by 
Jason Kertson – Tacoma 2014 (NWMS staff photo)
17 year old Jason Kertson has been drawn to music his whole life. He began learning to play the guitar at age 7 and mastering the instrument has been his passion ever since. He began performing in coffee houses and other venues when he was 9.
His favorite artists from early on were Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac, Alice in Chains, and The Sonics (one of Jason’s grandfathers is Rob Lind who is an original member of this iconic Seattle band).
Buy tickets to the July 22 show at The Triple Door HERE
In February, 2011, Ray William Johnson, a YouTube Icon, tweeted “everybody is looking for the next Justin Bieber. My money is on this kid” and he attached a link of a YouTube video that was recorded when Jason was 12. Jason had 250,000 YouTube views that week. This generated a lot of interest from people in the music business.
One of the people who expressed interest in working with Jason was Dave Mustaine of Megadeth. This has led to a mentoring relationship, and Jason recorded a demo in Dave’s studio (Vic’s Garage). Jason has also performed on multiple occasions with Dave’s daughter, Electra Mustaine.
In 2013, Jason auditioned for “The Voice” Season 5 and had a five minute on air segment. Though he didn’t move forward in the show, that exposure brought him thousands of loyal fans.
In December 2013, Duff McKagan of Guns n’ Roses contacted Jason and asked if he would play guitar in the Pink Slips, a band that his daughter Grace was forming. They performed together for the first time in Seattle on New Year’s Eve 2013 and recorded an EP in 2014.
Jason has also performed with his own Seattle area band for the past five years.
As a guitarist, Jason is very diverse in his abilities; from very complex acoustic styles to technically challenging electric guitar solos. As a vocalist, his soulful voice defies his age. As a writer, his insightful lyrics are moving and relatable, and his music is powerful and melodic. He already has over 100 original songs to his credit.
https://www.facebook.com/JasonKertson
Wanz performing on the Solar Pioneer – 2015 (NWMS staff photo)
About Wanz:
With humble beginnings performing soulful renditions of “Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog” on the school playground, Michael Wansley developed an affinity for music at an early age, performing wherever he could for anyone who would listen. As he worked towards his degree in music education, the newly nicknamed “Wanz” started his first band, Central Connection, eventually performing as a savvy stage man in groups such as The Ghetto Monks and Life Ring — soon sharing the stage with artists like Joe Williams, Bobby McFerrin, and Dizzy Gillepsie.
It was only a matter of time before Wanz grabbed the national spotlight.
A few summers ago, rising hip-hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis recruited Wanz for a hook on their song about shopping for second-hand clothes, a humble and forward-thinking track against the traditionally flashy hip-hop status quo. Partly thanks to Wanz’s unforgettable hook, “Thrift Shop” quickly climbed the Billboard charts before landing at number one and holding that spot for six weeks total, certifying the single as six-times platinum in the United States, as well as multiple Grammys.
https://www.facebook.com/teewanz
Buy tickets to the July 22 show at The Triple Door HERE
