Dave Gunning

Genre: Folk
Secondary Genre: Singer/Songwriter Pictou, Nova Scotia Canada Contact

Juno Award nominee ... multi-award winning recording artist ... a charismatic performer ... compelling singer-songwriter ... magnetic ability to captivate audiences with his own brand of humorous storytelling, enriched with a sensitive blend of folk and roots influences .....

Artist Information

Biography

“... an artist as compelling, as assured and attentive to every nuance of the writing process as Lightfoot, Cockburn and Stan Rogers before him.” -- Greg Quill, The Toronto Star

There are stories that wash over you like a tide, and then there are stories that grab you by the heart. Dave Gunning has made a point of finding the latter and wrapping them up in song since he broke upon the Canadian music scene in 1997. The Pictou County, Nova Scotia born and bred singer-songwriter and working class hero has built up from humble beginnings to a point where his name is regularly included in conversation with artists such as David Francey, James Keelaghan, Ron Hynes, Stan Rogers, Bruce Cockburn and Gordon Lightfoot. Writing from a sonic menu that includes flavors of Irish, Scottish, French Acadian, folk and country musical styles, Dave transcends genre with songs that fill your senses and touch your soul.

Dave’s 10th album No More Pennies is inarguably his finest collection of songs to date. The record celebrates the journey and pays tribute to the trials and tribulations, the highs and lows and the goodness at the heart of people. On No More Pennies, Dave has proven to be a deft arranger and a songwriting master craftsman with co-written gems with George Canyon, Jim Dorie, David Francey (duet), Lennie Gallant, Bruce Guthro, Karine Polwart (duet) and record producer, Jamie Robinson. The lead signature track, "These Hands" co-written with George Canyon is a 'call to action' style song reminiscent of classic Pete Seeger to inspire us to make good in this world.Recently, Dave and his song, "These Hands" were awarded Song of the Year at the 2013 East Coast Music Awards and picked up nominations for Folk Recording and Fans Choice Entertainer of the Year.

Dave’s previous release … a tribute to John Allan Cameron was honoured with a 2012 Juno Award nomination and was the winner of two 2011 Canadian Folk Music Awards and two East Coast Music Awards. He was the winner of the Indie International Song Contest (for his song, Hard Workin’ Hands, co-written with Ron Hynes) and a finalist in the Great American Song Contest, the USA Songwriting Competition, the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and the International Songwriting Contest. All of the hardware and certificates aside, however, it is the personal connection that Gunning’s music engenders that is the greatest testament to his craft.

Dave’s holiday album, 'Christmas Too' follows on the heels of his popular seasonal release, fittingly titled, Dave Gunning Christmas which produced the holiday hit, Daddy’s Beer co-written with Jamie Robinson. Christmas Too features a festive celebration of original and classic holiday favourites that will engage listeners in a musical tribute to Christmas past and present and wrap them in a warm blanket of rich acoustic sound.

A seasoned performer and entertainer, Dave has toured extensively both solo and with his band performing to sold-out venues, festivals, house concerts and theatres throughout Canada, the U.S., the U.K. , Ireland, Denmark and in Afghanistan, entertaining the troops. Engaging and charismatic, Dave's magnetic gift of captivating audiences by creating a bond through down-to-earth details, homespun humour and seasoned musicianship will be in full display as he continues to tour in support of the latest chapter of a career heading for international recognition.

awards & achievements
2013 Winner ECMA Song of the Year (These Hands)
ECMA Folk Recording of the Year Nomination (No More Pennies)
ECMA Fans Choice Entertainer of the Year Nomination
Semi - Finalist International Songwriting Competition (These Hands)

2012 Juno Award Roots & Traditional Album of the Year:Solo Nomination (a tribute to John Allan Cameron)
ECMA Entertainer of the Year Nomination

