Mike Bess [Pop / Rock / Jazz / Blues, Solo Artist]

Details

Gigs (18)

Photos (14)

Reviews (4)

Tracks (7)

Songs (181)

Blog (7)

When I was 6 years old, my adventurous parents left my birth country of Holland, to start a new life in Australia. Four years later we were off to South Africa, where I finished school and went onto work as a Mechanical Engineer. Music had always been a powerful influence in my life. My father used to play Jazz, blues and rock albums very loud in the apartments where we lived, sometimes to the detriment of my sleep. It wasn't long before I was playing those same recordings over and over, to the point that my Dad found some of his cassette tapes stretched. When I was 7, I was bought a guitar for my birthday, it wasn't the 'remote control car' I was hoping for, and so my father ended up messing around with the guitar more than me!. Eventually, the draw to the guitar became irresistible and I found many of the notes I could hear in those albums I loved, which must have trained my ear. With a bit more perseverance I learnt some chords which later included complex jazz chords and song arrangements. I always had such huge admiration for the great musicians. The ability of those greats seemed well out of my reach. Even when I first started playing in bands with some of my friends,it was just a fun thing to do. Playing live music created an amazing feeling, especially when it really came together, even if it was just for very short moments. However it mostly didn't quite sound like Eric Clapton!!. As the years went by there was always one common style of music I loved in Kenny Burrell, Derek & the Dominoes, Dire Straits, Pink Floyd, the Stones and so many more, and that was the blues!! That love saw me leave my career as an engineer to pursue 'living the dream' as a full time musician. It's amazing how having more time to dedicate to your music escalates your abilities! With just over 2 years behind me now earning a living as a professional musician, the results have surpassed my expectations and the response from the listening public has been such an inspiration, justifying what must be my calling!! I look forward to sharing my music, performing many of my favourite covers from different genres as well as original songs in my own bluesy, gravelly kind of way to audiences out there. It's extremely exciting to see where this road takes me, be it wide or narrow. There is one certainty and that is my love to share a song with an audience of 1 or 100 000.

Previous Artist of the Week on Lemonrock.

Artist Contact Details

Band name	Mike Bess
Based in	Portishead, Somerset
Tel	07765 794424
Email	mikebesseling@yahoo.co.uk
Send Enquiry	Name: Mike & Jane
Info	Available for weddings, private parties, corporate events. Own PA.

CDs (3)

Mike Bess - Beyond Blue

1. Play the game
2. See you around
3. When you know its true
4. 4x4
5. Living dream
6. Michelle
7. Mother & Di
8. Your so special
9. Living with ease
10. That's what you do
11. You do something to me
12. Merging Lines
13. 4x4 - acoustic
14. Your so special - acoustic

Northern Skies

1. Never Give Up On Love
2. Granny's Eyes
3. Last Love
4. Lydia
5. Sunday Afternoon
6. Falling Into You
7. Red House
8. English Riviera
9. Common Sense
10. Water of love
11. Lonesome Father Blues

True to yourself

1. Stop ahead junction
2. Fire burning real
3.Going down slowly
4.Hiss & fuss
5.How to love you
6.True to yourself
7.Touch
8.Looking for a friend
9.Millionaire
10.My woman
11.Where love is strong
12.Doggie do do blues
13.Change it

Page Info

This band/artist page is jointly maintained by Lemonrock and Mike. Last updated 12 May 2021.