Aberdeen/Schottland. Special Guest ist an diesem Abend der renommierte Geiger Johannes Epremian, bestens bekannt vom legendären Ensemble Le Clou.
Um ihr zweites Album Celticana aufzunehmen, verließen Steve und Spider ihre schottische Heimat, um zunächst in Nashville, Tennessee, zu proben, wo sie alles aufsogen, was die Muse dieser magischen Musikmetropole zu bieten hat. Die abenteuerliche Reise führte das Duo schließlich weiter zu den Moon House Studios in Austin, Texas, wo kein geringerer als Chris Cage, legendärer Musiker/Produzent und ‚Texas Musician Of The Year’, die Aufnahmen produzierte. Das Resultat ist ‘Celticana’, das die schottischen Wurzeln der Musik von Crawford/MacKenzie stilsicher in einen ur-amerikanischen Kontext setzt. Das Mastering des Albums übernahm schließlich Jerry Tubb, der unter anderem für seine Arbeit an Alben von Jonny Cash und Willie Nelson fünf Mal für einen Grammy nominiert wurde.
Steve Crawfords exzellentes Songwriting wurde über die Jahre auf zahlreichen Alben sichtbar, u.a. in der Band Ballad of Crows. Mittlerweile in Deutschland ansässig, hat sich Crawford auch in der dortigen Musik Szene als Mitglied der legendären Cajun-Band Le Clou und im Duo mit Fiddlerin Sabrina Palm etabliert. 2019 wurde das Duo mit seinem zweiten Album ‘Two’ für den renommierten Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik als bestes Folk Album nominiert.
Spider MacKenzie zählt zu den besten Mundharmonika-Spielern Großbritanniens. Er spielt regelmäßig an der Seite namhafter schottischer Musiker, die allesamt wahre Lobeshymnen auf ihn singen. Nachdem ihn dann auch die US-Musikszene entdeckte, folgten auch dort zahlreiche Tourneen als Session-Player.
Der Geiger, Gitarrist und Sänger Johannes Epremian wurde in eine deutsch-armenische Musikerfamilie geboren und verfiel schon früh den reichen Sounds und Grooves der US-Südstaaten. Cajun, Zydeco und Blues aus Louisiana sind das musikalische Terrain des charismatischen Musikers, der mit seiner Band Le Clou, im Trio Austin/Epremian/Weller, als Solist oder Studiomusiker auf beiden Seiten des Atlantiks unterwegs ist.
Normales Ticket €18:00, Schüler/ Studenten €12:00
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Gaststätte Jäger, Schwarzenbergerstr. 41, 51647 Gummersbach-Hülsenbusch, Hülsenbusch
Steve and Spider return to the Gaststätte Jäge with special guest Johannes Epremian on fiddle / guitar / vocals. Johannes is one of the wonderful musicians in the much loved Cajun band Le Clou which also features Steve.
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Private House Concert - Steve and Spider
After a wild night in 2019 we finally return for another Northern Shindig! BLUES, ROCK, PYSCH & BEYOND! 2 BANDS & 2 SPECIAL GUESTS!
WE'RE BACK FOR ANOTHER WILD SHINDIG! At the last gig the Blue Lamp's Sandy Brown (RIP) had taken a chance on us, and thankfully invited us back in 2020! Finally we are able to reschedule for 2021.
“...Tonight’s show was one of the best gigs in Aberdeen for years, John Bruce & Al Brown swapping sublime headlines... absolutely blown away!...” Chris Simmonds - Northern Shindig NOV 2019
SAFEHOUSE Are Edinburgh's favourite Psychedelic Blues & Southern Rock band, featuring music from The Allman Brothers to The Rolling Stones and the occasional original, with an honest and blistering sound!
AL BROWN is arguably one of the finest and truest blues guitarists in the UK today. Joining Safehouse for the first time at the first Shindig, and for the 2020 Edinburgh Winter Blues Weekend (By Ed Jazz & Blues Fest) AL is staying on board!
SPIDER MACKENZIE, Much celebrated Aberdonian harmonica player, will be our shining addition to 2021's Shindig! A stunningly tasteful and intricate player.
