Rough Grooves with Rich McDonough

Throughout his twenty five year tenure as a musician, Rich has been captivating audiences throughout the world with his masterful guitar playing. He has opened for such blues legends as Albert King, Junior Wells, Robert Cray, John Mayall, Roy Gaines, Tyrone Davis and Gatemouth Brown. He has had the honor of sharing the stage with the late piano great Johnnie Johnson at the legendary Sheldon Concert Hall and the St. Louis Ethical Society, performing as a featured act at the Sheldon Concert Hall, playing at the Grand Emporium in Kansas City and at the famous Blues Route Festival in Utrecht, Holland, performing with Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne at the Chedigny Blues Festival in France, Buddy Guy’s Legends, the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival, the Poconos Blues Festival., the Illinois Blues Festival and the Big Muddy Blues Festival. While touring Europe, Rich played at concerts and club venues throughout Germany, Norway, Hungary, France, The Netherlands and recorded on a CD in Volendam, Holland for Timeless Records. He is featured on several other artists CD's including Oliver Sain, Uvee Hayes, Kim Massie, Anita Rosamond, Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne, Ken Hensley of Uriah Heap and co-wrote and performed on Johnnie Johnson’s last CD. Rich co-wrote and performed the soundtrack on three of the Railroad Tycoon games.

2008 Riverfront Times Critics Choice Best Blues Artist - Rough Grooves
Some say St. Louis has more working blues musicians than any other city in the USA. Others in places like Chicago or Austin might find such a claim statistically suspect, but there's no question the Gateway City has a wealth of blues talent on display every weekend in local clubs. With elder statesmen such as Henry Townsend, Johnnie Johnson, Oliver Sain and Bennie Smith having passed on in recent years, the spotlight now falls on the generation of mid-career musicians who are carrying on the St. Louis blues tradition, as exemplified by the band Rough Grooves. Guitarist Rich McDonough is considered one of the top players in town, and singer and harmonica player Eric McSpadden is equally esteemed for his authentic yet contemporary approach to the blues. Bassist and singer Sharon Foehner and drummer Joe Pastor, both bandleaders in their own right, add additional dimensions to the music while also providing solid support.