John Speziale and Sandman

John Speziale has been playing music for decades, and writing his own songs for almost as long. He has fronted rock and Americana bands, performing classic covers as well as his originals. He has recorded and shared stages with some of the best session and concert musicians in the Northeast. He currently fronts the award winning “roots rock” band Sweet Mercy!, singing and playing guitar, keyboards and harmonica. Musically, Speziale’s songs are flavored by the folk, country, blues, rock and pop music he has spent his life listening to. Lyrically, they examine the human condition in a heartfelt and often humorous way.

Sandy Allen started playing guitar at age ten, inspired by the folk music boom and the rock'n'roll of the '50s. When he was twelve, he began playing in bands with schoolmates, he wrote a few songs and had his first published when he was fifteen. Over the next decade he recorded four albums with two different bands, and traveled the country making music. It was during this phase he earned the nickname "Sandman". He's a member of The Hoolios and Sweet Mercy. Sandman's songs reveal a life-long quest for love and peace in a world often too busy for such things.