We're very excited to announce that the new CDS have arrived on Mark's doorstep! This is a monumental day as it marks the culmination of many hours of work, effort and love poured into and packaged into one tiny cardboard sleeve, slimmer than a saltine cracker! Not to mention, it's a sigh of relief as there are PLENTY of stories of artists/bands not actually having the new album on hand by the actual release date... so that nightmare can go away.  

Looking forward to sharing the NEW MUSIC with you on Friday August 13th! 

We are excited to announce that Winding Path Brewing has agreed to be a part of our ALBUM RELEASE PARTY! We are throwing a little pre show party for the "band family", to say thank you for ALL of the support and love they give us. Winding Path has been kind enough to donate some "TASTY GOODS" to this cause for our guests enjoyment. They will also be in attendance during the show, providing concert goers with free samples of their brew, free gear and more! 

We are especially excited to be partnering with Winding Path on this event for a handful of reasons. One, they are from my hometown (Mark). In fact, their home brewing facility (they like to refer to as "the farm") is right around the corner from the high school I went to. Two, they are one of only a few breweries to feature a female head brewer - and my tastebuds say she's quite good at her craft! And finally, they are GOOD and KIND people who are growing what they do, at an awesome rate. 

Happy 4th of July!! Today and this time of year, are right up there next to the "winter holiday season", as a favorite for me, as it means gathering together with friends and family to celebrate - soak up some sunshine, do some bbq'n, and simply enjoy life.

For obvious reasons, given the year we've all been through, it means a bit more this year. I'm taking time to count my good fortunes in greater quantities this holiday weekend, and I'm so thankful for the love and support of those around me.

Here's to better days ahead for the great land we all call home... I'm a firm believer in the power of love, gonna do my best to "spread it all around and watch it grow"!!! I'm hopeful we all can do the same. Happy 4th of July and happy b'day 'merica!

Literally, the word Dreadnought means “fear nothing”. I’ve read - and LOVE - that it can be used to describe a person with an “undeniable, unsinkable sunny disposition”. 

I love my brothers in our band, and I thought it an appropriate name for the collection of mates in my band.  Additionally, the “positive vibe” of the name, fits the music I write and the music we make together. 

A little bit more on the word DREADNOUGHT and it's origin! 

Initially, a dreadnought was a warm garment or thick cloth, used to make heavy coats for sailors in the 18th century! Later on, early in the 20th century, the dreadnought came to be a type of battleship developed by the British Navy. Vast in size and power, these ships were believed to be “unsinkable” and “the strongest of their kind”! 

COINCIDENTALLY, and more to hitting home for me, one of the biggest in its class, it’s a style of acoustic guitar (developed by PA’s own CF Martin & Co.). It’s my personal favorite, and is the style of the first guitar I ever owned. I write and create the large majority of my original tunes on a dreadnought guitar. Much like my mates in our band, the dreadnought guitar has become one of my “best friends”. 

In case you ever wondered where the name comes from, there you have it!

Two gigs this weekend with the Dreadnoughts - 3 piece size!!! Blake Hillard will be on kit, my ol' friend and bass player Frank Portaro will be joining us while our "regular bass player", Chris, is on vacation!  

Friday's Show - Celebrate Lancaster (Lancaster City Alliance ) 5 to 7P in Buchannan Park (Food Trucks and MORE!) 901 Buchanan Ave. Lancaster, PA 

Saturday's Show - Wyndridge Downtown Lancaster ( Wyndridge Farm ) 4 to 6P on the main stage in the Beer Garden. (Located just off of Harrisburg Ave, behind Wyndridge's tasting room which is in the Old Fenz restaurant. 398 Harrisburg Ave. Lancaster, PA)

Bummer to post that tonight's show - 8 - 11P at Loxley's in Lancaster has been cancelled. It's storming like crazy here in Lancaster... thus we will be staying in without a backup location for the band to retreat to! DO join us tomorrow night at the Shoppes of Belmont Summer Music Series. We will perform from 6 to 10P on their stage (located in the center of their plaza). Bring along blankets and lawn chairs as there's limited built in seating (benches). 

As many of you know, I (Mark) do 99% of all of the artwork that adorns our albums, tees, stickers, etc. This image is a screen shot of the artwork that's in progress to be a part of our upcoming album - "In Search of the Good Days". It's been a wrestling match to get things this far, admittedly. 

But, I'm feeling pretty good about things as I look at 'em here this a.m. (That could be because I'm lacking in sleep and I've chosen to devote this round of insomnia to working on this effort?) I find the creative process one that requires being able to be a give in to the pitfalls and rabbit holes that find you, knowing that you'll climb out of it OR find the other end of things, if patient! 

Maybe it's the really good artists/creative types who can get through it quicker, OR find ways around it quicker OR they're sooo good, they can avoid 'em entirely? I'd love to know anyone's point of view on it... as I'm looking to learn and workshop on the topic.

Do stay tuned as there will be a complimentary, daytime version of this image! Both will be a part of promotional materials, album artwork and the like! 

While the album wraps up, I'm keeping busy doing some behind the scenes work to revamp some marketing efforts. One such effort, is an overall revamp of a Mark DeRose Music and Art logo. Along with the help of a trusty old sidekick by the name of Sheryl "Shirley" Webster - who provides me with much needed marketing input and consultation - the above image is what we have come up with thus far! IF ALL STANDS, we will look to use this to print some new stickers, website update in the form of a landing page, and more. 

Clean those back windshields and trapper keepers, as I'm hopeful we can do some sticker bombing together, soon!  

Progress is being made with my work to put together the artwork for our band’s forthcoming album! Working on a day and night versions of this “flying ship” image - to be used in various promotional efforts. (The above being the "Day Version") I had this image on hand for some years. At that point, it was simply the flying ship, in much less detail. I wasn't sure what to do with it for some time... then the light bulb came on when I started working on the artwork for this album.  

My hope is that these two images (night time image on the left, day on the right) will end up in some form of "full color" and will fade in and out one another in a short video. The audio bed for this video will be sneak peaks of new tracks (from our forthcoming album).  

PLEASE NOTE, the title listed is a working title... kicking around one or two other options. 

More coming soon.....thanks for stopping by, Mark.