Guitarist.
Virtual Tip Jar:
These are uncharted times, and like a lot of musicians, I’ve had to establish a virtual tip jar at Venmo and PayPal. Every bit helps!
Venmo: monstermikewelch
PayPal: monstermikewelch@yahoo.com
New video series on YouTube!
I put out a call for requests for things people might want to hear me play during the Social Distance Wars of 2020, and I’ve gotten great responses already. Subscribe to monstermikewelch on YouTube!
Hey, all – last year was a tough one, and as we came to the end of it, I realized that I needed to pull back for a while and take care of my mental health, because where I was was unsustainable. With that in mind, I started the new year by trying a new medical treatment for my clinical depression, which seems to have made a promising difference. I couldn’t move forward and make other plans until I took steps to get better.
However, even though I’m healthier, I’m still unsure of where I stand with returning to regularly playing/touring/recording/etc. apart from the shows already booked. I have been taking the occasional gig with close friends and loved ones, but I’m not out of the woods, and I’m still not making any plans. Right now I’m thrilled to be doing the Big Blues Bender in September and the small handful of other gigs, but that might be it, or it might not. I have no way of knowing right now. Thanks to everyone for being so supportive.
Look at this neat stuff we’re doing!
May 19 – w/Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, Hawaii Theatre, Honolulu, HI
May 20 – w/Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, Crown Room at the Naniloa Hotel, Hilo, HI
May 22 – w/Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, Doheny Blues Fest, Dana Point, CA
May 28 – w/Anthony Geraci and the Boston Blues All-Stars feat. Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, Darrell Nulisch, Bull Run, Shirley, MA
May 29 – w/Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, Paradise City Arts Festival, Northampton, MA (12pm)
I am humbled and overwhelmed to announce that I’ve been nominated for a 2016 Blues Music Award in the category of Instrumentalist – Guitar. I am honored to be in the company of four of the greatest guitarists I’ve ever seen (Ronnie Earl, Anson Funderburgh, Kid Andersen, and Sonny Landreth). I’m also proud to announce that Sugar Ray and the Bluetones are nominated for Band of the Year, Anthony Geraci’s “50 Shades of Blue” for Album, Song, and Traditional Album, Anthony for Piano, Mudcat Ward for Bass, and Igor Prado’s “Way Down South” for Best New Artist Debut! You can vote by going to blues.org and becoming a member of the Blues Foundation. Voting ends on March 1, and the ceremony is in Memphis on May 5.
Here are the February gigs I have so far:
February 7 – w/Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, Narragansett Cafe, Jamestown, RI (1 pm-4 pm)
February 14 – w/The Duke Robillard Band, Benefit for Sam Gentile, the C Note, Hull, MA (5:15pm)
February 18 – Monster Mike Welch and Michael Mudcat Ward Duo, The Burren Back Room, Somerville, MA
February 21 – TBC
February 27 – w/Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, Pitman’s Freight Room, Laconia, NH
Hey! We’ll be in Europe this week.
Jan 21 Hildesheim (Germany) – Bischofsmühle
Jan 22 Lille (France) – 7 Nights To Blues Festival
Jan 23 Fleurus (Belgium) – Le Bonne Source (4 PM)
Jan 24 Enschede (The Netherlands) – NIX Bluesclub (4 PM)
More info coming soon.
Staying local/regional and having some fun with Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, Anthony Geraci’s Boston Blues All-Stars, Duke Robillard, and the VRBE! As always, the full schedule is accessible via the Upcoming Shows tab.
October 2 – w/Anthony Geraci and the Boston Blues All-Stars (feat. Sugar Ray Norcia, Darrell Nulisch, Michelle Willson and Toni Lynn Washington), the Bull Run, Shirley, MA
October 7 – w/The Vintage Rhythm and Blues Ensemble, Stadium Pub, Cranston, RI
October 10 – w/Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, Treme, Islip, NY
October 16 – w/Anthony Geraci and the Boston Blues All-Stars (feat. Darrell Nulisch, Michelle Willson and Toni Lynn Washington), The Extended Play Sessions, Norwood, MA
October 18 – w/Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, Narragansett Cafe, Jamestown, RI
October 24 – w/Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, Blackstone River Theatre, Cumberland, RI
October 30 – w/the Duke Robillard Band, Johnny D’s, Somerville, MA
Short but mighty tours with both the Bluetones and the Duke Robillard Band! As always, the complete schedule can be found at the Upcoming Shows link above.
September 10 – w/Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, Poco’s, Doylestown, PA
September 11 – w/Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, Blues At The Beach, Virginia Beach, VA
September 17 – w/The Duke Robillard Band, SPACE, Evanston, IL
September 18 -w/The Duke Robillard Band, Callahan’s, Auburn, MI
September 19 – w/The Duke Robillard Band, Jazz and Blues In The Village, McGibbon Park, Sarnia, Ontario, CANADA
September 26 – w/Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, Nantucket Blues Fest, Nantucket, MA
Monster Mike Welch 