Modern Folk Blues: Jon Shain and FJ Ventre

Guitarist Jon Shain and bassist FJ Ventre have been playing music together since they met in high school in Massachusetts 35 years ago, but their musical collaboration has really blossomed in North Carolina where they both have made their homes. Over the years, they have recorded a long list of original folk-blues albums, been finalists at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, which Jon won in 2019, and have appeared alongside acts such as John Hiatt, Little Feat, John Hammond, Bill Kirchen, NRBQ, Jackson Browne, Keb’ Mo’, and Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson.

Jon and FJ recently began writing songs together for the first time in their long musical partnership. FJ’s classic rock, pop, and rockabilly roots have always influenced the rhythmic sound of their collaboration, but now crafty Beatlesesque chord progressions and duet vocals are starting to share the stage along with Jon’s blues and folk leanings. Resulting in the gorgeous roots album, Tomorrow Will Be Yesterday Soon.