Originally from Munich, Germany, Mark Stoffel spent literally decades traversing between two continents before finally settling down in Southern Illinois some twenty odd years ago. A self-described bluegrass music addict, he was introduced to the music in 1979, when as a teenager, he wanted a ukulele for Christmas and was mistakenly given a mandolin instead. The flub turned into a virtue and a lifelong artistic pursuit. His tasteful approach to playing earned him increased attention — first in regional acts, and then with the nationally acclaimed Singer/Songwriter Chris Jones who ended up inviting Mark to become a member of his band “Chris Jones & The Night Drivers”. Today his mandolin performances can be heard on countless recordings, including his latest solo release “Coffee and Cake” on Mountain Home Records. January 2024 will mark the release of Mark’s third solo album, entitled “True Tones”, featuring all original instrumental compositions, accompanied by Gina Furtado, Marshall Wilborn, Rob Ickes, Billy Cardine, Niall Murphy, Chris Luquette, Alan Bibey, Marc Pruett, among many others.