Biographical Information
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"One of our Northwest blues treasures" - Leslie Fluery, Washington Blues Society Bluesletter.
Inspired by the blues of B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Lightning Hopkins and Mance Lipscomb, Brian has developed his own style of singing and guitar playing. His guitar rings with the authority of years of playing. His singing has relaxed warmth on numbers like the classic "Night Time Is the Right Time", or a passionate intensity on his own "Serious Business". Brian's repertoire includes original songs and a wide selection of modern and classic blues. His originals can span several styles such as folk and Americana.
"Brian Butler and the Brian Butler Band have been Northwest institutions for decades. The sure energy of his blistering electric blues guitar, the deep roots of his acoustic blues, and his life long work in the Seattle blues scene have been and still are significant contributions to our rich music culture" - The Boogiemeister, Washington Blues Society Bluesletter.
Brian appears both as a solo performer and with his band at festivals throughout the Northwest including Bumbershoot, Northwest Folklife, and the Winthrop and Sunbanks Blues Festivals and the Tumbleweed Festival. Appearances also include nightclubs, radio shows, benefits and concerts.

The Brian Butler Blues Band has been a popular draw in the Northwest for years performing high-energy blues. Featuring Brian's inspired electric guitar playing and singing, the band has backed up blues greats Albert Collins, Elvin Bishop and Eddie Taylor.

"…from the first note he played that night, it was apparent that he had 'it' - the gift of making his guitar sing and making it look easy." - Bob Dixson, Victory Music Review.
Brian's 2007 release, WAIT ALL NIGHT is an album of solo/acoustic songs. It features his debut on blues piano on "Place Pigalle", about the Seattle bar where he first started playing the blues. "Second Line Beat" - about New Orleans in better days - and "When the Wind Blows", a topical song about a recent windstorm are also featured. Brian's 1999 release Restless Street has received frequent airplay on local radio.
"If you are a fan of uptown, laid back, blues, semi-acoustic music featuring good picking, good singing and clever, well-crafted songs, you're likely to dig these sides". - Mark Dalton, Washington Blues Society Bluesletter.
Brian is also included on compilations including the upcoming Victory Music release, Seattle's Best Blues #1 & 2, and the Seattle Folklore Society's Music Doorways. Brian was nominated in the Best CD, Best Songwriter and Hall of Fame categories in 2008 by the Washington Blues Society blues awards. Brian is a frequent guitar instructor at the Puget Sound Guitar Workshop and Georgia Strait in Canada., Brian teaches a variety of beginning and advanced blues classes at these acclaimed workshops which attract students and teachers from a wide area.
"If you haven't caught a Brian Butler show and you like great blues, look around he's bound to be playing somewhere…" - Nicki Ehrlich, Victory Music Review.