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 every year, 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
Festivals
Arlington Heights Heritage Days Festival
Bensenville Days Festival
Big Red Barn Festival
Blues N Brews Fest on Rt 66, Joliet
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
LaPorte County Fair
Long Grove Strawberry Festival
Make Music Normal
McHenry Blues & BBQ Festival
Merchant Street Music Festival
Naperville Rib Fest
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
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
