Homesick Mac
Homesick Mac has been playing professionaly his unique mix of acoustic blues, folk, ragtime as well as originals since 1983
Nowdays he performs mostly in Scandinavia and at the same time conducts workshops in Sweden and UK through the European Blues Association.
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
Mac was born in 1960 in Subotica, former Yugoslavia, now Serbia-Montenegro (check out the Website of Mac's hometown). He has been playing the guitar since the age of 15. His love for blues and other forms of so called roots music began when he heard the music of Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, as well as Doc Watson. Later, he discovered many other blues, folk and country greats, too many to list here.
Macs performing career began in 1981 when he when he began playing guitar and bass in various bands. Together with harp player Pera Joe and a mandolin & tamburica player Zoran Katrinka "Kuki", he formed the BLUES TRIO, an acoustic group that released three cassettes, one LP and two CDs between 1983 - 1994. This acoustic band was the first of its kind in Eastern Europe. With the band or alone, Mac played and toured in Italy, Hungary, Germany, Austria, Slovak Republic, Czech Republic, performing in clubs or on festivals.
Mac moved to Helsingborg, Sweden, in 1992 and started playing in clubs around Sweden and Denmark. Soon after this Mafioso Records released his first solo CD STEADY STOMPING.
In 1995 Mac met the British slide master Sam Mitchell at the Mojo Club in Copenhagen, Denmark. The two hit it off immediately, and were soon sitting in at one anothers gigs, each finding a special chemistry that they rarely experienced with others. When Mafioso Records suggested they document their collaboration, Sam was more than willing and the CD TWO LONG FROM HOME was released in 1996.
This was one of Mac's most treasured collaborations since Sam has been one of his favorite slide players from the times when he just started playing the blues. "Two Long From Home" has the Cat No. w120.961 for MAFIOSO RECORDS, distributed by WOLF , in Europe also through CDON.COM, US through AMAZON)
Mac has played with other well known blues artists, including Louisiana Red, John Hammond, Johnnie Mars, Micky Waller. Nowdays he mostly performs in Scandinavia; solo, with fellow guitar man Bo Ericsson, or with his own band, HOMESICK MAC & The Honeyboys.
Homesick Mac has been conducting acoustic guitar workshops since 1995. At the 2002 Guitar Art Festival in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, he joined musical forces with Michael Hill (Michael Hills Blues Mob) from New York City in a combined acoustic/electric guitar workshop. In August 2003, Homesick Mac held the slide classes during the European Blues Associations Blues Week at the University of Exeter in England; hes been invited to return in 2004. Please read more about the UK workshops at the news page.
Selected festival appereances in Scandinavia and rest of Europe: Copenhagen Blues Festival, Romeriket Blues & Roots, Åmål Blues Fest, Guitar Art Festival (Belgrade YU), Sandnes Blues Festival, Mönsterås Blues Festival, Umeå Blues Festival, Nordic Jazz & Blues Festival, Östersund Blues Festival, DOBRO Fest Trnava...
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
Yes, mostly in Scandinavia. Mac plays solo, in a duo with Mr. Bo Ericsson, or with a three or four piece band Homesick Mac & The Honeyboys.
Your musical influences
Early acoustic jazz and blues, roots music of all kinds, Balcan folk music, Delmore brothers & Doc Watson has been big a big influence
What equipment do you use?
Sandén acoustic guitars, 40's Silvertone Archtop, Continental Tricone, Danelectro Baritone...
Amps are a Roland Jazz Chorus JC120 and a Peavey Delta Blues
Anything else?
Please visit Homesick Mac's website with much more info and sound clips from earlies records. Photo Gallery from the whole career, Mac's Instruments pages with pictures of the equipment used.
