According to some, South Carolina born Wes Mackey, "should be far better known than he is' (Andy Griggs Real Blues). The 71 year old bluesman admits his years of hard partying on the road may have held him up a bit but his experiences on the road are also the inspiration for many of the songs on his latest release Life is a Journey. Since Mackey quit partying years ago he has traveled extensively touring Europe many times and in amongst the accolades he became an Honourary Citizen of Provence in France and wa the first African American blues artist to perform in Slovakia. From soloist to bandmaster he is known for his uplifting performances and dynamic stage presence. Just like his unique style it is a craft that evolved "out of necessity."he says. He worked almost steadily for 50 years but after a brief hiatus that landed him on Canada's west coast, blues gigs he realized were hard to come by. So he played where ever and whatever was required. From country to jazz he played it all and it gave birth to his unique and diverse take on music. Now he is busier than ever, taking on a range of interesting projects and collaborations including the extraordinary Ganges Blues a sitar/guitar duet originally produced, written and released by Andrew Kim of Delhi 2 Dublin and now re-released on Life is a Journey. Also notable is his critically acclaimed blues/hip-hop CD release Good Morning Blues with Remi "Cityreal" Huot. Two Much Music videos were also released (Passing Me By and Night Life) and the two continue to work together. Although Mackey loves the concert and festival circuit most, when he is at home in Vancouver you can usually catch him performing at some of the coolest urban lounges at many of it's 5 star venues. It is a circuit he worked hard to establish and is glad to be a part of. He will also be touring again in spring and summer 2014.