2011 Winner Canadian Folk Music Award Traditional Singer of the Year (a tribute to John Allan Cameron)
Winner Canadian Folk Music Award New/ Emerging Artist of the Year
Winner ECMA Award Roots Traditional Solo Recording of the Year
Winner ECMA Award Producer of the Year (a tribute to John Allan Cameron)
Winner Music Nova Scotia Award Roots Traditional Recording of the Year
Canadian Folk Music Award Nomination Traditional Recording of the Year
Canadian Folk Music Award Nomination Producer of the Year
ECMA Folk Recording of the Year Nomination (We’re All Leaving)
ECMA Male Solo Recording of the Year Nomination (a tribute to John Allan Cameron)
ECMA Fans Choice Entertainer of the Year Nomination
Music Nova Scotia Male Artist Recording of the Year Nomination (a tribute to John Allan Cameron)
Music Nova Scotia Producer of the Year Nomination
Music Nova Scotia Recording Studio of the Year Nomination (Wee House of Music)

2010 ECMA Songwriter of the Year Nomination (Made On A Monday)
ECMA Male Solo Recording of the Year Nomination (We’re all Leaving)
ECMA FACTOR Recording of the Year Nomination
Finalist Great American Song Contest (Before The Morning Sun)
Music Nova Scotia Folk Recording of the Year Nomination
Music Nova Scotia Entertainer of the Year Nomination
Music Nova Scotia Male Artist of the Year Nomination
Music Nova Scotia SOCAN Songwriter of the Year Nomination

2009 Semi-Finalist International Songwriting Competition (Before The Morning Sun)
ECMA Entertainer of the Year Nomination

2008 First Place Winner Folk Category Indie International Songwriting Contest (Hard Workin’ Hands)
Finalist USA Songwriting Competition (Hard Workin’ Hands)
Finalist International Songwriting Competition (Cowboy’s Dream)
Finalist John Lennon Songwriting Contest (Hard Workin’ Hands)
Winner ECMA Award Male Solo Recording of the Year (House For Sale)
Winner ECMA Award Folk Recording of the Year (House For Sale)
Winner Music Nova Scotia Award Studio Engineer of the Year
Music Nova Scotia Entertainer of the Year Nomination
Music Nova Scotia Folk Recording of the Year Nomination (House For Sale)

2006 ECMA Male Artist of the Year Nomination
ECMA Album of the Year Nomination (Two-Bit World)
The Irish Music Magazine Readers Poll Song of the Year (New Highway)

2005 Winner ECMA Award Folk Recording of the Year (Two-Bit World)
ECMA Nomination Male Artist of the Year
First Place Winner Folk Category International Acoustic Music Awards (Prince of Pictou)
Winner Music Nova Scotia Award Folk Recording of the Year (Two-Bit World)
Honorable mention USA Songwriting Competition (Prince of Pictou)

2003 Winner Music Nova Scotia Award Musician of the Year

2002 Winner Music Nova Scotia Award Producer of the Year (Live)
Winner Music Nova Scotia Award Engineer of the Year (Live)
Winner Music Nova Scotia Award Studio of the Year (Riverfront Studio)

2001 ECMA Roots/ Traditional Solo Recording of the Year Nomination (Caught Between Shadows)

1998 ECMA Roots/ Traditional Vocal Nomination (Lost Tracks)


Management Contact:
Shelley Nordstrom
Tel: (902) 876-8987
snordstrom@ns.sympatico.ca

US Bookings:
Robyn Boyd, Wooden Ship Productions
Tel: (518) 392- 5372
robyn@woodenshipproductions.com

Canada Bookings:
Bob Bale
Tel: (705) 523-6200
bob@davegunning.com

For more information visit, www.davegunning.com/ www.myspace.com/davegunning, www.facebook.com/davegunning, www.twitter.com/dave_gunning
Live performance footage: http://www.youtube.com/user/davegunningvideos

Instrumentation

Dave Gunning- acoustic guitar, vocals

Discography

No More Pennies (Canada, September 2012/ Australia December 2012)
Christmas Too (2011)
a tribute to John Allan Cameron (2010)
We're All Leaving (2009)
House For Sale (2007)
Christmas (2006)
Two- Bit World (2004)
Dave Gunning Live (2002)
Caught Between Shadows (2000)
Lost Tracks (1996)

Candles & Evergreens (2008) recorded with George Canyon
Sound clips are available at www.davegunning.com

Official Website

http://www.davegunning.com

Links

Audio

Lyrics

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

  • Dave Gunning No More Pennies CD Review [+ Show ]

    “Dave Gunning’s songs give voice to the downtrodden and salute the pride and values of hard working ...

