Stan Hirsch, regarded as one of the best blues guitarists in the southwest US, is a master of solo acoustic blues. Stan drives a fiery bad-ass boogie that sounds like a 3-piece band, or soars with a gut-wrenching, sweet, string-bending slow blues. Hirsch has been shake, rattling, and rolling blues crowds in the hot, high desert oasis of Albuquerque, New Mexico USA (ABQ) for several decades. Through his national and international festival appearances and tours, he evangelizes the blues with his swift guitar-picking and slick-lyrics crossing borders beyond.

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Together with his commanding vocals, Hirsch delivers a dynamic performance, blending a big full sound with his intimate, personal delivery. Rooted in old-style blues traditions, Hirsch will satisfy the blues purists as well as challenge those who seek something new.

Yes, Stan was born to the blues... His dad was born and raised in Chicago, and his mom was pure Texan. He grew up listening to the records his parents had collected. "Mostly old R&B, swing, and boogie. Dad played a little boogie-woogie piano too."

Now we know where Stan learned to boogie... Somewhere between Texas and New Mexico (parents moved back and forth), Stan got his first guitar. "I was about six years old, it was a Roy Rogers model... Went great with my cowboy boots and hat."

And he has an old photograph to prove it... He played it until it fell apart, and he’s been playing ever since.

"I was sixteen when I joined a rock group that had a record out and all...my parents gave their consent, so I hit the road and started gigging." Good bars, bad bars, full-time club work, coffeehouses to concert stages. "All i ever wanted to do was play guitar and sing. So that’s what I spent my time doin’."

Literally thousands of performances later, (even guitar gods have to work hard at it-) he is still driven and inspired to do what it takes.

In recent years, Stan started getting calls for more solo acoustic blues. "It was the kind of music I’d do on the back porch for myself. I never thought you could get a gig doin’ it." First as pickup gigs between his regular schedule, then, with the encouragement of those in the music business and audiences alike, the style he loves best has become the focus of his performing and songwriting.

Reviews

"He commands your attention with his deep-in-the-well singing, his knowledgeable fingering on a flattop guitar and his fresh compositions. Together, these elements make you think he was born to the blues." - D. Steinberg, Albuquerque Sunday Journal

"Guitar God Stan Hirsch-phenomenal doesn’t begin to describe his playing. Complete mastery of the six-string is more accurate. His guitar work is mesmerizing and his soul-drenched vocals are unlike any west of the Mississippi Delta." - M. Henningsen, Weekly Alibi (Albuquerque, NM USA)

"His sound--which manages to sound unique and familiar at the same time--falls somewhere between country blues and greasy clubhouse. The result is unwaveringly tasty in a home-fried kind of way. Hirsch’s music makes the blues worth having." - M. Kostner, Thirsty Ear Festival Promoter, Journal Venue North

Riding on the wave of enthusiastic responce to his powerful CD, "No Room To Reason" on Blue Falcon Records, Hirsch has been bringing his music to more national and international audiences.

Blues Festivals

Guinness Blues Festival, Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland

Telluride Blues & Brews Festival

Madrid Blues Festival

Silver City Blues Festival

Thirsty Ear Blues Festival

Blues Burner Festival

ABQ Blues Festival

Truckload of Blues Festival, San Francisco

Augusta Blues Week, Elkins, West Virginia

Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival, Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico

Three European tours

Spain, Ireland, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland And...Closer to home... New Mexico Jazz Workshop-Soldout concert @ Outpost Performance Space, detailing Blues history in music. -And of course, All those "regular" gigs in New Mexico, California, Florida,etc...

Videos

Top of charts music video "Put Yourself in my Place" with Pam Tilles

PBS-"Roly Poly Blues" (documentary soundtrack)

The Arts Channel-30-min. program, "Stanton Hirsch-Solo Artist"

Radio

"Ear to the ground"- one full hour on Hirsch and his music.

"Blues in the Bathroom" w/ John Strader.KUNM-FM

Awards

"Best Guitarist"-New Mexico Wammie Awards (3 years)

"Best Live Performance or Show"-Alibi Magazine(N.M.)

Chosen as talent ("blues player") for Ad campaign (Japan)

Records

"Stanton Hirsch-Solo acoustic guitar"-1984)

"No Room to Reason"-2000-BFM032)

"Covered in Blues"-2003-BFM031)

"Compelled To Play"-2009-BFM091)

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