Jim Suhler
Jim Suhler and his band Monkey Beat have been on the music scene since 1992 and have built a loyal fanbase worldwide. The Dallas, Texas-based group is known for its no holds barred approach to blues-inspired rock ‘n roll and roots music.
Their four Lucky Seven releases, two releases on Underworld Records, and Jim’s solo acoustic CD ‘Dirt Road’ on Topcat Records have shown an amazing depth of songwriting and playing, and their constant touring both in North America and Europe has garnered many admirers and accolades. Their album Tijuana Bible was nominated for a Blues Music Award for Best Rock/Blues Album in the 2010 Blues Music Awards by The Blues Foundation in Memphis.
The band has worked in the past with noted producers Terry Manning (ZZ Top, Led Zeppelin, Stax Records, etc.), and Jim Gaines (Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughan), and Grammy Award-winning producer/songwriter Tom Hambridge (Buddy Guy, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Johnny Winter etc.).
Jim is also well known as lead guitarist and songwriter with George Thorogood & the Destroyers since 1999, appearing on all albums and video releases during that time.
He has had his songs used in feature films (Spun, Wallace & Grommit) and is a multiple nominee in the prestigious Dallas Observer Music Awards. He is a member of BUDDY, Texas’ oldest music magazine Texas Tornado Hall of Fame.
Jake Quillin
“Baptized in the sound” is how Tennessee-native Jake Quillin describes his approach to making music. As a Southern Soul R&B artist, he infuses a sense of melancholy and joy into every note he sings and squeezes from his guitar. Finding inspiration in the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Quillin exploded onto the East Tennessee music scene with his take on electric blues in his self-released Psychedelic Soul EP. He spent the following period rediscovering his roots as a songwriter and independently dropped the album titled “Stormy Weather” —reminiscent of early Sam Cooke.
With greats like Anthony Hamilton and the late Mac Miller also in his roster of influences, Quillin sought new horizons to help pull out more of this inspiration to shine through his music. This led to his connection with Dallas producer/songwriter, Electrophunck AKA Jason Burt (Leon Bridges, John Mayer, Paul Cauthen, RC & The Gritz, David Ramirez and The Band Perry). In 2019, Quillin flew to Dallas for a recording session with Burt at Modern Electric Sound Recorders which solidified his decision to leave Tennessee for Texas later that year.
After settling in with the Dallas music community, he earned media buzz, radio play and big-ticket shows by blending his roots with modern influences in the release of his latest singles and undeniable talent/showmanship on stage —being dubbed as “New Texas R&B” by the Dallas Observer. Quillin can currently be seen playing regularly across Texas with more touring and music to come this year including his forthcoming full-length album “Texas Medicine” —expected to drop this winter.
Jake Quillin has shared bills with Robert Cray, Toadies, American Authors, Neon Trees, 49 Winchester, Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights, Quaker City Night Hawks, Cam Cole (UK), Liam St. John, Ottoman Turks and Sam Morrow.