Eric Schaffer & The Other Troublemakers Americana Band from Tucson, AZ

For the past 6 years, Eric Schaffer & The Other Troublemakers have been entertaining crowds throughout Arizona and beyond. With a musical style that flows between Country, Americana, Folk-Rock and "Singer-Songwriter", they play a mix of well-crafted original songs, classic covers, and deep cuts - all of which feature their trademark two and three-part harmonies. The band plays 50-70 dates per year at clubs, concert venues, restaurants and private events and recently opened for Grammy Award-winner Marc Cohn at Tucson's iconic Fox Theater. Eric has been recognized as one of Southern Arizona's best songwriters and his vocals have been compared to Steve Earle and Kris Kristofferson. He is a 4-time finalist in the Tucson Folk Festival Songwriter Competition, a semi-finalist in the Great American Song Contest and finished in the Top 10 in the Passport to Nashville songwriting competition. Drummer and vocalist Bruce Halper is a member the Arizona Blues Hall of Fame and played for 10 years with "the quintessential desert rock band" the Sidewinders in the '90's. During that time they released records on RCA and Polygram, reaching #5 on the Billboard college radio charts. Bruce has toured extensively throughout the US and Europe with The Sidewinders and the legendary Mike Davis (MC5). Lead guitarist/vocalist Loren Dircks is well known as one of Arizona's most accomplished pickers. He was the front man/lead guitarist for the band Gila Bend when they pioneered "Country-Punk" in the 90's. Newest Other Troublemaker Johnny Zapp has had a lucrative career writing, recording and publishing rock music for film and television. With music airing in over 48 countries, some of Johnny's television credits include Pimp My Ride; MTV 10 on Top, ESPN coverage of the PGA Tour, various Red Bull promos and the Nat Geo travel/marine-life smash, Into The Drink. In 2011, Johnny wrote and recorded the anthem for the 2011 U.S. Open of Surf, his single "Orange County." Johnny was also knee-deep in the "Tempe Sound" in the late 90's as a hired-gun playing with many of the valley's soon-to-be national acts. Bands Covered: Steve Earle Eagles Waylon Jennings Rolling Stones Tom Petty Ryan Adams REM Radney Foster Johnny Cash Gram Parsons Townes Van Zandt Creedence Clearwater Revival Guy Clark Willie Nelson Slain Cleaves Warren Zevon Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors Son Volt