Dan Livingstone
”There have been many flashbacks of late to the days when jug bands were the cat’s meow of the ’30s and ’40s. Yet few get it like Livingstone and his serious six-piece, who rely on homemade instruments for authenticity. All the more surprising that this talented finger-style guitarist hails from north of the 49th–he sounds like he hails from the Appalachians.” – Eric Thom www.penguineggs.ab.ca
Fingerstyle blues guitarist Dan Livingstone has been receiving acclaim from musicians and audiences alike as an exceptional fingerstyle guitar player and an engaging performer. Whether playing rags, swing, blues or spirituals, his expressive style marks him as a musician with “big ears” and a passion for the authentic. Recently featured on the cover of the magazine Blues & Co. (#66, Dec. 2013), Dan is now becoming recognized on the international circuit and has toured extensively in Norway, Germany, France and Belgium. He has also toured in China, Ireland, Greece, and the U.S. His appearances and concerts across Canada over the last decade have included festivals and concerts from coast to coast. Drawing inspiration from roots blues, ragtime, and American “Primitive” guitar, Dan Livingstone draws on the best of traditional and contemporary fingerstyle guitar approaches. His strong vocals are reminiscent of blues “shouter” traditions, ranging from the honeyed tones of Mississippi John Hurt, the ferocious vocals of Fred McDowell and the witty feel of Leon Rebone. His band’s last album was nominated for a Lys Blues Award, landed on the Blind Lemon Top 20 Canadian Blues Albums Of 2012 chart and was noted by the Blues Underground Network where it was ranked #6 in the category “Not Necessarily Blues” (Worldwide). Recently ”Pick of the Week” on CBC, the album gets regular radio airplay on CBC. Dan Livingstone also recorded on the latest release of the group Gros Mené, which won a Felix for Album of the Year (2013) in the category Alternative. Over the course of the past few years, he has performed in festivals such as the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal, Festival International Blues de Tremblant, the Festival Classique des Hautes Laurentides, and the Cahors Blues Festival (France). Acclaimed by critics and the general public alike, Dan Livingstone leaves no one indifferent. His main group, The Griffintown Jug Addicts, tours with him regularly in eastern Canada and Europe. Over the last 3 years, Dan also performs regularly across eastern Canada with Guitares Nomades, a guitar trio that explores classical, south american, gypsy, jazz, world and American fingerstyle guitar. He has also formed an original project with gypsy jazz guitarist, Stéphane Tellier, called Wrong Nail.