Rising Guitarist Spencer Mackenzie Gains Global Attention

The 26-year-old Canadian blues-rocker's fourth album, "Empty Chairs," is generating buzz worldwide.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Spencer Mackenzie, a 26-year-old Canadian blues-rock guitarist, is gaining global attention with the release of his fourth album "Empty Chairs." Mackenzie's musical journey has been steadily building momentum, with his previous album "Preach To My Soul" earning a Juno nomination (Canada's Grammy) and a Maple Blues Award. The new album features collaborations with several musicians, and Mackenzie credits his family, local mentors, and early performance opportunities for helping him develop as an artist.

Why it matters

Mackenzie's rise to prominence highlights the continued popularity of blues-rock music, especially among younger artists, and the importance of nurturing local music scenes and providing performance opportunities for up-and-coming musicians. His success also demonstrates the value of family support and mentorship in helping young artists navigate the music industry.

The details

Empty Chairs is Mackenzie's fourth album, released on February 20, 2026. Besides Mackenzie on lead guitar and vocals, the album features contributions from Miles Evans Branagh, Stacey Shopsowitz, Steve Pelletier, Adam Canon, Matt Burns, Sandra Bouza, Chantel Williams, and Ross Hayes Citrullo. Mackenzie began his musical journey at a young age, with his parents putting a guitar in his hands at age 5. He credits his parents, as well as local mentors John Navaroli and Elton Lammie, for guiding him and helping him navigate the music business. Mackenzie also frequently performed at Donnelly's Pub in Thorold, Ontario, where he met guitarist/singer Brant Parker, who helped connect him to other performance opportunities.

  • Mackenzie's third album, "Preach To My Soul," received a Juno nomination and a Maple Blues Award in the early 2020s.
  • Mackenzie went on a European tour following the success of "Preach To My Soul" in the mid-2020s.
  • Mackenzie's fourth album, "Empty Chairs," was released on February 20, 2026.

The players

Spencer Mackenzie

A 26-year-old Canadian blues-rock guitarist whose musical career has been steadily gaining momentum, with his previous album earning critical acclaim and his latest release, "Empty Chairs," generating global attention.

Richard Mackenzie

Spencer Mackenzie's father, who has been a writing partner on several of Spencer's tracks and has helped him navigate the music business.

Sandra Mackenzie

Spencer Mackenzie's mother, who has a business background and has helped with the financial and logistical aspects of his music career.

Brant Parker

A guitarist and singer who hosted weekly blues shows at Donnelly's Pub in Thorold, Ontario, where Mackenzie frequently performed and met other local musicians.

Peter Noble

A PR consultant who represents Mackenzie in Europe and also works with other high-profile artists such as Joe Bonamassa, Ally Venable, and Beth Hart.

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What they’re saying

“Following the Juno Nomination we went to Europe and the band began to really gel. We began to communicate a lot better and the energy showed on the stage.”

— Spencer Mackenzie (Blues Rock Review)

“It was like, 'This guy came to Europe one time and he was energetic as hell,' but I appreciated them holding me with that kind of praise already.”

— Spencer Mackenzie (Blues Rock Review)

“They put a guitar in my hands at age five but they're not the typical manager parents you would think. When it comes to going to gigs and letting me have a good time, they've always just let me do my thing. I've been so thankful for that.”

— Spencer Mackenzie (Blues Rock Review)

What’s next

Mackenzie and his team have planned several album launch parties in various cities to celebrate the release of "Empty Chairs" and connect with his growing fanbase.

The takeaway

Spencer Mackenzie's rise to prominence as a young blues-rock guitarist demonstrates the continued appeal of the genre and the importance of nurturing local music scenes and providing performance opportunities for up-and-coming artists. His success also highlights the value of family support and mentorship in helping young musicians navigate the music industry.