Formed in 1992, FATHEAD has developed a distinctive & unique sound characterized by solid grooves, soul-drenched melodies and ace musicianship- allowing the band to pack multiple music genres into a Blues tour de force. Three of the five band members have remained constant over the years; John Mays (lead vocals), band leader Al Lerman (harp & tenor saxophone, vocals) and Omar Tunnoch (bass, vocals). In 2006 Darran Poole replaced original guitarist Teddy Leonard, while current drummer Bucky Berger joined the group in 2007, succeeding Hayden Vialva (2003-2007), Chuck Keeping (2001-2003), Ed White (1993-2001) and Mike Fitzpatrick (1992).

Fathead’s incendiary live shows have taken them far and wide, performing across the continent at high profile events such as Fredericton’s Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival, The Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival, The Montreal International Jazz Fest, The Toronto Soul & Blues Fest, Festival By The Sea in New Brunswick, and Playing With Fire in Omaha, Nebraska. They have performed in Washington, DC for the Canadian Embassy, at Buffalo’s Lafayette Tap Room Blues Festival, at Virginia’s famed Birchmere Theater, and have opened for blues icon B.B. King at Massey Hall in Toronto. The band also backed the late Chicago bluesman Little Mack Simmons on two fine albums that were critically acclaimed internationally.

Formed in 1992, FATHEAD has developed a distinctive & unique sound characterized by solid grooves, soul-drenched melodies and ace musicianship- allowing the band to pack multiple music genres into a Blues tour de force. Three of the five band members have remained constant over the years; John Mays (lead vocals), band leader Al Lerman (harp & tenor saxophone, vocals) and Omar Tunnoch (bass, vocals). In 2006 Darran Poole replaced original guitarist Teddy Leonard, while current drummer Bucky Berger joined the group in 2007, succeeding Hayden Vialva (2003-2007), Chuck Keeping (2001-2003), Ed White (1993-2001) and Mike Fitzpatrick (1992).

Fathead’s incendiary live shows have taken them far and wide, performing across the continent at high profile events such as Fredericton’s Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival, The Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival, The Montreal International Jazz Fest, The Toronto Soul & Blues Fest, Festival By The Sea in New Brunswick, and Playing With Fire in Omaha, Nebraska. They have performed in Washington, DC for the Canadian Embassy, at Buffalo’s Lafayette Tap Room Blues Festival, at Virginia’s famed Birchmere Theater, and have opened for blues icon B.B. King at Massey Hall in Toronto. The band also backed the late Chicago bluesman Little Mack Simmons on two fine albums that were critically acclaimed internationally.

“On Thursday, May 8th auditions will be held for the ‘On Stage’ portion of the Stewart Park Festival. The event will take place at O’Reillys pub, 43 Gore Street. Each performer will be asked to play 2 songs , at least one of them must be an original composition. Six acts will be chosen and two spots are reserved for local acts.  We are looking forward to a great night of entertainment.

African percussion, a cello, an acoustic guitar and a bass. Fusing traditional acoustic sounds with pop, folk, soul and funk, the Mike Yates band provides some pretty intricate arrangements. Worth coming out to hear and see!