Mark Allan Atwood has been playing music across Texas and the Southwest for 30 years. Since ending a brief hiatus from writing and performing in early 2005, he has been performing his Outlaw Country tunes across the state and currently plays 25+ dates a month as a solo artist or with his full band, Mark Allan Atwood & Brimstone.
Originally from Ennis TX, where his family settled around the time it became a town and where some of them still live, Mark Allan now resides in Burnet, TX with his wife, daughter and a houseful of pets. As a self proclaimed “D/FW Refugee,” Atwood now vows never to live anywhere but the Texas Hill Country.
Mark Allan enjoyed success during the 80’s and early 90’s fronting two touring hard rock acts. On the strength of some radio airplay in Europe and stateside with both an original composition, Stand (Atwood/McCarthy, Big Noise Records) and a successful cover of Krokus’ classic, Screamin In The Night (Storace/Van Arb, Steve Records), he toured with such top grossing rock acts as Vince Neil, Zakk Wylde, Dokken, Tesla, Great White, Slaughter and King’s X.
Five tracks from his last album, How Country, enjoyed airplay on terrestrial and online stations that focus on Texas artists. The title track, How Country and the crowd favorite Honkytonk Blues still are still receiving airplay 14 months after their release. How Country itself is a fun and upbeat tune about how a lot of current Texas Country or Red Dirt fans and artists alike are just as at home with an 80's rock tune as they are with a song from Merle Haggard and remains a crowd favorite. The album features some outstanding instrumental performances by Chris Reeves on guitar (john Arthur martinez) and Emmett Roch on steel (Gary P. Nunn, Pauline Reese).
In 2010, Mark Allan's hard work and years of performing garnered him the attention of the Academy of Texas Music, with a nomination for Rising Star of the Year. At the awards ceremony in May 2010, he received the award over a field of talented nominees.
In the summer of 2010, Mark Allan was signed as an endorsee with Kona Guitars, based in Fort Worth, TX. Mark can be seen playing his KG1 acoustic (affectionately named Fancy) and his custom one-of Kona Telecaster inspired semi-hollow body electric, AKA, the 'Dillocaster. "Great folks, great products with great prices and from a company based in by-God Fort Worth, Texas? You're damn right I'm proud to be sponsored by and endorse Kona guitars," says Mark Allan.
With two new albums on the way (a duet album with Heath Childs titled Trading Pains and a release with Brimstone), 2011 looks to be a big year for MAA. Come catch the show when you can and see what the buzz is all about.
“I think Mark has one of the nicest voices in Country.” Dash Crofts, Seals & Crofts
“This is one of the most entertaining releases of the year. There’s something for everyone here, but get your travelin’ shoes on. Once you’ve heard the disc, you’ll stop at nothing until you can catch a live show.” Lucky Boyd, MyTexasMusic.com
“Listened to Mark Allan Atwoods new CD on the way home from the release party last night. Folks, you have to get a copy of this CD in your hands. Seriously, you won't be disappointed. It's one of the best CDs I've listened to this year. Get cha' one.” Fond Kiser, Singer/Songwriter
“Not a CD full of the typical country clichés. Instead it is a fun, rollicking ride through the life of a professional musician who has a great sense of humor and can certainly laugh at himself." Julie Mercier, Live Central Texas Music
"Mark Allan Atwood has been an entertainer for years, and does it show! Even as a solo act, this enigmatic performer pulls the crowd in with some good ol' fashioned, hell-raisin attitude and then knocks 'em flat with his rough edged, passionately delivered ballads. From his arresting choice of covers to his life-stained, gut-blasting originals, he is Honkytonk at it's best." Wade Phillips, Outlaw Magazine
"The Mark Allan Atwood Band is truly a different kind of band. Their exceptional musical abilities make them an act I could not stop listening to. They are a real entertaining band." Scott Bailey, The Ranch in Temple, TX
“In a mere 90 minutes, Mark Allan Atwood singed the Red ‘n Black Picnic stage, and burned his name into the Red River Red Dirt Scene. Since that time, Mark has been writing, recording and producing, “How Country,” a “taking corners on two wheels” journey from the edge of Southern Rock to down home Classic Country, which will certainly be the map that fans his musical ember to a full-on MAA raging fire! Consider yourself warned.” Laurie “Jett Black” Roberts, Kickin’ Country 103.1 FM San Angelo
“You guys are the bona fide real deal. Can't thank you enough for coming out to play in Austin with us. Hope to make something happen again soon.” Eric Rasmussen, Big Bender Records recording artists Old Bull from Los Angeles, CA
|
MAA is fully endorsed by and proudly plays:
MAA's recordings may be purchased online from:
|
