Whether it’s strumming, flat-picking, stroking or sliding, Mark Penton can play the guitar; ya heard me?

Since he first ventured down that long, narrow, dark hallway at age 12 to meet his mentor and teacher Hank Mackie, Penton’s musical style has grown and evolved to make him a true master of his art.

His self-described style is blues, funk and stuff.  Throw some rock, gospel and soul into the mix and that only begins to touch the ‘stuff’ he is made of.    As time passes and he transcends the spectrum of music he has mastered, his earthy soulful voice blends perfectly with his musical style to take his audiences to uncharted territory.   Destination unknown but always worth the trip!

Penton’s musical experience is diverse.  He has played with Tom Jones, Eddie Kendricks, Chuck Brown and Phil Flowers.  His musical talent has taken him near and far.  He has played and toured with the Brother Martin Stage Band, toured Europe with Jimmy Thibodeaux and performed in S. Korea in USO shows in the seventies. In the eighties and nineties he was a member of the Janitors in Virginia Beach, and Crosscut Bluegrass band in the Adirondacks.  He also played with Mary Ann Redmond in DC and has shared the stage with Atlanta Rhythm Section, Marshall Tucker and Chubbie Checker.  Locally and more recently he has played with The Dream Band, Big Chief Alfred Doucette, Smokey Greenwell, Andre Bouvier and Big Al Carson to name a few.

Mark has weathered many a storm and calls New Orleans home once again. He has been back home since 2001 and currently performs at clubs on Frenchman Street and Bourbon Street.  He is well known with his bands the Pentones and Plan B and is considered to be one of the best solo acoustic acts on Bourbon. In his own words and taken from one of his original songs, he has earned the right to play the blues (and then some).  This man can rock with the best of them.  Not to be missed!