Mark & Jill
Roots, blues, originals, Americana
Based in Up State New York, Mark and Jill meld their vision and talent for a taste of New Orleans meets Austin. NY Blues Hall of Fame bluesman Mark Tolstrup and sultry Texas singer Jill Tolstrup come together where the Delta meets the Rio Grande. Over a haunting slide guitar their voices soar and blend in harmony. Mark and Jill bring a fresh original interpretation to the earliest roots of the blues. Their original songs deal with both the hard realties of life and the joys of being alive.
“"Watching Mark and Jill, there's no doubt they have a spiritual relationship to blues music and to each other. It's riveting to watch them and feel the music take over the room."” - Sarah Craig
— Executive Director, Caffe Lena
Music & live video
Mark & Jill – Blues with Soul and Grit
Mark & Jill blend timeless Delta blues grit with soul-stirring vocals and raw emotional honesty. Driven by powerhouse singer Jill Tolstrup and anchored by Mark Tolstrup’s masterful slide and fingerstyle guitar, the duo channels the roots of the blues while carving out a sound that’s wholly their own.
Hailing from the Northeast, Mark & Jill deliver an old-school, front-porch intimacy that meets modern storytelling—equal parts front-row fire and back-porch groove. Their sets move seamlessly from foot-stomping originals to reimagined covers that honor the spirit of the Delta and the heart of American roots music.
They’ve twice represented their region at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, reaching the semi-finals, and have built a devoted following of blues lovers, guitar aficionados, and roots-music fans across the Northeast. Whether performing on a festival stage or at an intimate house concert, Mark & Jill leave audiences moved, smiling, and ready for more.
Press / Reviews
“"Watching Mark and Jill, there's no doubt they have a spiritual relationship to blues music and to each other. It's riveting to watch them and feel the music take over the room."” - Sarah Craig
— Executive Director, Caffe Lena
“Mark & Jill Sing the Blues will pep you up and soothe your soul! With Mark providing robust male vocals and crisp guitar and Jill in heartfelt harmony, they give one’s spirits a boost. Whether country, blues, or in between” - Rainy Wetnight
— Blues Blast Magazine
“Singin’ the blues, although stolen colloquially to indicate complaining about your situation, was intended to do just the opposite, to pull you out of your doldrums, to wave your fist at misfortune, face your troubles head on…howl at the moon. Mark and Jill embrace that tradition by diving into the rich history of the music as well as paying it forward with their own heartfelt compositions.” - Joel Moss
— Producer
“"I really enjoyed this album for it’s unpretentious, tasty material and approach."” - Bruce Iglauer
— Alligator Records
“““Their performance I kept thinking, quite literally, “Damn! It sounds like a slew of players on that stage, yet it’s only one guitar, two vocals, and an occasional tambourine!””” - - Lucas Garret
— — Nippertown
Mark & Jill have performed in 2024/25 at:
Caffe Lena - Saratoga Springs, NY
Saratoga Hang Festival - Gainsvoort, NY
The Cow Pasture Blues Festival - Stillwater, NY
The Bull Run - Shirley, MA
Women Are Making Music Festival - Troy, NY
Ripton Coffee House - Tipton, VT
The Strand Theatre - Hudson Falls, NY
The Town Crier - Hudson, NY
The Hanger - Troy, NY
Spencertown Arts Center - Spencertown, NY
Bennington Museum - Bennington, VT
Troy Music Hall Summer Series - Troy, NY
Music Haven - Schenectady, NY
The Linda - Albany, NY
The Gem Fest - Glens Falls, NY The Dorn Center - Gloversville, NY
Fredrick Allen Gospel Fest - Saratoga Springs, NY
Blues & BBQ Festival - Lake George, NY
The International Blues Challenge - Memphis, TN
A-Ha House For Art on PBS - Troy, NY
Rocky Top Concert Series - Sprakers, NY
SVAN Artists Concert Series - Northville, NY
