Minnie Marks – Australian Blues’ Best-Kept Secret

Aussie Minnie Marks is now setting stages on fire in France & Germany, scroll down for tour dates. Kevin Borich & Kim Churchill rave about her, she is very good! Her powerful guitar work accompanied on foot drums creates a wall of sound … she’s blowing the music scene apart.

Minnie Marks was supporting Kevin Borich at the gig in these photos and he came out the front to watch her perform. We’re all blown away by the dynamic fingerstyle and slide guitar accompanied by herself on footdrums … and she sings it all too!

Minnie Marks – Australian Blues’ Best-Kept Secret

Minnie Marks isn’t just another blues artist; she’s a rare triple treat: a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist playing slide and fingerstyle guitar while stomping on foot drums. It really sounds incredible.

Armed with her well-worn Goldtop guitar and Pete Farmer’s innovative Farmer Foot Drum, Marks crafts a wall of sound that is as unique as it is powerful.

Her live performances are an intricate dance of fingerstyle guitar playing, vocal prowess, and foot-driven percussion, all of which come together to create a sound that’s both groundbreaking and deeply rooted in the blues tradition.

Despite her undeniable talent, Marks remains somewhat of a hidden gem, quietly making waves in the blues scene.

Over the years, she has released three studio albums and one live album, recorded in Stuttgart, Germany, each one showcasing her evolution as an artist.

Her music is raw, visceral, and deeply personal, reflecting her own life experiences, including her brush with death following life-threatening open-heart surgery in 2021.

But if you think that such an ordeal might have slowed her down, you’d be wrong. The award-winning troubadour shows no signs of stopping. Her relentless touring schedule is a testament to her passion for music, and her live shows are a powerful reminder of why she’s one of the most exciting talents in the blues world today.

Minnie Marks bio

Marks’ journey began in earnest when she won the prestigious ‘Bluesfest Busking Competition’ in 2011, a victory that catapulted her onto the radar of blues enthusiasts.

Since then, she has garnered accolades like the People’s Choice Awards at both Blues At Bridgetown and Nannup Music Festivals, and the title of ‘Best Guitarist’ at the Open Arms Festival competition.

These achievements, while impressive, are just the tip of the iceberg for an artist who is constantly pushing the boundaries of what she can do.

Kim Churchill says, “Minnie Marks, she plays guitar like nothing I’ve ever seen before, she sings like Janis Joplin, she’s going to blow the world apart.” And it’s true. Marks’ performances are nothing short of mesmerizing. Her voice, just like Janis Joplin’s, roars with emotion and power, while her guitar playing defies convention, blending intricate fingerstyle techniques with the driving rhythms of her Farmer Foot Drum.

As Marks continues to tour and create, her following grows steadily, fueled by word of mouth and the undeniable pull of her live performances. Latest Minnie Marks Tour Dates.

For those lucky enough to have discovered her, Minnie Marks is a rare find in today’s music landscape—a true artist in every sense of the word, who continues to carve out her own path, one groundbreaking performance at a time.

For more about Minnie Marks, her music, and her tour dates, visit her official website. If you’re a fan of blues and haven’t yet heard of Minnie Marks, now is the time to tune in. You won’t be disappointed.

Farmer Foot Drum

Pete Farmer, a Michigan-based inventor, has revolutionized the way musicians approach live performance with his innovative creation, the Farmer Foot Drum.

Designed specifically for guitar players and multi-instrumentalists who aim to achieve a full band sound, the Foot Drum is a complete percussion kit that can be played entirely with the feet. This groundbreaking instrument allows solo performers to create a rich, multi-layered sound that was previously only possible with a full band.

The core of the Farmer Foot Drum consists of four inner pedals that produce the essential drum kit sounds: hi-hat cymbals, snare drum, and bass drum.

These foundational elements provide the rhythmic backbone for any performance, enabling musicians to maintain a steady beat while simultaneously playing their primary instrument, such as a guitar.

The Foot Drum’s design is intuitive, allowing artists to seamlessly integrate percussion into their performances without missing a beat—literally.

What truly sets the Farmer Foot Drum apart is its versatility. Additional pedals can be incorporated to trigger secondary hits or play a range of added percussion instruments, including jingles, tambourines, crash or splash cymbals, and blocks.

This flexibility allows musicians to customize their setup to suit their unique style and the specific demands of each performance. By enabling artists to produce a full, dynamic sound all on their own, Pete Farmer’s Foot Drum has become an indispensable tool for musicians like Minnie Marks, who push the boundaries of live performance.

Minnie Marks … on fire …

Minnie Marks current European tour 2024-2025

22/08: Blues auch Château Festival, France – info
23/08: Blues auch Château Festival, France – info
24/08: Le Buis Blues Festival, France – info

29/08: Sudhaus Biergarten – Tübingen, Germany
01/09: Pappelgarten – Reutlingen, Germany
05/09: Alter Schlachthof – Soest, Germany
06/09: Jazzclub – Kelkheim, Germany
07/09: Nikolaikirche – Wettin, Germany
08/09: Sumpfblume – Hameln, Germany
10/09: Topos – Leverkusen, Germany
12/09: Haus Eifgen – Wermelskirchen, Germany
13/09: Stadtfest – Celle, Germany
14/09: Fahrradkeller – Berlin, Germany
15/09: Vakuum – Bad Bevensen, Germany

19/09: Brin de Zinc – Barberaz, France
20/09: Le Sonograf – Le Thor, France
21/09: Internationales de Guitare – Céret, France
22/09: Internationales de Guitare – Sérignan, France
25/09: Château du Rozier – Feurs, France
26/09: Espace Grappelli – Nice, France
27/09: Le climax – Riotord, France

01/10, 2025: Cafe Galao – Stuttgart, Germany
02/10, 2025: Bonafaziuskirche, Frankfurt, Germany