Artist Summary
Artist Bio
The V-Knights are a three-piece band comprised of 11 year old twin brothers (Gabriel-bass guitar, Christian-lead guitar) and their 8 year old brother, Alex, on drums. The group started performing in January 2010.
On February 4, 2011, the band of three brothers performed at the 27th International Blues Challenge in Memphis - the first time in the 20-year history that a youth group has been selected by The Phoenix Blues Society to represent the Phoenix community at this prestigious and renowned event! The trio dazzled the crowd with emotive riffs and lyrics at the world famous “Alfred’s Blues Club” on Beale Street. Their gutty performance earned them the opportunity to perform in Tacoma Washington for the South Sound Blues Association and Gray Sky Blues Music Festival on April 9, 2011 with national recording artist Bob Corritore and Dave Riley.
The siblings’ all-original rockin’ blues revival sounds are composed entirely by the elementary school-age prodigies. The V-Knights proudly name blues greats such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmy Vaughan, Carlos Santana, John Lee Hooker Jr., Buddy Guy, BB King, Eric Clapton, Albert King, Willie “Big Eyes”, and Muddy Waters among their chief influences.
With 18 original songs to their credit, the self-taught V-Knights have recently had their song “Gas Pump Blues” featured on WRCN radio in New York City on the Grave Yard Blues Radio show with Jerry Schaefer and performed live a staggering 29 times in 2011 alone. In August 2010, the Phoenix Children’s Hospital selected the V-Knights as the official band for the Kids Rock Stars Program sponsored by Kohl’s, a national outreach initiative conceived to prevent childhood obesity and promote healthy families. The very same month, the philanthropic band performed at the annual Blues in the Schools event hosted by the Phoenix Blues Society. The event raises money and provides children with free music lessons along with curriculum to share the history of blues in schools.
More About The V-Knights
Aside from their musical talent, Gabriel, Christian, and Alex are deeply caring boys. They regularly perform to bring comfort and smiles to those that are going through hard times. They actually came up with their own candy, V-Knights Guitar Strings Candy, to raise money for a program they created, “The Gift of Music.” They continue to give hospitalized and disadvantaged children with hopes and dreams by providing them with a new, acoustic guitar and a few lessons to get them started. On December 22, 2010 they presented their first guitar to a boy who currently resides in a group home. Read their story by visiting http://gogabie.com/2010/12/gift-music/
The V-Knights recently performed at the 1st annual Downtown Phoenix Mardi Gras on March 4, 2011 and The 23rd Chandler Ostrich Festival on March 12, 2011. Other performances include Sand Jam (Tribute to Gulf War Veterans, Tucson AZ), Blues in the Schools (Rhythm Room, Phoenix, AZ), PF Chang’s Rock n Roll Marathon (Tempe AZ), Fiesta Del Sol at the Tempe Diablo Stadium (Phoenix AZ), Phoenix Children’s Hospital Kids Rock Stars Kick-off Party (Tempe Market Place), Access Arizona TV and Toys for Tots Drive (Tucson AZ), M.U.S.E Project at The Sail Inn (Tempe AZ), Peter Piper Pizza Kids Day (Tucson AZ), Alex’s Lemonaide Stand Foundation (Chandler AZ), The Compound Grill (Scottsdale AZ), Harmon Brewery (Tacoma WA), The HUB (Tacoma WA), Louis G’s (Tacoma WA), Stonegate (Tacoma WA).
The National Blues Foundation placed The V-Knights on their “Generation Blues” page of their website in the “Blues Kids” page. Generation Blues provides youth education initiatives with scholarships for camps, seminars, and workshops. http://www.blues.org
The V-Knights were awarded Ambassador Status and presented with a lifetime membership to the South Sound Blues Association for their performances during the Gray Sky Blues Music Festival in Tacoma Wa.
On October 2nd, the V-Knights were invited to B.B. King’s concert and then meet with him and the band members after the show. It was an experience most musicians dream about.
Visit their website today at http://www.vknights.com to learn more about the V-Knights’ music, charity work, or to view a schedule of their upcoming performances. For media and booking information, email bluesrock@vknights.com.
