HeadlessAx
Clearwater, FL
$250+ depending on time, location & size of band
Travels up to 120 miles
Overview
Blues, Jazz, Latin, Rock, amazing finger style guitar - instrumental or with great vocals. Let's hear some Van Morrison, Steely Dan, Zeppelin, Prince, Matchbox 20, Chuck Mangione, Santana, and much more. All music is played authentically, no tracks, looper or iPad, just a jazzy, rocking classical guitar. I hire out as a solo act, or as a duo with beautiful bongo Mary on congas and percussion laying down driving beats, or go for the gold with our trio including Mark "Snowman" on bass weaving a cool groove. Have a stable of monster players (harmonica, saxophone, etc.) to further customize for any occasion. Book now!
You will take the energy with you for days after, infused with our Songs ~
Reviews
3 reviews
Brigette H.
September 4, 2025Outstanding! 5 Piece Band
What a treat to listen to Robert and the four other musicians that played with him. It just blows my mind to hear Talent of this level in St Petersburg. He's got such a cool raspy voice. His range of music is impressive. He plays along with his amazing wife Mary who Lights up the world with her energy. There were three guitarists and Mary on percussion and Geoffrey on harmonica.
Hired as: Singing Guitarist
Lindsey J.
October 29, 2022Wonderful time and wonderful music
We hired Robert and Mary to play a big party for us and they did an amazing job! I had many compliments from our guests on their music. We will definitely use them again.
Plus, Robert and Mary are very nice and accommodating.
Hired as: Guitarist, Singing Guitarist
Rich D.
March 22, 2018Entertaining Night!
Great guitar and bongo player.
Hired as: Guitarist
HeadlessAx
Hey Rich, thanks for having us come and play for your event. Even though I originally declined this gig as it really wasn't in my genre, your amazing powers of persuasion convinced me to reconsider (LOL) as you mentioned your group would like something different than the usual Frank Sinatra-type crooner music. Many of your guest told us how much they enjoyed having something different, and was great to receive the many accolades from your party, and appreciated your generous tip. We also look forward to the pool parties you mentioned this Summer, and hope we can fit some into our performance schedule. Best Always Robert and Mary Sutherland
Booking information
Price range: $250+ depending on time, location & size of band
Languages: English
Gig length: 90 - 240 minutes
What to expect
Expect some good jazz, Latin, funk, blues, and rock. Some great instrumentals like Classical Gas, Mr. Magic and Picking Up The Pieces. Vocal classics like Stairway to Heaven, Deacon Blues, and Wonderful World. Mark Schnurman "Snowman" adds a beautiful layer of bass and vocals. Top it all off with a beautiful high energy female conga/bongo player with additional vocals. You may have seen me perform in the Bay Area at Rosie's Dunedin, New Home Plate Dunedin, Currents Tarpon Springs, Tarpon Springs Yacht Club, The Wine Society, Sterling Winery, Marker 8, Eddies, to name a few over the last 25 years. Socially adept professional, artistically executing popular songs. Powerful vocals, surprising accompaniment on the guitar to the delight of the audience. Volume and tone are priority... your guest's enjoyment is paramount. My repertoire encompasses songs spanning generations and can be spontaneously tailored to create a musical atmosphere that will delight all in attendance. Dynamic powerful singer with blues, jazz, and pop. Amazing guitar accompaniment, finger style - I play rhythm bass and lead all at the same time. With conga and bass you'll believe you're hearing a much larger band. I love to play the room, the mood, visit with my audience and create a tailored set list for your guests. Fifty years of performance experience local and national. I can entertain all ages and engage on many levels. I know my job is to make sure you and your guests have an amazing evening. I can deliver that.
About
Robert Sutherland a/k/a The HeadlessAx is a fingerstyle freak, beginning at age 14 in California with his first electric guitar. Developed an all-original band, Art for Ears, in Nashville, TN (voted best all-original band multiple years) with guest performances by the likes of bassist Victor Wooten and sax player Jeff Coffin. Performed with Chet Atkins at a charity event while in Nashville prior to heading to Florida and for the past 26 + years performing in the Tampa Bay Area (private and public events) as well as being the featured entertainment at Currents Restaurant in Tarpon Springs for 16 years running. Robert's voice has been described as a memorable cross between Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits.
Growing up in Wisconsin, Bongo Mary performed in a professional singing group with her four sisters before heading off to Berklee College of Music in Boston on a music scholarship (jazz and composition), after which she 'banged on the drums all day' from the East Coast to California before settling in the Tampa Bay area. Is the heart and beat of the trio. Wild and beautiful with rhythm, bringing vibe to the show.
