NEON BLUE is a five-piece indie country rock band from Bancroft, Ontario, Canada. The band is fronted by singer/songwriter/bassist Mark Doney and drummer/harmony singer Sean Doney. Other members are rhythm guitarist Dale Doney, lead guitarist/harmony vocalist Randy Musclow and fiddler Roger Crosby.
Country Music News (a monthly publication considered the voice of Country Music in Canada) describes their debut, self-titled album as "having a rootsy, down home feel, that ranges from early country/rock sounds of The Eagles to the more traditional laid back feel of The Good Brothers."
Their first single "Thank God for the Simple Man", off their debut album was released to Europe, Japan and Australia in early September 2005. Since its release the song, an ode to Mark Doney's father Murray Doney, has appeared on country music charts throughout the world.
"One Lonely Night" was their second single released to radio on January 3, 2006. In late March it hit 28th place on the European Country Music Association Country Music Radio Top 100. One Lonely Night remained on the E.C.M.A. charts for most of the summer of 2006. It reached #2 on the United Kingdom National Country Music Chart and #5 on the Ireland National Country Music Chart.
In late February 2006, "Thank God for the Simple Man" was re-released to 2,200 Gospel and Christian radio stations in the United States, Canada and worldwide by Glory Train Records.
"On My Own" was released to the European radio market in the spring of 2006. Paul Davis of NCM Radio Worldwide Syndication commented "On My Own has intriguing vocals with great potential!"
On July 28, 29th and 30th 2006, NEON BLUE performed on the same bill with other Canadian country music artists: George Fox, Lace, Diane Chase, Brad Johner and Carolyn Dawn Johnson at Palmer Rapids Twin Music Festivals (voted by the Canadian Country Music Association as one of the top 10 Country Events in Canada: 1999, 2000 and 2003). The event had a record crowd of 7,500 people.
On July 6, 2007, NEON BLUE was informed that their country/rock anthem "Katie" had been selected to appear on the MOOSE Trax 4 compilation CD which features the best of unsigned musical talent from Central and Northern Ontario. By being selected, "Katie" will be added to the playlist of all the 18 Moose FM radio stations. Some of these stations are found in Bracebridge, Parry Sound, Timmins, Elliot Lake, Kapuskasing, Hearst, Cochrane, Iroquois Falls, Haliburton, North Bay and the band's hometown, Bancroft. Katie appeared on MOOSE stations on a regular rotation at the end of January 2008 and will be played throughout 2008.
On September 11, 2008 NEON BLUE performed for 2,500 Country Music fans at the Marmora Country Jamboree. Headlining this event was Grand Ole Opry favorite - Whispering Bill Anderson.
NEON BLUE hope to continue work on their anticipated second CD with a release date of 2010. The CD again will feature original songs by Mark Doney. You can see NEON BLUE performing at Country festivals throughout Ontario in 2009.
Discography
- Album NEON BLUE (2005)
- Album MOOSE Trax 4 (featuring the single "Katie") (2007)
Singles
- Thank God For The Simple Man
- One Lonely Night
- On My Own
- Katie (first Canadian release)
External links
- NEON BLUE's Official Website http://www.neonblue.zoomshare.com]
- NEON BLUE's Review in Country Music News http://www.countrymusicnews.ca/news.ihtml?step=2&article_id=945news
- E.C.M.A. Review of NEON BLUE'S CD http://www.europeancma.com/new_releases.htm
- Town of Bancroft Website http://www.town.bancroft.on.ca
- MOOSE FM Website http://www.moosefm.com/
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