Mark Mulholland is a travelling singer, guitarist and songwriter, whose musical peregrinations have taken him from his native Scotland through most of Europe and North America, via Haiti, to Bamako, Mali, where he is now based. Always combining his solo career with various bands and projects including Two Dollar

Bash, an acoustic folk/country/blues group with whom he has recorded 4 albums, he is also in demand as a session musician, having made recordings over the years with Nikki Sudden, Captain Sensible, Toumani Diabate, Tony Allen and many other artists, and as a producer, having recently produced two albums for Glitterbeat Records. His influences include Celtic folk, country, reggae, blues, jazz, rock and punk, and beside acoustic and electric guitar, he also turns his hand to other stringed instruments including banjo, mandola, bouzouki, bass and lap steel guitar. Mark’s songs have been covered on albums in the USA (Barleyjuice, Sharla June and the Mayhaws), the UK (George Stott) and the Czech Republic (The Lazy Pigs) and also feature in the live repertoire of a wide variety of artists throughout Europe, America and beyond. As well as multiple albums with bands, he has released two solo albums, “The Devil on the Stairs” (2008) and “The Cactus and the Dragon” (2011), both well-received by critics. September 2012 saw the release of “Waiting for the Storm”, a collaboration with former dEUS guitarist Craig Ward and Belgian double bass player Hannes d’Hoine. The album was chosen by the Telegraph as one of “five summer treats of British folk music”, and rated by R2 magazine as “one of the best albums of 2012”. After years of splitting his time between Berlin, Paris and other European cities, Mark moved to Haiti in 2010, where he worked with young local bands in a cultural centre in Port-au-Prince, as well as collaborating with many established Haitian artists, including the world-renowned writer, painter and actor Frankétienne, with whom he composed, recorded and produced an album of spoken word and music called “Chaophonies. During his time in Haïti, Mark made regular trips back to Europe to continue with his projects there, including several tours with Craig Ward and Hannes d’Hoine and a tour with Frankétienne. In May 2014 he made an album in San Francisco with two friends and long-time musical partners, Rusty Miller (Jackpot, Cake, Chuck Prophet, Jason Lytle) and James Finch Jr., under the name Rummage, entitled “Somewhere Else”, released in May 2016. Just before leaving Haiti, Mark played in a project with the legendary Nigerian drummer Tony Allen, along with Sanba Zao and other top Haitian percussionists, bassist/keyboard player Jean-Philippe Dary, and electronic musician Olaf Hund, and the resulting album, co-produced by Mark, was released in June 2016 by Glitterbeat Records under the name the Afro Haitian Experimental Orchestra, which reached no.5 in the Transglobal World Music Charts. In September 2014, Mark and his wife moved to Bamako, Mali, where he has been working with many of the fantastic musicians there, including the kora maestros Toumani Diabate and Madou Sidiki Diabate, percussionist Cheickne Sissoko, multi-instrumentalist Yacouba Sissoko, singer Pamela Badjogo and keyboard player Cheick Tidiane Seck. The project with Hannes d’Hoine and Craig Ward has now expanded to include Yacouba Sissoko, taking the name Alba Griot Ensemble, and blends Celtic and mandingue influences. The band has now recorded an album with Grammy-winning producer David Odlum, which features guest appearances by Tony Allen, Madou Sidiki Diabate, Pamela Badjogo and Toumani Diabate, who invited the band to participate in the Festival Acoustik Bamako, an international music festival in the Malian capital in January 2016. From August to October 2016, Mark produced “Kidal”, the 5th album of the Malian Tuareg band Tamikrest for Glitterbeat, released in March 2017, which also reached no.5 in the Transglobal World Music Charts. “Among the most inspiring musicians that I have ever had the pleasure to perform with” Nikki Sudden; “When I play his songs, I find out quickly who among my listeners knows what it’s like to fall in love, or fall apart, or dream a drunken dream, or smile at a sunrise from the back of a truck. Those people are the ones who say, “Wow, what a great song.” Bill Hangley Jr.

www.markmulholland.net mulhollandmark@yahoo.com

MARK MULHOLLAND Glasgow to Bamako via Berlin, Paris, Prague, Galway, Port-au-Prince …

Mark Mulholland – recent discography and selected press

Rummage - "Somewhere Else" (2016 - Cannery Row CRR 1621)

"He manages to hop genres at will – raw rock, melodic pop, late night cabaret club ballads, chilled blues and country grooves – but still come out with a cohesive collection ofsongs which somehow not only feel at home on the same album but alsouniquely and intrinsically his own." Dancing about Architecture“A very cool and playable record that you'll want to listen to a good few times” Whisperin' & Hollerin' (8/10); “Rummage entertain with infectious guitarmelodies, luscious organ, mellotron and a banjo for good measure. Not bad atall.“ Vive le Rock (7/10); “A joy to hear...full of fun, great ideas, creativity andmusicianship.” Fatea; “As evocative as a smell from childhood “ Americana UK “He hits the target time and time again...wasted elegance indeed with a shambolic rock’n’roll heart“Blabber'n'Smoke

Afro-Haitian Experimental Orchestra (2016 Glitterbeat Records)

“Swirling, volatile music, awash with synths and scorched to a turn byMulholland’s guitar” The Wire; “A fluid sound whose energy is hardly containedin the album’s eight tracks.” Sound and Colour“A joyous wig-out that is part Sun Ra, part Can” DJ Mag (7.5/10)“The tracks are dominated by Allen’s fidgety, polyrhythmic Afrobeat rhythms, butthe Haitian singers and the FX-laden soundscapes of Glasgow guitarist MarkMulholland take things into other dimensions.” 8/10 Uncut; “This albumencapsulates a rare, continent-straddling, community spirit. A sure and certaintonic for all.” Daily Mirror; “As refreshing as dip in the ocean...a brilliant album” Clash Magazine“Infectious from the start, as experimental as their name suggests, with some very pleasing results.” Northern Sky

