Tommy Castro & The Painkillers

“Castro is one of the brightest stars in the blues-soul genre. Unstoppable blues energy and the full power of soul... passionate vocals and pure creativity in his brilliant guitar solos.” – Blues Music Magazine

“A slow-burning, gritty blues-rock sound... shimmering, swampy, almost funky vibes drenched in Castro’s sharp, clean solos and turbocharged licks.” – Living Blues

“Soul-baring, roadside-meets-church Memphis guitar riffs... raspy vocals... Southern hues and rootsy textures.” – Washington Post

Tommy Castro, a guitarist and vocalist with a signature raw, soulful sound, is a mainstay of the modern blues scene. He began performing professionally in the 1970s with cover bands around the San Francisco Bay Area. In the 1980s, he joined The Dynatones and launched his own band in 1991.

His solo debut Exception to the Rule (1996, Blind Pig Records) won the Bay Area Music Award for Outstanding Blues Album, and Castro himself was honored as Outstanding Blues Musician. In the mid-90s, he gained nationwide exposure as the house band leader on NBC’s Comedy Showcase, broadcast after Saturday Night Live. In 2001 and 2002, blues legend B.B. King invited him to open his summer tours – and to share the stage during the nightly finales.

Castro has recorded for Telarc, 33rd Street, Heart And Soul, Blind Pig, and Alligator Records. His 2009 album Hard Believer, produced by John Porter, was hailed by Billboard as “irresistibly funky and soulfully honest.” In 2010, Castro swept the Blues Music Awards, winning four major categories including B.B. King Entertainer of the Year.

He went on to release The Devil You Know (2013) featuring guests like Joe Bonamassa, Tab Benoit, and Marcia Ball, and Method To My Madness (2015), which debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard Blues Albums chart. In 2023, Castro was again named B.B. King Entertainer of the Year for the second year in a row – a testament to his lasting appeal and electrifying stage presence.

On October 11, 2025, Tommy Castro will light up the stage at Spodek Arena in Katowice during the Rawa Blues Festival, delivering his signature blend of blues, soul, rock, and funk. Expect an unforgettable show full of groove, emotion, and musical mastery. Don’t miss it!