Arsen Shomakhov
Blues Guitarist and Singer
Arsen Shomakhov is an award winning dynamic blues artist, known for his fiery guitar, soulful vocals, and captivating live performances. Drawing inspiration from blues legends like Freddie King, T-Bone Walker, Albert Collins, Ronnie Earl, he blends traditional blues with modern flair, delivering powerful performances that leave audiences wanting more. With years of experience and performances at blues festivals and clubs in Canada, USA and Europe, Arsen Shomakhov is ready to bring passion and energy to any stage.
Music
Rain City Blues
"His self-released Rain City Blues is a terrific showcase for the exactitude of his fiery electric guitar, 10 of his own compositions, and, most importantly, his expressive, soulful voice. Rock’n’roll, boogaloo, shuffles, R’n’B, ska, reggae and—best of all—a particularly virulent form of bad-ass jump-blues accosts the ear like a Russian nuclear bomb. And, in this case, that’s a good thing!"- Mike Greenblatt, GOLDMINE The Music Collector's Magazine
Order autographed copy of Rain City Blues CD using CONTACT form
Dynamic
"Dynamic is a guitar-lover's delight of an album, one that stayed in the CD player of the Toronto Blues Society Society for a week."- John Valenteyn, TORONTO BLUES SOCIETY
Press Kit
Bio
A Maple Blues Awards nominee, guitarist, songwriter and singer Arsen Shomakhov is an electric blues performer truly dedicated to the style’s roots yet never hesitating to borrow means of expression from other genres.
He established himself as a blues-devoted virtuoso musician in his native Russia making it to the International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis in 2005 and winning the new talent contest at the King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena, AR in 2007. After moving to Vancouver, BC in 2008, Arsen formed the Arsen Shomakhov Band that currently features Darryl Havers on keyboards, Jerry Cook on saxophone, Brian Scott on bass, and Chip Hart on drums. Working hard to make a name for himself, he has performed at blues festivals across the US and Canada including The King Biscuit Blues Festival, Waterfront Blues Festival, Edmonton International Blues Festival, Montreal International Blues Festival, and the Calgary International Blues Festival, to name a few.
In 2010 Arsen’s album “On the Move” was released in the USA and in the same year Toronto Blues Society nominated Arsen for the Maple Blues Awards. Arsen Shomakhov Band went to Memphis to represent the White Rock Blues Society at the IBC twice in 2014 and 2016 and both times advanced to the semi-finals. Arsen’s third North American album entitled “Dynamic” was released in August 2014.
Arsen’s most recent album “Rain City Blues” produced and recorded by Kid Andersen at the Greaseland Studios, in San Jose, CA was released on September 6, 2019. The album includes 10 original tracks covering a stylistic range from rocking blues and funky boogaloo to r&b and 50’s rock and roll with jump blues in between. The album made Top 25 Living Blues Magazine radio report for September 2019, Top RMR Blues Album Chart for 2019 (worldwide), reached #1 in Canada and #12 worldwide (RMR blues charts wk. of Sep 21), #2 in Canada (RMR, wk of Sep 14 and wk. of Oct 12), #17 in the list of top 40 most played albums in UK (IBBA) in September 2019.
Currently Arsen started writing material for his 7th album that is expected to be recorded and released in 2025.
Performance Highlights
Festivals
• Waterfront Blues Festival (Portland, OR)
• King Biscuit Blues Festival (Helena, AR)
• Edmonton Blues Festival
• Calgary Blues Festival
• Mont Tremblant Blues Festival
• Montreal Blues Festival
• Kaslo Jazz Festival
• Dark Season Blues (Svalbard, Norway)Venues
Yale, Blue Frog, Frankie's Jazz Club, Guilt&Co (Vancouver)
Yardbird Suite (Edmonton)
Blues City Cafe, Rum's Boogie (Memphis)
BB King's (Moscow)
Muddy Waters Blues Club (Oslo)
Music Samples
“Rain City Blues” (Independent, 2019)
Produced by Kid Andersen at Greaseland Studios, San Jose, CA
"Dynamic", (Blues Leaf), 2014
Press Quotes
“Shomakhov's strengths are his formidable guitar playing across the spectrum of blues and R&B styles, his songwriting and his knack for finding good obscure material to cover...”
- (Downbeat)“His excellent guitar work pays rare attention to tonal variety and to creating strong rhythms as well as fleet-fingered, inventive solos”
- (Tom Hyslop, Blues Review)“Dynamic is a guitar-lover's delight of an album, one that stayed in the CD player of the Toronto Blues Society for a week.”
- (John Valenteyn, Toronto Blues Society)“His approach is not flashy guitar overkill but an economic restraint in which feel and tone count for more than dexterity...”
- (Tom Harrison, The Province)“He can coax an impressive array of sounds and styles from his Fender Stratocaster”
- (Sean McDavitt, Guitar One Magazine)“Call it a blues variety-show. Rock’n’roll, boogaloo, shuffles, R’n’B, ska, reggae and—best of all—a particularly virulent form of bad-ass jump-blues accosts the ear like a Russian nuclear bomb. And, in this case, that’s a good thing!”
- (Mike Greenblatt, Goldmine. The Music Collector's Magazine)“Rain City Blues is short, sweet, and impossible to beat!”
- (Rainey Wetnight, Blues Blast Magazine)
Notable Achievements
- Album “Rain City Blues” made Top 25 Living Blues Magazine radio report (Sep, 2019), reached #1 in Canada and #12 worldwide (RMR Blues charts wk. of Sep 21, 2019), #2 in Canada (RMR, wk of Sep 14 and wk of Oct 12, 2019), #17 in the list of top 40 most played albums in UK (IBBA) in September 2019- Maple Blues Awards Nominee (Toronto Blues Society)- Best Emerging Artist (King Biscuit Blues Festival)
Discography
• Rain City Blues, 2019 (Independent)
• Dynamic, 2014 (Blues Leaf Records)
• On The Move, 2010 (Blues Leaf Records)
• Dangerous, 2006 (Blues Leaf Records)
• Troublemaker, 2003 (Drugaya Muzika)
• Heavy Steppin’, 2002 (Dialogue Music)
Reviews
Blues Blast MagazineToronto Blues SocietyGoldmine, The Music Collector's Magazine
Booking
Jeff Turner Entertainment Group
Suite 1104 - 207 West Hastings Street,
Vancouver, BC V6B 1H7
Phone: (604) 662-4144 • Fax (604) 662-4116
Email: [email protected]
Promo Photos
Shows
| Date | Venue | Address | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 May | Admiral Pub | 4125 Hastings St | 7-10pm |
| 15 Jun | Guilt & Company | 1 Alexander St | 9pm-12am |