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Damian Knapp has been performing
as a singer/guitarist for the last thirteen years, and he continues to travel and expose his music to new audiences. If you are interested in his solo acoustic music, there are several videos below that you can view that features that part of his act. To listen to his new band, enjoy the new songs that have been posted. Recently, he has returned to the electric blues sound, re-forming his old blues band, Fester Presley, with new members. Also, Damian has continued to play regionally in his home state of Ohio. So far in 2008, he's had performance dates in Columbus, Akron, Cleveland, Warren, and Youngstown, and has opened for national blues acts Little Ed and the Blues Imperials, Eric Sardinas, and Back Door Slam, Magic Slim, and Watermelon Slim. Early 2007 saw him travel
to Memphis,TN to perform on Beal St. at the 23rd Annual International Blues Challenge. While in the Mississippi Delta, Damian stayed at the historic Riverside Motel in Clarkesdale, Mississippi on Sunflower Ave. and played down the street at world famous juke joints 'Red's' and 'Ground Zero' blues clubs. After his return from the south, Damian had the distinguished honor of sharing the bill with legendary acoustic blues artist John Hammond, on February 19th, at the historic B&O railway station in Youngstown, OH. Later that same week, Damian travelled to NYC to showcase his original music at the Murray St. Grille for Blue Storm Music and Elmore magazine. Elmore magazine reviewed Damian in thier August 2007 issue, stating "Based in Columbus, Ohio, Damian Knapp is well versed in the blues and plays a mean slide guitar." After his initial visit to NYC, he was called back to the big apple for two more performances, opening the "Walking With The Kings" concert in April, and opening for rock legends 'Foghat' on June 28th. In 2005, he won the 11th annual Columbus Blues Challenge in the solo/duo, earning his first trip to Memphis for the 2006 IBC.
In the 2005 July/August issue of The Columbus Blues Alliance "Bluespaper",
Damian was the 'Featured Musician' and his blues CD, 'Hellhounds and Hot Foot
Powder' was reviewed. The review stated, "Damian loves the Delta blues
and it shows in his song selection and his mastery of the steel guitar. His
love of the music, and the artists who brought it to him, is evident in his
interpretations. If you like acoustic guitar and Delta Blues, this CD is for
you!" After winning the 2006 Mahoning River Blues Challenge, CD 93.3 Clear Channel 'Tangled Up In Blues' radio show co-host Cornel Bogdan stated, "Damian is as old school as it comes, he's back porch blues, and that's what I love about him...He's so pure to his roots, and he believes in that thing so much, he's not going to compromise for anyone."Damian released 'Hellhounds
and Hot Foot Powder', his tribute to the Delta Blues, in early 2003. He explains
in the liner notes that once he discovered Robert Johnson, he began seeking
out other artists of the same era, and it shows on his CD, with covers by Charlie
Patton, Son House, Tommy Johnson, and Muddy Waters. If you would like to purchase a copy of 'Hellhounds and Hot Foot Powder', visit Damian at one of his many performances, or visit Blue Storm Music at: www.bluestormmusic.com, where copies retail for $9.99. Damian plans on recording a new CD of original blues material, with his Fester Presley bandmates, sometime in 2008.
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