Eric Gales

Eric Gales grew up in a musical family with four brothers, two of them who learned to play the guitar upside down and left-handed in the same fashion that Eric does. Eric released his first record at Age 16 for Elektra records to an amazing response from the media and music fans around the globe. Guitar World Magazine’s Reader’s Poll named Eric as “Best New Talent,” in 1991. After recording a second record for Elektra, all three brothers teamed up for The Gales Bros. “Left Hand Brand” which was recorded for the House of Blues label in 1996.

Through the years, it would not be unusual to look out in the audience and see artists like Carlos Santana, Eric Johnson, B. B. King, and Eric Clapton, looking on with interest as Eric took his guitar and worked crowd after crowd into a frenzy. The new millennium presented fresh opportunities for Eric. He was signed to a deal with Nightbird Records which was affiliated with the Hendrix family and distributed through MCA/Universal. Under this deal, Eric recorded the critically acclaimed record “That’s What I Am” in 2001 and hit the road, mesmerizing fans around the world with his uncanny connection to his guitar.

As both an African-American left-handed guitarist of extraordinary ability and an expressive vocalist, it is natural for people to compare Eric to Hendrix. But Eric has developed a unique hybrid blues/rock sound that also draws upon influences as diverse as Albert King and Frank Gambale. A unique amalgam of styles, Eric Gales stands head and shoulders among other guitarists in his genre.

Mathias Lattin

Mathias Lattin won the 2023 International Blues Challenge and Best Guitarist at the tender of 20-years old; conceivably making him the youngest to win both.

The grandson of NBA Hall of Famer, David “Big Daddy” Lattin, he displays his talent on the stage not the basketball court. He is a 2020 graduate of Houston’s acclaimed Kinder High School of Performing and Visual Arts. He began his foray into the Houston Blues scene when he was 12 years old. Jonn Del Toro Richardson invited him to attend the weekly Blues jam he hosted at The Big Easy. He garnered national attention when he joined the Keeshea Pratt Band (IBC 2018) in 2020. After touring with the Keeshea Pratt Band and joining Brazilian Bluesman Cris Crochemore for the 2022 IBC, Mathias decided to take a shot at the IBC as front man.