BROKEN WINDOWS Hosting this event in their usual style of peaceful debauchery. Original, live spirited music & songs fronted by singer/songwriter Liz Jones. They will be joined by Spider & Al making this show a real one off.
£13 if booked early, General admission £15, On the doors £16
Martin and his band the Daintees celebrate the 30th anniversary of their classic album Salutation Road with a nation wide tour. Having featured in Martin's newly released album "Howdy Honcho" and video "Harmonica Man". Spider is delighted to be joining Martin & the Daintees to participate in what will be an evening of wonderful music and joyous fun.
£23.50 to £25.60
Steve and Spider – Blue Lamp – Doors open 6pm. Show time 7pm
In 2019 to record their long awaited second album ‘Celticana’, they relocated first to Nashville to rehearse in the city’s historic East Side, soaking up all the muse this musical heartland has to offer. From there they travelled on to Moon House Studios in Austin, Texas to work with veteran musician-producer and former Texan musician of the year Chris Gage. The result is music stylistically drenched in Americana set to lyrics that spin stories from the Scottish motherland. The album was released in June 2020 to critical acclaim from press and radio. Tonight, the duo will play tracks from “Celticana” along with other favourites. The show was originally planned for 2020 but circumstances prevented this. They are super excited to once again be back at The Lampie.
"A fresh and upbeat collection, just what we need at the moment" - BBC Radio NAN GAIDHEAL
"As good a combination of vocal, guitar and harmonica as you're likely to hear" - Folking.com
"I just listened to "Celticana" with Spider MacKenzie and Steve Crawford. The CD is full of great songs, great vocals and Spider's harmonica is a high spot. Put an ear on this one. You'll be glad you did" - Charlie McCoy most recorded harmonica player in history, Grammy-winning, Country Music Hall of Fame legend.
“Spider Mackenzie’s harmonica emotes the feelings that emerge from the lyrics and music of Steve Crawford. Together, the Scottish pair has introduced a version of Americana music that raises the bar for everyone.” - Texas Lifestyle Magazine
Book before October there is an “early bird” sales price of £10 rather than £12.50
Martin and his band the Daintees celebrate the 30th anniversary of their classic album Salutation Road with a nation wide tour. Having featured in Martin's newly released album "Howdy Honcho" and video "Harmonica Man". Spider is delighted to be joining Martin & the Daintees to participate in what will be an evening of wonderful music and joyous fun.
Tel: 0131 556 7060 Reservation: thevoodoorooms.com, opentable.co.uk General Admission: £19.25 (£17.50)
Martin and his band the Daintees celebrate the 30th anniversary of their classic album Salutation Road with a nation wide tour. Having featured in Martin's newly released album "Howdy Honcho" and video "Harmonica Man". Spider is delighted to be joining Martin & the Daintees to participate in what will be an evening of wonderful music and joyous fun.
£18.50
Martin and his band the Daintees celebrate the 30th anniversary of their classic album Salutation Road with a nation wide tour. Having featured in Martin's newly released album "Howdy Honcho" and video "Harmonica Man". Spider is delighted to be joining Martin & the Daintees to participate in what will be an evening of wonderful music and joyous fun.
£16.50
Martin and his band the Daintees celebrate the 30th anniversary of their classic album Salutation Road with a nation wide tour. Having featured in Martin's newly released album "Howdy Honcho" and video "Harmonica Man". Spider is delighted to be joining Martin & the Daintees to participate in what will be an evening of wonderful music and joyous fun.
£24.75 (£22.50)
This pair of renowned musicians met and regularly play in Texas. Their show is a one-night only concert of world-class American folk and blues seasoned with Texas rock 'n roll. Danny's guitar & voice touches the pulse of the listener, complemented by Spider's virtuoso harmonica. "Sensitivity virtuosity and imagination" (Sunday Times on Spider). "Showcases Danny Britt's versatility and talent" (New Texas Magazine). "'Massively exciting naturally talented harmonica player" (Blues in Britain). "Powerful vocalist and a sensitive interpreter of lyrics" (Country Music Gazette on Danny).
Rescheduled show from 2020 date to be confimed