Gary Clark Jr. is a mind-blowing guitarist, a dazzling songwriter and an engagingly soulful singer. With his debut album ‘Blak And Blu’ he has become the first artist ever recognized with Grammy Award nominations in both the rock and R&B categories for the same album in the same year, winning the latter: Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Please Come Home” from the ‘Blak And Blu’. And the day after claiming those honours he provided one of the highlights of “The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles,” with sparks flying as he duelled with Joe Walsh on an incendiary “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” with Dave Grohl behind them pounding the drums.
The album’s a rocket ride from the Mississippi Delta to multiple points beyond the horizon. Rock and R&B for sure, but blues, soul, pop, psychedelia, punk and hip-hop are also in Clark’s expansive musical embrace, not to mention his two acoustic blues performances on the soundtrack album for the acclaimed movie '12 Years a Slave'.
That, in turn, has been inspirational to others — including some who inspired him. Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Jay-Z, Jimmy Page, Alicia Keys, the Roots, Buddy Guy, Dave Matthews, Roger Waters, Keith Urban, Sheryl Crow, and Jeff Beck are among the many that hail his arrival as a major talent and have cherished chances to perform with him. It’s no accident that he was invited to make more “special guest” appearances on the Stones’ 50th anniversary tour than any other artist, including the concluding Hyde Park blowout in which he and his band were also the opening act.
President Barak Obama himself, who upon seeing Clark command the stage of the PBS White House concert honouring the blues — alongside Jagger, Jeff Beck, B.B. King and Buddy Guy — declared of the young man, “He is the future!” Rolling Stone Magazine dubbed Clark “The King of the Summer Festivals” as he captivated audiences from Coachella to Glastonbury, and of course his hometown Austin City Limits Festival, where he his band set a daytime attendance record. Rolling Stone also proclaimed him no less than “The Chosen One.” Absolutely a must-act to see, at this year’s RBC Bluesfest!
Thursday July 3, 2014 9:30pm - 10:45pm EDT
River Stage