Mark Schnurman "Snowman" adds bass and vocals to round out the HeadlessAx trio sound. Mark started his career in New York City, learning and developing his craft having played with some of his idols along the way, including Paul McCartney, BB King, Lenny Kravitz to name a few, including appearances on numerous television shows including The Today Show.
Services offered
Past booked events
June 2026
25
Thursday
Birthday Party
7:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Tampa, FL
October 2022
29
Saturday
Halloween Party
2:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Pinellas Park, FL
December 2021
16
Thursday
Cocktail Party
6:00pm - 8:30pm
•
Largo, FL
March 2018
21
Wednesday
Fundraiser
6:30pm - 8:00pm
•
Dunedin, FL
Set list
A SAMPLING OF THE SONGS PERFORMED:
Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone
All Along The Watchtower
Baby I Love Your Way
Baker Street
Beginnings (Chicago)
Billie Jean
Blackbird
Blue Eyes Crying
Bobby McGee
Brazil
Bus Stop
Brown Eyed
Can’t Find My Way
Careless Whispers
Carry On My Wayward Son
Cats in the Cradle
Change The World
Chicago Beginnings
Classical Gas
Dance With Me
Day In The Life
Deacon Blues
Dock of the Bay
Doctor My Eyes
Dust in the Wind
Europa
Fly Me To The Moon
Girl From Ipanema
Golden Years
Hallelujah (L. Cohen)
Happy Together
Harvest Moon
Help Me
Here Comes the Sun
Hey 19
Hey Jude
Hotel California
House of the Rising Sun
I Can’t Go For That
I Don’t Wanna Fall In Love
If You Could Read My Mind
Imagine (Lennon)
I’m So In Love With You
Into The Mystic
Isn’t She Lovely
Joann
Killing Me Softly
King of the Road
Kiss
La Vie En Rose
Layla (Eric Clapton)
Let's Dance
Light My Fire
Lighter Shade of Pale
Listen to the Music
Little Help
Little Wing
Mac The Knife
Major Tom
Marry Me
Mas que Nada
Moon Dance
More Than Words
Mrs. Robinson
Mustang Sally
Never Been To Spain
Norwegian Wood
No Such Thing
One Note Samba
Only Words
Over The Rainbow
Peg
Perfect
Picking Up The Pieces
Play That Funky Music
Pretty Woman
Purple Haze
Ricky Don't Lose That Number
Riders On The Storm
Runaway
Samba Pa Ti
Santeria
Should Have Brought You Flowers
Sister Golden Hair
Smooth Operator
Something
Somewhere Over The Rainbow
(Hey) Soul Sister
Stairway to Heaven
Starry Starry Night
Staying Alive
Stormy Monday
Strangers in the Night
Strawberry Fields
Sultans of Swing
Superstition
Sweet Baby James
Sweet Home Alabama
Take 5
Take it Easy
Take It To The Limit
Tambourine Man
Taxi
Tenderly
Thank You (Zepplin)
Tiny Dancer
Turn the Page
Unchained Melody
Use Me
Ventura Highway
Wave
What A Wonderful World
What’s Goin’ On
White Rabbit
Wicked Games
Wind Cries Mary
Wish You Were Here
You're Momma Don't Dance
You've Got A Friend
Your momma don't dance
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone.
Stormy Mondays
Stairway to heaven
Peg
House of the rising sun
No such thing
Wish you were here
Somewhere over the rainbow
What a wonderful world
Bobby McGee
Play that funky music
Mustang Sally
Europa
Take 5
Samba Pata
Starry starry night
Sanitaria
Perfect
If you could read my mind
Golden years
Never been to heaven
Beginnings Chicago
Hallelujah
Happy together
Baker Street
Careless whisper
Day in a life
Doctor my eyes
Girl from ipanema
Here comes the sun
Into the mystic
King of the road
Kiss
Layla
Light my fire
Riders in the storm
Moon dance
Smooth operator
Sultans of swing
Turn the page
What's going on
White rabbit
Wicked games
Baby I love your ways
Blackbird
Brazil
Cats in the cradle
Change the world
Dock of the bay
Fly me to the moon
Hotel California
Imagine
La vie en Rose
Mas q nada
Mac the knife
More than words
Norwegian wood
One note samba
Pretty woman
Wind cries Mary
All along the watchtower
Little wing
Purple haze
Staying alive
Sweet home Alabama
Take it easy
Take it to the limit
Taxi
Wave
Hey 19
Pick up the pieces
Influences and inspiration
Musical influences include Tommy Emanual, Naudo, and Adam Rafferty. Also tip my hat to Lindsey Buckingham, Mason Williams, and Jimi Hendrix.
Setup requirements
I can adapt to large and small venues, whatever is needed. From a battery-operated system for remote events to a complete PA system for events up to several hundred people, I can accommodate any situation.