Lightnin’ Guy is the hardest working performer in the Belgian blues & roots scene. After Blue Blot & the Electric Kings, Belgium has a new top act that not only conquers the hearts of the blues-and-rootslovers in Belgium, but also is on the brink of a breakthrough onto the European stages.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Since his first show in May 2008 he is on a crazy rollercoaster ride. During the first half-year on the road Lightnin’ Guy played more than 40 shows, toured through the Netherlands & Austria and recorded his debut album „Live from the Heart“. In 2009 he did over 70 shows, played on the legendary Peer Blues, Kwadendamme Blues & Gouvy Jazz-Blues Festival. He also signed a record deal with Parsifal Records to record a new studio album & released his debut album on their Blue Sting label.

Today Lightnin’ Guy is considered a real hot live sensation and continues to conquer the hearts of the blues & roots lovers in Belgium & Holland. Nowadays he plays the biggest festivals and already shared the same bill as John Fogerty, Jeff Beck, Steve Winwood, John Mayall , Joe Bonanmasa, Derek Trucks, ... Lightnin’ Guy also opened concerts for The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Joe Louis Walker, Canned Heat, Eddie C. Campbell, Sherman Robertson, Dr. Feelgood, The Nighthawks, Ian Siegal …

THE BEGINNING

Lightnin' Guy was born on the 22nd of March 1976 as Guy Verlinde in a small village near Bruges. As a child he was always obsessed with music: making his own toy guitars, being a bedroom dj, singing in the church choir, being a local playback star, playing in the local harmony …

But it all started to fall into place once he bought his first guitar and harp at the age of 16. After moving to Bruges, he discovered the blues through the massive record collection of a friend’s father. Soon after he founded his first band Smokin’ Chillums at the age of 17. They played intensively the Belgian & Dutch blues scene for 6 years. Because of his energetic performances his fans gave him the nickname “Lightnin’ Guy”.

MIYAGI SAN

Every talent needs a master, a guide and a bullshit detector. After moving to the city of Ghent, he met slide guitar player Marino Noppe of the legendary bluesband Maxwell Street. He spent countless hours in his house, listening to old vinyl & blues stories, playing his old vintage guitars, … With Marino he learned everything about being a blues musician. As the backing guitar player of Maxwell Street he toured through the States and Europe playing with Hash Brown, Johnny Moeller and Louisiana Blues legend Roscoe Chenier.

HARPIN’

Together with Marino Noppe he started the band Mo’ Rice where Lightnin’ Guy for the first time really focussed on the blues harp. During that time he developed himself as an energetic harp player influenced by Sonny Boy Williamson II, Junior Wells, James Cotton and Lester Butler, who had a big impact on his playing.

SLIDIN’

Since he started playing the guitar, Lightnin’ Guy felt attracted to the slide guitar. First influenced by Chris Whitley and later blown away by Hound Dog Taylor it became clear that this was his path to walk. Even though he incorporated the soul of the traditional slide guitar players as Fred McDowell, Bukka White, Elmore James … he also got inspired by contemporary artists like John Mooney, Anders Osborne, Sonny Landreth, Ben Harper and John Butler.

HIGH ENERGY PERFORMER

As his slide & harpstyle are very emotional, unique & authentic, a Lightnin’ Guy show is always very energetic. As he says:“ In a world of plastic & virtuality, people want real things“. A Lightnin’ Guy show is all about energy and total surrender to the audience. This makes him a real crowd pleaser. By playing in the ‘Louisiana swamp & Chicago slide & harp’-tradition, he always succeeds in making everybody dance and sing along to his tight, groovy, honest riffs & licks. Lightnin' Guy is not only an excellent musician & singer, but also an all-round entertainer. It does not matter for whom he plays nor where, people always start shaking their asses and having a mighty good time, when Lightnin’ Guy is on stage.

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