Artur Menezes - Drive Me (2015)

Artur Menezes is a high-energetic guitarist and plays with such a feeling that impresses the crowds. Because of this has become known as "the new rising star of the blues in Latin America and beyond" and one of the most requested blues artists in Brazil.
In addition to performing the traditional blues with expertise and respect, he also plays modern blues, mixing with other styles.
Now based in LA, he's making his name playing around California. He won for the second year in a row the Santa Clarita Valley Blues Society Challenge and he's gonna perform also for the second year in a row at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis in 2018, among over 250 bands from all over the world.
Recently, Artur shared the stage with Joe Satriani in a festival in Brazil for a 20 thousand people audience. He also opened for the grammy winner Bobby Rush in Los Angeles.
Last year he was the headline of inumerous festivals in Brazil. In 2014, headline at Augustibluus Festival in Estonia and played in clubs in UK. In 2015, he had a tour in Mexico and in 2013 in Argentina.
In 2012, Artur played the openings for Buddy Guy's South American tour in Brazil. Artur lived in Chicago years ago and played in many blues clubs with great artists and also jammed with Buddy Guy.
In 2016, he was the headline of inumerous blues festivals in Brazil and he has been consolidated as one of the best musicians of his generation there. Artur was also the headline at Augusti Bluus Festival in Estonia and played in blues clubs in England in 2014. In 2015, Artur was on tour in Mexico twice and in 2013 he was on tour in Argentina. In 2012, Artur Menezes played the open acts for Buddy Guy's South American tour.
In 2013 Artur led the contest - tied with a band from Los Angeles - among more than 2000 artists from around the world for a place to play with Eric Clapton at the Crossroads Guitar Festival, one of the largest and busiest guitar festivals in the world, held at Madison Square Garden in NY.
Artur lived in Chicago for short periods of time in 2006, 2007 and 2011 and he had the opportunity to play in JAM Sessions with Buddy Guy, John Primer, Charlie Love & The Silky Smooth Band, Linsey Alexander, Phil Guy, Brother John, Jimmi Burns, Big Ray, among others, and in bars of great importance to the blues, like Kingston Mines, Smokey Daddy, Rosa's, Vine Tastings and Katherina's.
Concerned about disseminating and expanding access to blues in Brazil, Artur was one of the founders of the society "Casa do Blues" (House Of Blues), which promotes weekly shows with free entrance, remaining on the board of the project until early 2013.
He has three studio albums with original songs, one of the albums was pre-selected to the Brazilian Music Awards in the category of "best album in foreign language".