Nashville cat Mark Stuart will play solo set Monday at Johnson Park

By ruSS tArBy

Contributing Writer

Mark Stuart is a rock’n’roll road warrior.

The Nashville-based guitarist has toured tirelessly for decades, and he’s currently swinging across the Northeast playing dates in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey.

At 7 p.m. Monday, July 31, Stuart will perform a free concert at Johnson Park, as part of the 37th edition of the Liverpool Is The Place Summer Concert Series.

Years ago, Stuart played lead guitar in the late Freddy Fender’s band, he also backed up Joan Baez and plugged in with the Long Gone Daddies and Steve Earl e ’s Duke s

While playing with the Dukes, Mark met his future wife, Stacey Earl e , Steve’s younger sister. After the couple married in 1994, Stuart also became Stacey’s accompanist.

Together, they released a double disc called “Must Be Live!”

Mark Stuart’s solo album “Songs from a Corner Stage” was released in 1999 on Steve Earle’s E-Squared label. It features original material such as “Ragged Suitcase,” “Girl From Louisiana,” “Small Photograph” and “Old Money.”

Having taken his music to Europe, Canada and all of the USA, the Nashville native captivates audiences with his songs, his singing and his guitar wizardry.

Whether it be the Cambridge Folk Festival, “The Tonight Show,” MTV, the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Kerrville Folk Festival, Merlefest or countless smaller festivals and theaters, Stuart’s storytelling, guitar playing, vocals and songs have caught the attention of music lovers across the country.

Defining Stuart’s music it is virtually impossible. He blends rock, blues, folk and country. His musical toolbox is just as varied as he plays electric, acoustic and even slide guitar. Travis-style, Chicago blues, honky tonk country, fingerstyle folk all are there when you hear him. nashville-based guitarist Mark Stuart will tell stories, sing songs and pick some outrageous guitar at 7 p.m. Monday, July 31, at Johnson Park. Admission is free. submitted photo

His songs, such as “Boss is Watching,” are oftentimes autobiographic pieces, but can be constructed from the viewpoint of a lifelong troubadour who is paying attention to the world he sees around him. He could, at any moment, toss in a tune or two by Paul McCartney or John Fogerty or Woody Guthrie.

Monday’s free concert is sponsored by Sterling Financial Group, LLC which has offices at 913 Old Liverpool Road.