Frankétienne & Mark Mulholland – "Chaophonies" (2014 Cannery Row/Jezus Factory CRR 1418)

« Mesmerising, just amazing » BBC Radio Scotland« Fabulous ! I just love it ! Brilliant ! » BBC Radio Shropshire « Sublime...un très grand disque » RifRaf, Belgium« Artistically triumphant » The Telegraph, UK « Un mariage réussi » LeNouvelliste, Haiti « A compelling listen » Lonesome Highway, UK« Sheer quality and inventiveness » Famous Last Words, Norway « Expressive,flamboyant and hugely evocative » Americana UK « Captivating, concise andcoherent » Chocolate Hat, UK « Captivating and entrancing, melodicallyspiritual » Monolith Cocktail

Mark Mulholland and Craig Ward - "Waiting for the Storm" (2012 Cannery Row/Jezus Factory CRR 1216A)

"A late night masterpiece to salve bruised souls, one of the best albums of 2012"R2; « A remarkable and bold collaboration...dreamily strong » The Telegraph(album chosen as one of « five summer treats of British folk music » ); "Themusic will speak for itself – and yield hidden riches over countless return visits" The Irish Times; « Strange and beautiful ...one of those unique records that feelas if you’re being taken on a journey » 6 Days from Tomorrow; « Different,creative, challenging, intriguing, unique and very satisfying » Green Man Review « Close harmonies and plucked guitars, overlapping gentle songs that sootheand weep » Q magazine« The more I listen, the more ambitious the whole thing sounds.» No Depression « There is no doubt about the quality of the music that these guys make » Iain Anderson, BBC Scotland « Timeless, intimate and immediate. A magical listen. » Misfit City

Two Dollar Bash - "New Adventures" (2011 Cannery Row CRR 1113)

"Easily a contender for non-American Americana album of the year." R2 (5 starsfrom 5); "A real delight from start to finish" Rhythm & Booze (9 stars from 10)"Exceptional musicianship and songwriting. Good time music that will bring asmile to your face." Electric Ghost "Pure joy, pure and simple." Leicester Bangs"The most authentic-sounding Americana you'll hear this side of theAppalachians." Fatea; "Their three part harmonies are as good as any I’ve heardfor a very long time, the songwriting is excellent as is the playing on these varied songs" American Roots (4 stars from 5); "A skilful album brimful of new and unexpected adventures" Maverick (4 stars from 5)

Mark Mulholland "The Cactus and the Dragon" (2011 CRR 1114)

“Mulholland is a master of his craft” R2 (4 stars from 5)"The Cactus and the Dragon, with its shades of dark green and brown andreeking of stale coffee from a roadside diner, is a seriously impressive piece ofwork.” Drowned in Sound (8 stars from 10); “‘The Cactus and The Dragon’doesn’t do much wrong and does plenty that’s right.” Never Enough Notes (8stars from 10); « Mark Mulholland is an interesting artist and one worth keepingan eye on. » Folk World Europe “A ripe collection of tales from the road” Uncut "Incredibly unique"Mudkiss

Two Dollar Bash - “Lost River” (2009 Cannery Row CRR 1113) “Literate songs, versatile musicianship and good honest music, delivered withthe sheer joy of playing.” Jazzwise; "The group’s organic, authentic soundprovides plenty of moments to savour, taking in folk, country, blues and acousticrock ... this has the potential to impress any fan of uncontrived, richly-texturedroots music." Maverick; “One of the best European acoustic folk/country bands.The four musicians are not only outstanding instrumentalists and singers, butalso very talented songwriters.” MazzMusikas, Belgium

Mark Mulholland - “The Devil on the Stairs” (2008 Troubadour TRBCD02)“A fine collection of bittersweet songs. There's a delightful variety of styles whichunfold gradually to reward the attentive listener.” Rock'n'Reel (4 stars from 5) “Agreat late-night reflective collection, incandescently candlelit and replete withswirling psych tinges of the early Roy Harper, Robert Wyatt and the desultorypoetry of Townes Van Zandt. A truly special purchase.” Maverick magazine (4/5)

Two Dollar Bash - “Two Dollar Bash” (2007 Cannery Row CRR 0704)“Some really strong acoustic guitar. Lots of energy in their work, and somevery poignant words in their lyrics.” Tradition, USA; ”Mighty fine banjo pickingcoupled with insightful lyrics” Americana UK; “They have a natural instinct forsimple, haunting melodies, with narratives revolving around road trips, ailingrelationships and the eternal internal battle of good and evil.” Lolo Wood

Two Dollar Bash - “On the Road” (2007 Cannery Row CRR 0702)“Real music with heart and soul, from real musicians with heart and soul” NoFences, Germany"This is heartfelt and very true Americana, and I bet they do a good live show."Green Man Review, USA “Classic, big skies and bar rooms music” Songlines“Great original songs, fine musicianship and a wealth of influences” Jazzwise"I saw Two Dollar Bash. Praised be the Lord" Rootsville (concert review)

Impure Thoughts - “Lights Ahead” (2006 Cannery Row CRR 0601)“What music is really meant to be about” Pirate Radio Berlin“Impure Thoughts have the gift for the kind of gorgeous harmonies that will haveyou crowing along after just one listen....they rock!” XL magazine)

www.markmulholland.net