Shows

ME/BIO

Bill MacKay is a Chicago-based composer, improvisor, guitarist and writer. He has created an extensive body of work in the experimental folk, rock, avant-garde, and jazz diasporas. 

MacKay’s blissful harmonic control and outside-the-box guitar mastery are one with his compelling songwriting, and his creative voyage and imaginative influences are fully displayed across his discography. 

His recent recordings include:  Keys (2021) with Nathan Bowles, Scarf (2020), STIR (2019) with Katinka Kleijn, Fountain Fire (2019), SpiderBeetleBee (2017) with Ryley Walker, and Esker (2017), and were released by Drag City. 

MacKay is also a poet, visual artist and polyglot, and is a member of both the avant-garde rock outfit Black Duck (with Doug McCombs) and the experimental groove-drone project BCMC (with Cooper Crain). 

www.billmackay.com

 

Recordings / Buy

Bill MacKay and Nathan Bowles - Keys (Drag City, 2021)

Bill MacKay and Nathan Bowles - Keys (Drag City, 2021)

Bill MacKay - Scarf (Drag City, 2020)

Bill MacKay - Scarf (Drag City, 2020)

Bill MacKay and Katinka Kleijn - STIR (Drag City, 2019)

Bill MacKay and Katinka Kleijn - STIR (Drag City, 2019)

Bill MacKay - Fountain Fire (Drag City, 2019)

Bill MacKay - Fountain Fire (Drag City, 2019)

Bill MacKay & Ryley Walker - Hypnotic Pulse of the Reindeer Range (JMY, 2017)

Bill MacKay & Ryley Walker - Hypnotic Pulse of the Reindeer Range (JMY, 2017)

Bill MacKay and Ryley Walker SpiderBeetleBee (Drag CIty, 2017)

Bill MacKay and Ryley Walker SpiderBeetleBee (Drag CIty, 2017)

Bill MacKay - Esker (Drag City, 2017)

Bill MacKay - Esker (Drag City, 2017)

Bill MacKay - Sunrise/Bill MacKay plays the songs of John Hulburt (Tompkins Square, 2015)

Bill MacKay - Sunrise/Bill MacKay plays the songs of John Hulburt (Tompkins Square, 2015)

Darts & Arrows - Altamira (ears&eyes records, 2015)

Darts & Arrows - Altamira (ears&eyes records, 2015)

Bill MacKay and Ryley Walker - Land of Plenty (Whistler Records, 2015)

Bill MacKay and Ryley Walker - Land of Plenty (Whistler Records, 2015)

Bill MacKay - Chatham Park (2014)

Bill MacKay - Chatham Park (2014)

Bill MacKay and Matt Lux - December Concert (ears&eyes records, 2014)

Bill MacKay and Matt Lux - December Concert (ears&eyes records, 2014)

Darts & Arrows - Eyes of the Carnival (2012)

Darts & Arrows - Eyes of the Carnival (2012)

Bill MacKay and Darts & Arrows (2010)

Bill MacKay and Darts & Arrows (2010)

Broken Things - Swim to the River (2007)

Broken Things - Swim to the River (2007)

Bill MacKay & Sounds of Now (2005)

Bill MacKay & Sounds of Now (2005)

Contributer

Harry James - Harried (Potions Music, NYC, 2022)

Harry James - Harried (Potions Music, NYC, 2022)

Ryley Walker - So Certain EP (Husky Pants, 2022)

Ryley Walker - So Certain EP (Husky Pants, 2022)

Bill Callahan & Bonnie Prince Billy Blind Date Party [Drag City, 2021]

Bill Callahan & Bonnie Prince Billy Blind Date Party [Drag City, 2021]

Steve Gunn - Other You (Matador, 2021)

Steve Gunn - Other You (Matador, 2021)

Ryley Walker - Course in Fable (Husky Pants, 2021)

Ryley Walker - Course in Fable (Husky Pants, 2021)

Bevel - Angler Senses (Astral Editions, 2021)

Bevel - Angler Senses (Astral Editions, 2021)

Friend/Enemy - HIH No/On (Joyful Noise, 2020)

Friend/Enemy - HIH No/On (Joyful Noise, 2020)

Ryley Walker - Deafman Glance (Dead Oceans, 2017)

Ryley Walker - Deafman Glance (Dead Oceans, 2017)

Matthew Golombisky's CUENTOS Vol. 1 & 2 (ears&eyes records, 2017)

Matthew Golombisky's CUENTOS Vol. 1 & 2 (ears&eyes records, 2017)

Flux Bikes / Sueñolas (LAKE PARADISE RECORDS, 2016)

Flux Bikes / Sueñolas (LAKE PARADISE RECORDS, 2016)

Angela James - Drink and Try not to Cry (Whistler Records, 2014)]

Angela James - Drink and Try not to Cry (Whistler Records, 2014)]

Never Enough Hope - The Gravity of our Commitment (Milk Factory Productions, 2015)

Never Enough Hope - The Gravity of our Commitment (Milk Factory Productions, 2015)

Angela James - Way Down Deep (2014)

Angela James - Way Down Deep (2014)

Judson Claiborne - We Have Not Doors You Need Not Keys (La Société Expéditionnaire, 2013)

Judson Claiborne - We Have Not Doors You Need Not Keys (La Société Expéditionnaire, 2013)

Dmitry Samarov - The Blue Light and other things that happened (2013)

Dmitry Samarov - The Blue Light and other things that happened (2013)

Walk East / Walk East (2012)

Walk East / Walk East (2012)

Conrad Frieburg - The Undecagon (2010)

Conrad Frieburg - The Undecagon (2010)

Paul Justin Mooney - Because of a Woman (2010)

Paul Justin Mooney - Because of a Woman (2010)

The Postman Delivers: A Chicago Musician's Tribute to John Prine (Lost in America Music, 2010)]

The Postman Delivers: A Chicago Musician's Tribute to John Prine (Lost in America Music, 2010)]

Colorlist - Photographs (OFF! Records, 2008)

Colorlist - Photographs (OFF! Records, 2008)

Who Cares How Long You Sink Folk Forms Evaporate Big Sky (Terry Plumbing Records, 2007)

Who Cares How Long You Sink Folk Forms Evaporate Big Sky (Terry Plumbing Records, 2007)

Colorlist - Lists (OFF! Records, 2007)

Colorlist - Lists (OFF! Records, 2007)

Bud Melvin - Escape From Eden (2006)

Bud Melvin - Escape From Eden (2006)

Savoir Faire - Running Out Of Time (Delmark Records, 2005)

Savoir Faire - Running Out Of Time (Delmark Records, 2005)

Compilations

Stay Tuned: Season 2 (Perpetual Doom, 2022)

Stay Tuned: Season 2 (Perpetual Doom, 2022)

Photos

Videos

Published Writings