Number 7 Duke Street Warrenpoint, UK

Number 7 Duke Street Warrenpoint, UK

Whistledown Hotel Warrenpoint, UK

Whistledown Hotel Warrenpoint, UK

For close to two decades, Marty "Big Dog" Mercer's heartfelt, southpaw Blues and soulful voice have growled through the Midwest music scene and abroad.

Mercer's ability to combine emotional lyrics that tell stories of life and his aggressive guitar style and slide guitar abilities make him an artist unlike any other. 

The 6'10", 300 lb man owns every stage he walks on, and his personality is as large as his stature.

 

Performing nearly 200 shows yearly, he and his band have captured fans' and critics' attention.

 

Timeline

2003 - Released first album titled "Swamp Boogie" (self)

2007 - Crowned Joliet, IL's "King Of The Blues" at Guitar Center

2010 - Signed a four-year recording contract with Electro Glide Records

2010 - Released second album titled "Attack of the Southpaw" (EGR)

2010 - Placed second in the Muddy Waters Slide Guitar Championship

2011 - Awarded "Best Blues Band" by SuburbaNites Magazine Awards

2011 - Released third album titled "Big Dog" Mercer (EGR)

2012 - Awarded "Best Blues Band" by SuburbaNites Magazine Awards

2012 - Tied for first place in the Chicago Blues Challenge at Chicago Blues Festival

2013 - Inducted into the Joliet Blues Hall of Fame

2015 - Awarded "Best Blues Artist" in the Kankakee Valley music awards

2016 - Released fourth album titled "It Ain't Easy" (self)

2016 - Inducted into the Chicago Blues Hall of Fame

2017 - Awarded "Best Blues Artist" in the Kankakee Valley music awards

2017 - Performed two shows at the Blues on the Bay festival in Warrenpoint, UK (N. Ireland)

2018 - Performed six shows at the Blues on the Bay festival in Warrenpoint, UK (N. Ireland)

2018 - Performed live on BBC during the Blues on the Bay festival in Warrenpoint, UK (N. Ireland)

2019 - Performed 13 shows in Ireland, including eight performances at the Blues on the Bay festival in Warrenpoint, UK. (N. Ireland)

2020 - Nominated for "Artist of the year" & "Best Blues Artist" for Region Music Awards

2021 - Awarded "Best Blues Artist" for Region Music Awards

Festivals

Arlington Heights Heritage Days Festival

Bensenville Days Festival

Big Red Barn Festival

Blues N Brews Fest on Rt 66, Joliet

Bolingbrook Promenade Concert Series

Brookfield 4th of July Festival

Cedar Lake Festival

Chicago Blues Festival

Chicago Oyster Festival

Chicago CiniFest

Frankfort Fall Festival

Frankfort Rib Festival

Frontier Days Festival

Harvard Blues Festival

Illinois Blues Festival

Illinois State Fair

International Guinness Blues On The Bay Festival (UK) 

Joliet Blues Festival

Kankakee Blues Festival

Lansing Blues Festival

LaPorte County Fair

Lyon's Red White and Blues Festival

Long Grove Strawberry Festival

Make Music Normal

McHenry Blues & BBQ Festival

Merchant Street Music Festival

Naperville Rib Fest

Northwest Spirits and Wine Festival

Orland Days – Orland Park, IL

Palos Park Concert on the Green

Pasta Vino Little Italy Fest

Peoria Blues & Heritage Festival

Pork N Blues Festival

Promenade Bolingbrook IL

Scarecrow Festival

Shorewood BBQ, Brews & Blues Festival

St John Festival

Summer Concert Series - Brookfield IL

Summer Concert Series – Frankfort IL

Summer Concert Series – Glen Towne Center IL

Summer Concert Seris - Munster IN

Summer Concert Series – Olympia Fields IL

Summer Concert Series - Palos Park IL

Summer Concert Series - Roselle IL

Summer Concert Series – Shorewood IL

Summer Concert Series - Sycamore IL

Summer Concert Series - Zion IL

Taste of Joliet

Taste of Orland Park

Taste of Westmont Muddy Waters' Tribute

West Loop Chocolate & Wine Festival

Windy City Blues Society Festival

Notable Venues

Arcada Theater - St Charles, IL

BB's Soup Blues & Jazz - St Louis, MO

Balmoral Racetrack – Crete, IL

Balmoral - UK

Blue Chip Casino – Michigan City, IN

Bladon Park - Belfast, UK

Club Cheri - UK

Drake Hotel - Chicago IL

Enler's Delta Blues Club - UK

Evanston Rocks – Evanston, IL

Fairmont at Millennium Park – Chicago, IL

Gilmore Car Museum - Fair Oaks, MI

Governors State University – Univ. Park, IL

Grand Victoria Casino – Elgin, IL

Hard Rock Cafe - Chicago, IL

Harlem Avenue Lounge - Berwyn, IL

Harrah's Casino – Joliet, IL

Historical Museum - Joliet, IL

House Of Blues - Chicago, IL

Horseshoe Casino - Hammond, IN

Johnny's Blitz - Westmont, IL

John Hancock Tower – Chicago, IL

Kingston Mines – Chicago, IL

Lansing Library Concerts – Lansing, IL

Legends – Chicago, IL

McManus Bar - Ireland

Majestic Theater – Kankakee, IL

Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals - DesPlaines, IL

Millennium Park – Chicago, IL

Nan Rices - Newry, UK

Navy Pier – Chicago, IL

No. 7 Duke St. - UK

Rosa's Lounge – Chicago, IL

Rt 66 Speedway – Joliet, IL

Rum Boogie - Memphis, TN

Rennaissance Hotel - Chicago IL

Shaw's - Chicago, IL

Smoke Daddy – Chicago, IL

Starved Rock State Park - Utica, IL

Whilstledown Hotel - UK

Ye Old Ship - UK

Wilmot Ski Resort – Wilmot, WI