  • Dave Gunning No More Pennies CD Review [+ Show ]

    “Gunning writes like a dream, grabbing the listener with a foolscap of lines that are as tight as th...

  • Dave Gunning Concert Review [+ Show ]

    “Truly, what makes Gunning so remarkable as an entertainer is his rare gift to be able to befriend ...

  • No More Pennies Review [+ Show ]

    “Dave Gunning's at it again. Defining our lives, baring our souls, telling what it's like on...

  • Dave Gunning No More Pennies CD Review

    “Nova Scotian Gunning’s tenth song collection sparkles from beginning to end”.

  • Dave Gunning’s A Tribute to John Allan Cameron, is a complete package [+ Show ]

    “Move ahead to present day. John Allan has passed on (always remembered and always missed), and the...

  • Dave Gunning - He's the Full Package

    “Dave Gunning is a rising star in Canadian acoustic music. He’s the full package”.

  • Toronto Star Review [+ Show ]

    "... a richly crafted work of the highest musical and lyrical substance. He confirms predictions tha...

  • Gunning’s musicality shone on [+ Show ]

    “Gunning’s musicality shone in the same way right from the first to the end of the show — always inn...

  • UK Country People We're All Leaving CD Review [+ Show ]

    “Dave Gunning delivers a winner….We’re All Leaving is a memorable almost thematic collection of song...

  • Gunning We're all Leaving: Star-studded Affair [+ Show ]

    “It’s a star-studded affair, but at the centre of it all is Gunning with his sparse folk sound and c...

Setlist

Dave will perform original material from his latest CD, 'No More Pennies' and selections from his award-winning catalogue of recordings. A charismatic and captivating performer, Dave infuses his live shows with his own blend of humourous storytelling and touching commentary on the everyday, bringing a new vibrance, energy and life to his heartfelt songs and performances.

Performance set list varies based on the length of each show.

Basic Requirements

PDF Rider

DaveSoloPlot.cwk (DR).pdf

Calendar

DateTimeVenueCity
May 25, 2013 Saturday 10:25 AM GottaGetGon Folk Festival Ballston Spa, NY, US
May 26, 2013 Sunday 1:00 PM GottaGetGon Folk Festival Ballston Spa, NY, US
May 31, 2013 Friday 8:00 PM Private Event Fergusons Cove, NS, CA
Jun 1, 2013 Saturday 7:00 PM West Pictou School Lyons Brook, NS, CA
Jul 5, 2013 Friday TBA Stan Roger's Folk Fest Canso, NS, CA
Jul 6, 2013 Saturday TBA Stan Roger's Folk Fest Canso, NS, CA
Jul 7, 2013 Sunday TBA Stan Roger's Folk Fest Canso, NS, CA
Jul 19, 2013 Friday TBA Maritime Acoustic Music Festival Kempt Shore, NS, CA
Jul 20, 2013 Saturday TBA Maritime Acoustic Music Festival Kempt Shore, NS, CA
Jul 21, 2013 Sunday TBA Maritime Acoustic Music Festival Kempt Shore, NS, CA
Aug 4, 2013 Sunday 7:00 PM New Glasgow Riverfront Music Jubilee New Glasgow, NS, CA
Aug 16, 2013 Friday TBA Milwaukee Irish Fest Milwaukee, WI, US
Aug 17, 2013 Saturday TBA Milwaukee Irish Fest Milwaukee, WI, US
Aug 18, 2013 Sunday TBA Milwaukee Irish Fest Milwaukee, WI, US
Aug 30, 2013 Friday TBA Shelter Valley Folk Festival Grafton, ON, CA
Aug 31, 2013 Saturday TBA Shelter Valley Folk Festival Grafton, ON, CA
Sep 1, 2013 Sunday TBA Shelter Valley Folk Festival Grafton, ON, CA