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MARK HARRISON BRINGS THE BLUES TO SUNDERLAND…

Posted on October 4th 2022 by Whats on Northeast

Seventeen Nineteen was created in the 300-year-old former Holy Trinity church at the city’s East End, following a £5.1m restoration.

 

And on Friday 14 October, it’s unique acoustics will echo to the sound of guitarist Mark Harrison’s repertoire of blues, roots, folk and gospel music.

 

Mark will front a three-piece band, singing and playing his 12 string guitars alongside Charles Benfield on double bass and Ben Welburn on drums and percussion.

 

One of his guitars once belonged to blues singer Eric Bibb and he acknowledges his music is also influenced by artists such as Charley Patton, Blind Willie McTell and Sonny Boy Williamson.

 

He has released six albums throughout his career, the first, Watching the Parade, was released in 2010 while the most recent, The Road to Liberty pt. 2, came out last year.

 

Mark will perform music from across his six albums as well as spoken word between songs, which he says has “become a major part of my live shows.

 

“It’s the first time for us in Sunderland and we’re really looking forward to that,” he said

 

“Audiences can expect something very different from what anyone else does because we play all original songs, on all kinds of subjects that other people don’t write songs about.

 

“I play two very unusual 12 string resonator guitars which work incredibly well in a church environment – they will ring around the place.

 

“We’ve played some pretty big churches and it works really well as the sound we make really does suit this kind of venue.”

 

Tracey Mienie, Seventeen Nineteen’s Centre Manager, said “we are so excited to welcome the Mark Harrison Band to Seventeen Nineteen as a part of our busy schedule of autumn events.

 

“Audiences can look forward to a night of live music perfectly suited to the acoustics of this historic church.”

 

The Mark Harrison Band gig starts at 7pm and tickets, priced from £17.50, can be booked at

​​https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mark-harrison-band-tickets-314717868617

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