The Halfway Crooks were the winners of the 2018 Fort Smith Riverfront Blues Society blues challenge and represented the River Valley in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN. They played the Hard Rock Cafe on Beale Street and performed two all original sets in the quarter finals of the competition. While they didn’t come home with the win, they gave Beale Street the Halfway Crooks treatment and represented in a way the River Valley can be proud of! The Crooks have been playing to packed out crowds across the River Valley including Harry’s Downtown, Neumeier’s Rib Room, Ava’s at Fianna, and the Blind Hog in Ozark. They’ve played outdoor shows to crowds of all ages. The Halfway Crooks have amassed a following of dedicated friends and fans that love their unique style of jam oriented rock and roll and their unique blend of cover songs and original music. Come check out a show and see what all the talk is about!

After playing drums off and on throughout his childhood, Sean started playing seriously in 2001 and hasn’t looked back. He has gigged for the last 18 years with bands that include Copesetic, The Movers, Fat Head and Bordertown and has played festivals including Wakarusa and Riverfront Blues Fest. He has opened for many national acts like JJ Grey and Mofro, Grace Potter, Band of Heathens, Johnathon Tyler, Chris Chew (North Mississippi Allstars) and Delbert McClinton, to name a few.

Ryan started off playing guitar in junior high but decided there was less competition in the bass player market, so he switched to bass when one of his bands needed a bass player. He played bass and sang lead vocals for The Barefoot Brigade where he and fellow Crooks member Caleb Mendenhall first started playing music together. They played in venues across northwest Arkansas including Fort Smith, Fayetteville, and Eureka Springs and at festivals including Earthtones, Harvest Music Festival at Mulberry Mountain, and George’s Majestic during the Dickson Street Music Festival.

Caleb Mendenhall has been playing the keys since the age of six, and was classically trained into his teenage years. Growing up he was exposed to a wide variety of music from classic rock to classical. Because of this his musical influences span a wide range of styles, including jam bands, Leon Russell, and Frederic Chopin. Caleb brings a funky style with touches of blues and jazz, with soulful vocals that are the hallmark of The Halfway Crooks sound.

Hunter cut his ear-teeth on the vinyl collections of his parents. Little Feat, Traffic, The Allman Brothers, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton and an overwhelming amount of The Rolling Stones put a sound in his ear that has been like a life-long best friend. As a guitarist, he counts Duane Allman, Lowell George, Eric Clapton, Derek Trucks, Terry Kath, Luther Dickinson and Jimi Hendrix as his biggest inspirations. He played his first public gig at 17 years old, digging a void inside that he’s been trying to keep filled since. After playing his first bar gigs with Dave Robertson as a teenager, he has continued to play guitar in River Valley bands 3 Foot Pete, The Movers, New Root, Jojo’s Kitchen, Copesetic and Fat Head.

Justin Dolan has been playing country, rock, bluegrass and blues music since 13. Starting on bass then guitar and later mandolin, he is always up to get down in most any musical situation. He has played solo, in many different bands of all styles, and has even played Ice Stock at McMurdo Station, Antarctica in some of the coldest temperatures and extreme weather you could imagine. His steady rhythm guitar and lyrical depth make him an integral part of the Crooks’ sound.