media           in his own words           facts and stats

 

 

2005.

Sitting next to JK McKnight for a short period of time, it might be difficult to believe that this quiet, thoughtful kid who bears such a striking resemblance to a young Jimmy Page, is the same kid who, at age twenty-four, has already released four albums (latest a a self-titled solo effort and a full-band release), booked several U.S. solo tours, placed in the International Songwriting Competition, licensed dozens of songs to MTV, built two state-of-the art websites, and founded The Forecastle Festival ~ the Midwest's largest gathering of musicians, artists, and activists.

 

As you now look closer you’ll find this person: an intense, passionate, sincere, philosophically-driven young man who works relentlessly at his craft; a man who is as tireless in his activism as he is in his art. An avid reader, JK McKnight finds inspiration in eastern philosophies and history’s modern rebels.  He credits his Irish ancestry with the fiery competitive spirit that ruled his athletic youth, and still considers many sports his hobbies. It wasn’t until he discovered music, however, that he recognized his one true calling in life.

 

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The timeline of those musical roots begin in 1992, when JK McKnight first picked up drum stick and later a guitar.  Not coincidentally, that was the same year he met Eddie Vedder, whose lasting impression on him and work with Pearl Jam has created an inspiring foundation. Other musical influences include Avail, Fugazi, the Who, and Bob Dylan.

 

Having recently released two albums, the acoustic guitar is one of JK’s more recent discoveries. With his self-titled solo album, he’s discovering unexpected joy and inspiration, embracing what he hears as the purest representation of his writing.  His band, The Vixen Red, fleshes out similar themes w/ larger, lusher musical landscapes - evidenced on the EP Sunrise and Nightfall in the Equestrian Sea.

 

The U.S. Solo Tours JK embarked on after the May 15th release of his solo and vixen red records, have brought about an overwhelming amount of motivation and admiration for the craft he has dedicated his life to mastering. It has also reinforced his strong and relentless desire to continue touring and performing live, to the fans who admire him most.

 

JK has licensed his music to various TV and film projects, including MTV's hit series Made and Sweet 16. McKnight plans to further his publishing goals in the years ahead, by releasing more music, and promoting his work to projects he feels best represents his artistic identity.

 

His innovative, dual websites - jkmcknight.com and thevixenred.com - bring together his worldwide "red army" fan base, connecting them while providing up-to-date news and vital information about the cause, persuading others to join.

 

His Forecastle Festival, now in its sixth year, is the "largest gathering of musicians, artists, and activists in the American Midwest." The event is getting bigger and bigger every year, forcing McKnight to dedicate more and more time to it. The 2006 festival attracted attendees from 16 states, supported 30 Midwest environmental organizations, and was named "One of the Top 101 things to do in America" by SPIN magazine.

 

For more info on JK McKnight, and to sample some of his tunes - including the award-winning "Party, Beach Town Life", visit his dual websites at http://www.jkmcknight.com