John Rutherford

John Rutherford is a singer/songwriter based in Calgary Alberta who's work, laced with the tonality, phrasing and spirit of the blues, fuses a broad and eclectic range of influences creating a sound distinctly his own.

Amidst a long and storied career Rutherford released his debut solo recording in 2010 called Echo Broadcast. Pulling together the various strands of his musical experience and artistic vision, Rutherford's recent work skillfully dove tails a roots/blues/folk/rock vibe with an imaginative and modern songwriters take on the stories, the legends, the vintage instruments and the soul and feel of the blues.

Echo Broadcast charted at campus and public radio across Canada reaching #1 on the Alberta wide CKUA Radio Network’s Top 30 Music Chart, #2 on the CKDU Top 30 in Halifax and #8 on the national Earshot Folk, Roots and Blues Music Chart. Echo Broadcast has received glowing reviews at press and radio both in Canada and the UK. The CD showed up on the CKUA Radio Network's Top 100 for 2010.

Produced by fellow Calgary musician and record producer Lorrie Matheson, Echo Broadcast features Calgary rhythm section Scott Munro on bass and Chris Dadge on drums. Cedric Blary makes an appearance on several tracks playing clarinet as does Lorrie Matheson playing piano and organ.

John's beginnings include early exposure to blues music, lessons in blues guitar and attending countless concerts growing up in Toronto spawning a lifelong fascination with vintage guitars, radio, blues history, pop culture, old records and the people and stories that opened his ears to an entrancing sound and world of music.

Moving to Calgary Rutherford emerged as a “King Eddy brat” during the late eighties heyday of the heralded east end blues haunt; The King Edward Hotel. During his King Eddy tenure Rutherford played with and learned from many of the great legends. His band the Hoodoo Sons performed there regularly.

In recent years the guitarist/singer/songwriter has championed several roots music projects touring and recording with many of the best roots and blues players in western Canada including the acoustic duo No Guff with guitarist Dan Tapanila and the all-star roots collective Highwater Jug Band with Tim Williams, Suitcase James, Mark Sadlier-Brown and Cedric Blary. Rutherford has also been a regular featured artist with the Edmonton based Front Porch Roots Revue and has recorded and toured extensively with upright bassist and singer/songwriter Ronnie Hayward. Other musical encounters include having worked with and recorded with Calgary blues singer Bill Dowey as well as Fort McLeod singer/songwriter John Wort Hannam.

During his time at the King Edward Hotel Rutherford shared the stage with Clarence Gatemouth Brown, Buddy Guy, Eddie Shaw, Billy Branch, Phillip Walker and Jr. Wells to name a few. Rutherford has opened shows for John Hammond, David Wilcox, Johnny Winter, Neville Brothers, Charlie Musslewhite, Omar and the Howlers and many more. As part of festival workshops Rutherford has performed on stage with Colin Linden, The Holmes Brothers, Bill Bourne, Danny Michel, The Bills, Chad VanGaalen, Roy Forbes, John Reischman and the Jaybirds, The Wailin' Jennys, Lester Quitzau, Mae Moore, Tom Russell and Suzie Vinnick among others.

As songwriter John Rutherford’s music has appeared in television and film, he holds songwriting credits on both the No Guff CD They’re Red Hot and the Highwater Jug Band self titled disc, and wrote ten of the eleven songs on his solo release Echo Broadcast.