Guy Forsyth, South Austin Moonlighters

Forsyth brought his skills as a stellar live performer to help found, and make infamous nationwide, the theatrical acoustic group The Asylum Street Spankers. He gave Wammo his first washboard and Christina Marrs her first guitar and ukulele. His time with the Spankers touring and recording 5 albums added to a wealth of earlier unique experiences in his life – working as a stuntman in renaissance shows, busking on the streets of New Orleans and playing on a mountain top in Nepal – which provided him musical fodder to be refined in the songs of Forsyth's numerous solo albums. Guy is known today as a musician with gripping, powerful vocals as well as a master of numerous instruments. He started his musical development first with singing, and began playing harmonica at 16. Shortly thereafter he heard a very distinct and overwhelming sound on Kansas City radio that changed his life; it was Robert Johnson. After that, he borrowed a guitar, fell in love and learned to tune it with his feet from a friend who had lost both his arms in an accident. In college, he lasted a single semester at the University of Kansas, and then he found the music he had been seeking – gritty, organic folk and blues, "from a practical hands-on, gears, joints and joists level." And he struck out to learn it. Forsyth has stepped up his touring significantly to reach fans in the Southwest, Southeast, East Coast, and Midwest United States, as well as continuing to play in Europe several times each year.


The South Austin Moonlighters (SAM) play an eclectic mix of songs, from heartfelt soul to “sh*t-kickin’ country,” from greasy New Orleans funk to raucous rock-n-roll. Remarkably it all comes together; creating a magical essence that has earned the band a loyal following, and it insures that no two Moonlighters’ shows are alike. SAM’s collective musical experience (with artists as diverse as Gatemouth Brown, Stephen Bruton, Bo Diddley, Jimmy LaFave, Fastball, Papa Mali, Mike Zito, Tracy Bonham, Joe Ely, John Popper, and Lisa Loeb) allows them to segue from genre, to genre, effortlessly…We guarantee SAM will be your new favorite band.
The Band consist of Lonnie Trevino Jr – Bass & Vocals, Phil Hurley – Guitar & Vocals, Phil Bass – Drums & Vocals, and Chris Beall – Guitar & Vocals.
The Band does a 80/20 mixture of Originals and Covers that fans and newbie fans absolutely love. SAM is what has been called “a true Americana Band” mixing Blues, Soul, Country, and Rock music that many compare to The Resentments, Band of Heathens and Los Lobos.

The Bands origin manifested when Lonnie Trevino Jr had the idea of putting together a side group (where they could all “moonlight” on their steady gigs-thus the band’s name), just for the pure joy of playing music. “Lonnie had the audacity and connections to book a series of Tuesday evening happy hour gigs at The Saxon Pub and things took off from there”, explains Phil Hurley. Since then SAM have self-released two CD’s that have garnered “Highest Recommendations” from venue owners and national publications alike for SAM’s “Live At The Saxon Pub” released Nov. 2012, and studio album debut “ Burn & Shine” released Feb. 2014.

The joy of music making, the band shares, is a tangible and contagious part of Moonlighters’ shows, which made it effortless for them to quickly build a solid fan base through their Austin residencies and regional travels. During SXSW 2012, buyers from as far away as Europe were anxious to catch a bit of the South Austin Moonlighters’ “magic” thus resulted in signing with German Lable Blue Rose Records releasing “Burn & Shine” Aug. 1st 2014 in Europe and Scadinavia.

The inspiration of SAM stems from the band members’ mutual respect and admiration for each other’s skill and mastery of their instrument. Musicians are always seeking out others who inspire them and challenge them to improve. This group is an amazing example of what can happen when you put a bunch of talented guys in one room with an emphasis on joy and no egos involved. And now be prepared to witness The JOY that is The South Austin Moonlighters!