DAVID ESSIG was introduced to Canadian audiences in 1971 as a “talented newcomer” at the legendary Mariposa Folk Festival. Now, over 30 years later, he is considered one of Canada’s finest interpreters of original, contemporary folk music. Always paying homage to his roots in Bluegrass and Country Blues, David uses these traditions to create new songs that are both timely and timeless. His intense energy and incisive wit have made him a favourite with audiences around the world.
Equally renowned as an instrumentalist and traditional performer, David is a master of the blues and slide guitar. Whether on the lap-style Weissenborn or the electric Godin guitar, his spontaneous style crosses all the borders between country, blues and the avant-garde. And with his 5/8” socket and a sound that could peel the petunias off your mother’s porcelain, he is considered one of Canada’s great slide guitarists.
David's masterful songwriting is the theme of A Stone in My Pocket, the milestone double CD project released in 2004 by Pacific Music in Canada and IRD in Europe. For this album, David recorded fresh new versions of 30 of the most popular and moving songs from his 35 years of writing, including 2 new songs. He was joined on this project by renowned musicians Oliver Schroer on violin and Tobin Frank on bass. David added nearly 100 guitar parts to the original trio sessions. A Stone in My Pocket has received critical aclaim as a landmark in Canadian roots music.
Welcome to David's official MySpace site. Lots more to come.
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 2 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): WALKABOUT WITH MY PEN
Once drove an old sedan, up north, From a place in Sydney to Cairns; Then to Kuranda I went forth, By train, to look without set plans.
I browsed through the trendy market, With fresh fruits of tropical kind; Walked to the creek through lush thicket - Nature’s hand giving peace of mind.
I dined in a scenic cafe; Then, outside, as I wrote for yen, Some passing Kooris called-out: “Hey, You go walkabout with your pen.”
Request or question, I don’t know - Assured voices, elderly men. That’s now several years ago, And I’ve seen the world - with my pen.
Thanks for the add David! Besides seeing you at the Mariposa decades ago, I also saw you at the Festival of Friends 10 years ago. Now I'm in BC. My God time flies and I'm getting older and deeper in debt. LOL. Thanks for the lovely music, David.
How have you been? It's been a long time since we played at the Winnipeg Folk festival years ago. I played down in Calabria and met some folks who were friends of yours. Thanks for keepin' it real. ..and thanks for being my friend. PS.Roots, Rags and Blues IS OUT NOW...AT LAST! Order online at www.truefire.com TrueFire
greetings from across the Atlantic! - Still got 'In The Tradition' you gave me at Home County back in 95; a mutual wake-up call, so to speak... Peace, and happy trails! Nick
Hi David, Thanks for the add. Great to know you're out there in webspace. Thomas and I are living on Salt Spring and loving it. May the muse be ever present. Lotsalove
Thanks for adding me - it's great to have one of my 'real' friends here on myspace :-). So glad that you chose "Long Sweet Ride" for your audio sample (you know it's my fave - other than "Woman in the Snow" of course). Let me know how that went for a gig in Guelph this fall? Looking forward to seeing you then. I now have audio samples on my site (didn't when you first replied) so do check them out. I've made my personal page pretty darn entertaining, too, since ;-)
xo
Brenda
www.brendalewis.ca
Jazz, blues & folk vocalist
Guelph ON
