PhanArtist Profile: Keith ‘Scramble’ Campbell

You have probably seen Scramble at a show live painting. It could have been a Phish show, New Orleans Jazz Fest, Bonnaroo, a String Cheese show, or pretty much anything that in the gamut of live music performances.  Keith ‘Scramble’ Campbell has been making live art for more than 20 years now, and has become one of the most well known artists in the jamband community, as well as the festival circuit and live music scene.

painting String Cheese in 2001
painting String Cheese in 2001

My first interaction with Scramble was at Trey Anastasio Band at Red Rocks, 7/17/01.  With beer in hand and in stomach, I wandered over to the left side of the stage and saw on an easily accessible ledge, this long-haired guy painting quickly, and seemingly to and with the music. The speed at which Scramble painted, and the finished product that was slowly coming to view was remarkable and my first foray into the world of live art, and subsequently, fan art.

For over a decade Scramble has captured live energy and created visual documentation of over 500 musicians.  His word varies in content from the things he started painting when he first began to what his goals are in the future. Each painting is an improvisational attempt to capture the same energy and spirit being shared by the musicians and crowd. He dances and spreads the paints onto the canvas with his bare hands and brushes.

Watch video 7/31/09 Friday Night, Red Rocks

Friday Night
Friday Night

Scramble gives many respectful thanks to all the musicians that have allowed him to be a part of their live performances and create these artworks.

Watch video from 8/1/09 Saturday Night, Red Rocks

Saturday Night
Saturday Night

Watch video from 8/2/09 Sunday Night Red Rocks

Sunday Night Set 1
Sunday Night Set 1

Scramble doesnt just paint at Phish shows and concerts, he also creates live art at events hosted in Main Gallery and Theaters performances at Red Rocks, including plays and musicals. Scramble is currently working at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities and is also the seasonal Historian & Tour Guide at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado. Red Rocks is a geologically formed, open-air Amphitheatre that is not duplicated anywhere in the world. With Mother Nature as the architect, the design of the Amphitheatre consists of two, three hundred-foot monoliths (Ship Rock and Creation Rock) that provide acoustic perfection for any performance.

PHRock
PHRock

Scramble also has designed 100 signed and numbered hand painted bottles of 05 Cabernet Sauvignon for BookCliff Vineyards and Tasting Room (1501 Lee Hill Road Boulder, CO).

handpainted bookcliff wine bottle 'Rock Spirits'
handpainted bookcliff wine bottle ‘Rock Spirits’

From their website – bookcliffvineyards.com – “The Cab features a bright fruity nose, limestone earthiness and flavors reminiscent of blackberries and dark cherries with a hint of vanilla and a soft lemon peppery finish. “

bottles on the rocks
bottles on the rocks

The Scrambled BookCliff 05′ Cabernet Sauvignon signed numbered limited edition will be available exclusively thru BookCliff Vineyards. For more information, prices, shipping, etc, call or email BookCliff Vineyards Sommelier Mark Stephan at sommeliermark@gmail.com

check out Scramble’s gallery at scramblecampbell.com and his shop

scramblecampbell.com/shop/thumbs.asp?Art_TypeID=5

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