Rising star Marcus Trummer brings his unique blend of southern soul, blues and roots rock – “rock ‘n’ soul” – to Victoria’s Hermann’s Upstairs on May 13.
It’ll be the first time Trummer, 21, has toured in B.C. and he’s excited to showcase a mix of songs from his upcoming debut album and the handful of tracks he’s released to date.
“The band and I will be playing an almost all original set, featuring many of the songs on my upcoming album,” Trummer said.
Trummer began “messing around with his dad’s guitar when he was 12” and taught himself. He fell in love with the genre, began songwriting and started performing at open mic nights. Graduating high school, he “realized there was nothing else I’d rather do with my life.”
Forming The Marcus Trummer Band with friends, the Calgary-based artist began performing regularly in 2018.
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“In November 2020 we released the debut EP, These Roads. We then performed at the National Music Centre’s 2020 virtual gala, RISE UP!, also featuring iconic artists Jann Arden and Corb Lund.
“My latest single, Running on My Own, received the award for Blues Recording of the Year at the 2022 YYC Music Awards in Calgary. I was also nominated for the 2022 Maple Blues Awards New Artist of the Year.”
Trummer’s biggest inspirations are icons of classic soul, gospel, R&B and funk.
“Soul artists like Stevie Wonder, Bill Withers, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Curtis Mayfield, and The Meters, have influenced me. Plus hip hop favourites, A Tribe Called Quest and The Roots.
“As a guitarist, the “three kings”, Albert, Freddie and B.B. got me into blues guitar and The Allman Brothers Band opened my ears up to southern roots/rock. I’m also a big fan of Tedeschi Trucks Band.”
Trummer released Running On My Own in 2021 and was inspired to write it during the lonely early years of forging his unique life path.
He says the collaborative “Nashville style” of songwriting has been a big influence. “However, I think my best songs come when I’m alone and needed an outlet for my thoughts; usually unpacking repressed emotions or wrestling with existential dilemmas.”
A quirky fact most people don’t know about Trummer is that he had a short-lived TV acting career, featuring a brief appearance on the AMC series, Hell On Wheels, where his character was beheaded in the first couple of minutes. Which is some kind of ‘head’-start to a career.
Trummer says creating and performing music live gives him the ultimate buzz.
“There’s really nothing better than the high you get from performing for a live audience. The flow state I enter into when I’m deeply focused and inspired while writing a song is also a similar feeling. Your mind gets quiet and all that’s left is you and the music.”
To learn more about Trummer, visit: marcustrummermusic.com.
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