Dave Gunning

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

• MySpace
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Last.fm
• Dave Gunning Youtube

Audio

• These Hands
  Listen  
• Coal From The Train
  Listen  
• A Game Goin' On
  Listen  
• Little White Seeds
  Listen  
• When The Cold Weather Comes
  Listen  
• SALTWATER HEARTS
  Listen  
• Hard Working Hands
  Listen  
• BEFORE THE MORNING SUN
  Listen  
• BIG SHOES
  Listen  
• ASHEN TOWN
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Ashen Town
• Big Shoes
• As Far As This Town Goes
• Hard Workin’ Hands
• Saltwater Hearts
• These Hands
• Coal From The Train
• When The Cold Weather Comes
• A Game Goin' On
• Little White Seeds

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’s songs give voice to the downtrodden and salute the pride and values of hard working people. Gunning has emerged over the last 15 years as one of the defining voices of East Coast songwriting, joining the forces of Stan Rogers and John Allan Cameron as chroniclers of life on the right coast. He writes poignantly of the simple joys and common struggles many face in Atlantic Canada.“The project is his strongest and most consistent collection of songs yet, pulling together a dozen beautifully crafted tunes, mostly co-writes with other prominent Canadian songwriters including David Francey, George Canyon, Lennie Gallant, Bruce Guthro, Jamie Robinson, Scottish musician Karine Polwart and Pictou County’s Jim Dorie”.

• 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...“Gunning writes like a dream, grabbing the listener with a foolscap of lines that are as tight as the planks on a fisherman’s dory and as colourful as a Newfoundland outport. True, he has co-written a number of the songs with a literary club that includes George Canyon, David Francey, Bruce Guthro and Lennie Gallant, but make no mistake it’s Gunning’s album all the way. A gentle reflectiveness pervades throughout … Pennies with the Maritimer spinning stories that are delivered with a voice dripping melancholy, remorse, ardor and empathy”.

• Dave Gunning Concert Review [+ Show ]
  

  “Truly, what makes Gunning so remarkable as an entertainer is his rare gift to be able to befriend ... “Truly, what makes Gunning so remarkable as an entertainer is his rare gift to be able to befriend the audience as a whole from the stage throughout the course of the concert. And, indeed, you do feel as though he’s as good of a friend as any after a night of songs, stories and lighthearted laughs”.

• 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's at it again. Defining our lives, baring our souls, telling what it's like on the East Coast these days, or for people from the East Coast. From retired railway men to hard-core hockey fans to those who've had to pack up and go to Alberta, Gunning's speaking for them, telling their tales.
  They're rich in detail too. The old coal man in Coal From The Train is a rough sort of course, and don't cross him when he's drinking, but the song is really about helping out in a poor community. He knows poverty, has seen every inch of it passing by on the train his whole life, and is the first to dig deep when it comes to giving. It seems he always tossed coal from the pile when the train passed by the poor shacks on the line. Juno-winner David Francey, who has been spending a lot of time in the East the last year or so, co-writes and duets on A Game Goin' On, the hockey number. For those who think the national game exists on Sports Desk and in hockey pools and sitting in $150 seats, the pair take us down to the pond in small town Canada, where the goal is a pair of frozen boots, and everybody brings a shovel to clear the ice. If the players stay locked out all year, it’s this type of thinking that will save the sport.
  
  Today I think of all I know who have moved to Alberta or points west. We miss them, they miss us, and the ones I know still describe themselves as Maritimers or Newfoundlanders, even those whose left three or four decades ago. Gunning's Living In Alberta explains the dilemma; working in the oil sands isn't like walking through the ocean sand. There's money and new friends out west, but there's the feeling he doesn't belong: "I'm living in Alberta, dying to get back home. You wanna know what it's like to be from the Maritimes? Buy a Dave Gunning album".
  

• 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... “Move ahead to present day. John Allan has passed on (always remembered and always missed), and the student takes the opportunity to create a tribute to his hero. It’s a CD of some of John Allan’s best know work, lovingly recorded by Dave and his friends, many of whom were also friends with John Allan.
  
  Sound The Pibroch, Freeborn Man, The Four Marys, Butterfingers Medley and so on, most carefully recreated but some with newer arrangements, and a few others that may not seem connected until you dig deeper. Dave does the vocals, backed up by friends of John Allan’s like Allie Bennett, JP Cormier, Pee Wee Charles and John Allan’s son Stuart, along with a host of other guests along to pay tribute in their own way. Dave Gunning’s A Tribute to John Allan Cameron, is a complete package. If you’re either a fan of John Allan’s or a fan of Dave’s, this CD should be in your collection”.
  

• 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..."... a richly crafted work of the highest musical and lyrical substance. He confirms predictions that he is the next big thing in the True North of Song, an artist as compelling, as assured and as attentive to every nuance of the writing and performing processes as Lightfoot, Cockburn and Stan Rogers before him, and as gifted as these great composers with a potent sense of place and time, and wisdom beyond his years. 4 Stars. Greg Quill

• 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...“Gunning’s musicality shone in the same way right from the first to the end of the show — always innovative guitar chording to accompany a voice that stood out like a finely-tuned old piano, perfect in pitch, delicate and weathered when called for, but strong and pure, refined in its years of melody flowing through it”.
  

• 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...“Dave Gunning delivers a winner….We’re All Leaving is a memorable almost thematic collection of songs, one that will undoubtedly see Gunning reap further Canadian folk music awards”.

• 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...“It’s a star-studded affair, but at the centre of it all is Gunning with his sparse folk sound and crystal clear lyrics that have made him a popular name along the east coast and into the U.S. and Europe over the last few years”.

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

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