Way Down South represents a dream realized by Northern California blues stalwart, singer and harp player Mick Martin. He wanted to reunite the 1993-2001 Mick Martin and the Blues Rockers with guitarist Tim Barnes (Stoneground) and bass player Steve Schofer (Orion Express), for an all-star revue. The result is this critically acclaimed release, also featuring singer-songwriter Dana Moret (who penned the title cut and worked with Barnes in the short-lived 2004 version of Stoneground), guitarist Jim Papastathis and drummer Bruce Pressley. According to Andy Grigg of Real Blues magazine, 'The 'new' look/sound of Mick Martin and the Blues Rocker is one of the few Happy Stories out there in blues land. Bigger & better than ever. I'd count these two CDs in the Top Five of their albums'
Long a favorite of collectors and critics, the group has been called the best unsigned rock blues band in America. Real Blues magazine cited the Blues Rockers as the Best West Coast Blues Band six years running (with Mick sharing the Best West Coast Blues Harmonica Player nod with Mark Hummel a year later). Performing since 1993 in their home base of Sacramento, they won the Sacramento Area Music Award (a.k.a. the SAMMIES) for Best Blues Band three times, thus entitling them to a place in the SAMMIES Hall of Fame, an honor shared by only one other blues group, Little Charlie and the Nightcats. The band has recently returned to it's roots with Mick and drummer Bruce Pressley being joined by Jimmy Pailer, Obie Dee, and Donna Proctor for hard rocking Blues-soaked live shows. January 25th debut at the Torch Club was a sold-out roaring success.
