Over the last 30+ years, The Nighthawks have earned a reputation as one of the best and hardest working bands around. They have gotten their widest acclaim for being one of the first and best white boy blues bands of their generation, and for putting on a great live show. But their acclaim and accomplishments go far beyond that.

They are among the top musical acts to come out of the Washington, D.C. area—and are still based there. They were a roots rock band before there was such a thing as “roots rock.” They play a wide variety of music that has appeal to a diverse audience, mixing the blues, rock and soul—along with rockabilly and swing. They’ve played all over the U.S., with the East Coast and Midwest being particular strongholds. And they’ve toured around the world, establishing especially strong followings in Germany and Japan.

Three of the four band members have been playing together for 30 years, a stretch that few in rock or blues can match. They continue to bring great musical skills and energy to all that they do—it’s a remarkable road they’ve traveled

A POWERHOUSE LINEUP

In 2004, The Nighthawks made a change to their lineup - when long time members, Mark Wenner (harp/vocals) and Pete Ragusa (drums/vocals), were joined by Paul Bell (guitar/vocals) and Johnny Castle (bass/vocals). This new lineup transformed what was already an internationally respected blues band into a highly energetic and extremely versatile musical powerhouse - leaving fans to conclude that "The Nighthawks are now the best they've ever been!"

Their current release is a 2-disc set (audioCD and videoDVD) called "Blue Moon in Your Eye" capturing a recent live performance at The Barns at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia.

If you haven't had a chance to check out The Hawks with the new lineup, here's your chance. If you have seen the new lineup, you know this is the most powerful Hawks yet. Either way, you don't want to miss this new release.

Many of the quality recordings that The Nighthawks have made over the years are now available on CD. They can be purchased in the Merchandise section of this site.

RECENT PRESS QUOTES
                    . . . about recent Hawks performances with the new lineup...

The latest release by the Nighthawks succeeds for a variety of reasons. For starters, the double-disc set, which includes a full-length DVD version of the concert, serves as a vibrant showcase for the quartet's new lineup, featuring two recent recruits (and seasoned players): guitarist Paul Bell and bassist Johnny Castle.    ~Mike Joyce, The Washington Post
 

"All in all, Ragusa's rock-steady drumming and singing, Wenner's virtuoso harp stylings and gritty vocals, Bell's on-the-mark, bluesy soloing, and Castle's pumping bass and singing show why this present Nighthawks outfit is their funkiest and most powerful yet."     ~Alan Kurzer, Blues News, Natchel' Blues Network

"OK everybody, all that post-Jimmy Thackery era lament and whining can be put to rest once and for all. This is the best live set I’ve seen them perform since the mid-1980s ...Rockabilly, Soul, R&B (the real kind), Roots Rock, and Boogie are all integral parts of a Nighthawks show. They never were a mere Blues band."     ~Beardo, BluesWax's Blues Beat

"there's not a whit of pretension, they run their band like a well-oiled machine, and they're guaranteed to put a smile on your face - or at bare minimum, some sweat."     ~Creative Loafing, Charlotte, NC