NEWS
JOHNNY STACHELA + THE STEEPWATER BAND LIVE AT THE MINT
We are thrilled to announce a show at The Mint in Los Angeles with The Steepwater Band on Friday Sept. 11.
Click here for show info and tickets.
ALBUM REVIEW FROM “ALL ABOUT JAZZ”
Album Review by C. Michael Bailey at “All About Jazz”
Los Angeles-native Johnny Stachela may be a Southern Californian, but he is one tempered by the Allman Brothers Band and baptized in Southern-fried Dixie. Influenced by the music of the late ’60s and early ’70s, Stachela presents himself as his own artist on the present EP Walk Through Fire. Stachela updates the Southern Stomp of the ’70s with a practiced precision that incorporates all of the evolution in rock music since that time. Where The Black Crowes reminded us of how good the Rolling Stones were, Stachela assimilates the whole of the southern rock experience into a form that transcends what came before without forgetting it.
“WALK THROUGH FIRE” PRESS RELEASE
Blues-Rock Guitarist Johnny Stachela Releases Debut EP “Walk Through Fire”
Walk Through Fire,” the debut EP from Johnny Stachela, scorches its way through six searing tunes that combine virtuosic blues-rock musicianship with lyrical depth and clarity. It’s an exceptional musical brew: Dazzling melodies. Rich harmonies. Brutal honesty. And it’s intoxicating.
Stachela’s artful lead guitar sizzles with stunning mathematical complexity. The album consistently drives and pushes the music to insightful, urgent lyrical places. Like its opening track “Hard Rain,” the album pelts and stings, but is ultimately battened by a thick, blues-tinged hope. Read more >>
SHOWS
ABOUT
At the quarter-turn of the 21st century, Johnny Stachela stands as prolific as ever. In 2026, the singer-songwriter and guitarist is prepping a new series of original singles- the first, “Sun Is Going Down,” lands July 17- that follow a similar set of releases in 2025; a batch of singles eventually compiled into Stachela’s EP, The Stroll. Additionally, the six-stringer remains a vital player for Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel, both in the studio and on the road. Stachela’s songcraft and guitar-work both feature prominently on Betts’ sophomore LP, Isle of Hope, produced by Grammy-winner, Dave Cobb, which dropped in June, via Sun Records.
Stachela’s collaborative partnership with Betts traces back over a decade, with the two formalizing the bond on tour in 2018, guesting with the Devon Allman Project, supporting and sitting-in on a nine-month Allman/Betts World Tour, with stops at such iconic venues as NYC’s Beacon Theater and Colorado’s Red Rocks amphitheater. The European leg took Stachela to Spain, Belgium, Netherlands, UK and Germany. Additionally, he performed on the second single, “Downtown Runaround,” and subsequent video from Betts’ debut EP, Sketches of American Music.
As well, Stachela joined The Allman Betts Band as a charter member- recording at the famed Muscle Shoals Sound studio- for their 2019 debut LP, Down to the River, and their 2020 follow-up, Bless Your Heart, touring internationally with the group, including dates in Europe and multiple summer festival stops. Subsequent tours with the ABB and the Allman Betts Family Revival have included appearances at New Orleans’ famed Jazz Festival, as well as overseas dates in Australia and Japan- at Byron Bay and Fuji Rock, respectively.
Among the myriad guest spots Stachela has made include jams with Little Feat, Gov’t Mule, and North Mississippi Allstars. With Betts, he’s also welcomed Derek Trucks and Mike Campbell (Tom Petty) for notable onstage collaborations. As a solo artist, Stachela joined the legendary Wet Willie on the band’s 2020 Rock Legends cruise. As well, in the spring of 2023, Stachela released the single, “County Farm Blues”, a cover of the 1930s Son House folk blues, across all digital platforms.
Additionally, Stachela contributed writing, performing, and production work for Betts’ second solo project. Recording sessions for the new effort commenced in Spring 2022 at Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi’s Swamp Raga Studio in Jacksonville, Florida. The resulting album, “Wild & Precious Life,” issued by Royal Potato Family records, arrived in the summer of 2023 to much critical acclaim, making several year-end “Best of” lists.
As a founding member of Betts’ new band, Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel, Stachela embarked on an extensive U.S. tour including festival dates and headlining appearances, and a noteworthy night at the Grand Ole Opry. Touring in support of the LP continued throughout 2024. Too, in September of 2025, Stachela had the honor of performing the national anthem before a sold-out Dodgers/Giants baseball game at L.A.’s Dodger Stadium.
With his well-crafted style of bottleneck slide evoking favorable comparisons to his heroes- influenced and inspired, never imitating- Johnny Stachela has become one of the more highly respected guitarists in modern blues and rock.
MEDIA
County Farm Blues
by Johnny Stachela
Digital Album Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high quality download in MP3, FLAC, & more. Buy Now $10 USD
1. County Farm Blues
2. Firefly
3. Hard Rain
4. Handle It
released March 21, 2023