Dave’s original song,” Here
She Comes a Running” (from his CD, Caught Between
Shadows) was featured on the "Atlantic Standards
2” CD release (distributed by Warner Music) celebrating
some of the finest musical talent from Eastern Canada.
His touching rendition of the classic “ A Dream
That Can Last” debuts on the two CD compilation
"Borrowed Tunes 2: A Canadian Tribute to Neil Young”
(Universal Music) with a variety of Canada’s top
recording artists including, the Barenaked Ladies, Raine
Maida, Tom Cochrane, Ron Sexsmith, Liam Titcomb, and
Finger Eleven to name a few. On a lighter front, Dave
also appeared in two episodes of the hit TV show “Trailer
Park Boys” playing the role of the forest ranger
(summer 2007) broadcast on the Showcase Network.
Gunning’s 2006 Christmas release,
fittingly titled, Dave Gunning Christmas features
the popular original track, “Daddy’s Beer,”
(co-written with Jamie Robinson) which became a huge
hit with fans who discovered the sweet, silly holiday
tale when Gunning played it on Canyon’s 2005 Christmas
tour and 2006 fall tour. The song has gone on to become
a favorite with country radio programmers and listeners
during the holiday season.
2005 marked a very successful year for
Dave, picking up two awards for his recording, Two-Bit
World - ECMA Folk Recording of the Year and a second
Award from Music Nova Scotia in the same category. Dave’s
co-write, “Prince of Pictou” (co-written
with Jamie Robinson) was awarded First Place Winner
in the Folk category in the International Acoustic Music
Awards and received an honorable mention in the USA
Songwriting Competition.
Gunning’s previous recordings, “Caught
Between Shadows” and “Lost Tracks”,
were also nominated in the Roots/Traditional category
at the ECMA’s in their respective years. The support
was enhanced when his video for his song “Here
She Comes a Running” from his CD, “Caught
Between Shadows” was picked up by CMT Canada’s
Celtic Country program.
In 2002, Dave had the incredible experience
of performing on a 22-date sold-out tour with Canadian
music legend Stompin’ Tom Connors. The pairing
proved to be a good one, as the spicy East Coasters
were a great mix. That same year, Gunning released the
album Live, and picked up three Music Nova
Scotia Awards for Producer, Engineer and Recording Studio
of the Year (for his studio, Riverfront Studio’s).
In 2003, the accolades continued as he was awarded the
prestigious Music Nova Scotia Musician of the Year Award.
Engaging and captivating as a solo performer,
as a duo, trio or with his band, Dave has the magnetic
gift of captivating audiences by painting pictures with
his compelling storytelling, lyrics and musical arrangements.
On the platform of international recognition, Dave continues
to tour in support of his latest release, “House
for Sale”.
Contact:
Shelley Nordstrom
Tel: (902) 876-8987/ Fax: (902) 457-1187
snordstrom@ns.sympatico.ca
Booking Agent:
Steve Butler, Paquin Entertainment
Tel: (416) 962-8885 ext.47
Fax: (416) 962-3331
steve@paquinentertainment.com
www.paquinentertainment.com
REVIEWS
House
For Sale
“He’s become one of
my favourite new writers”
Ron Hynes, Newfoundland Songwriter & Recording
Artist
“… one of the rising
stars in Canadian roots music”.
TheRecord.com
“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”.
The Guardian
“ While Nova Scotia based
singer/songwriter Dave Gunning has been picking up great
press in Canada for his consistently excellent writing
and performing, this new album 'House for Sale' looks
like it will bring him much wider recognition –
it's full of well crafted songs and has an effortless
folk/country feel that will engage listeners the world
over.
Like many Canadian singer/songwriters,
his work is a mixture of various North American styles,
the intelligent lyrics and stories of the East Coast,
mix with memorable melodies and there's a subtle Country
twang evident in places, it's a strong mix that makes
the album immediately accessible without sounding derivative.
Most of the 11 songs are based around
Gunning's acoustic guitar, and there's a tight and compact
band that provide the backing which includes bass, percussion,
mandolin, dobro and Hammond. Where the disc excels is
in the quality of the writing – he paints pictures
both with his lyrics and the arrangements, the title
track is full of strong imagery that really adds to
the feel of the song, 'Hard Workin' Hands' has a genuine
gritty and proud feel that shines through, and 'These
Roads' is a classic singer/songwriter 'road song' that
explores the writers' relationship with constant traveling.
'House for Sale' is a really strong
contemporary singer/songwriter album full of well crafted
songs and instant melodies, and is an album that with
the right breaks, and word of mouth will gain much wider
recognition. Highly recommended”.
Fish Records, UK
“The album’s lead single,
Cowboy’s Dream (co-written by Dave Gunning with
George Canyon) is simply an outstanding piece of songwriting.
The song addresses the laments of a rodeo rider…
and is reminiscent of Ian Tyson’s Someday Soon
classic. Gunning’s delivery of the song is quite
powerful, and country radio has given it some solid
airplay”.
Country Music News
“This is a lovely CD, relaxed and laid-back,
mostly folk in styling but sometimes with strong country
overtones and the occasional touch of Celtic. There
is enough up-tempo material to break it up nicely, particularly
the spirited Colleen Malone”.
Cape Breton Post
“Gunning took the classic storyteller route,
singing songs from his fifth album, House for Sale,
that were freighted with the folklore of his native
Nova Scotia. A gifted guitarist and a witty raconteur,
he prompted much merriment as he spun the story of a
young boy’s Christmas Day, blighted by the mysterious
fact that Santa had drunk all his dad’s beer”.
The Times, UK
“House For Sale, continues to impress with
its honesty and his gently enthralling no-nonsense tales
of local legends and historical events as well as his
directly-expressed relationship songs”.
Net Rhythms, UK
Two
Bit World
“Two Bit World” is
an incredible piece of music. How does one so young
get such insight, never mind such talent? A great voice
for his music, he is wonderful”. New Highway is
far more than a great song. It is an anthem of genius
that has meaning for people in all countries where the
economy is a rising tide lifting many boats, while also
sinking others. Yup. We said it. We mean it - Genius”.
Live Ireland Magazine
"Canada has produced some truly
fine songwriters in the last decade and the latest addition
to that spectacular Roll of Honour is Dave Gunning."
FolkWax, USA
“Gunning is no stranger to the Canadian folk
arena. With his fourth CD, 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”.
Toronto Star
"...Gunning has turned the
basic Celtic-tinged songster point of view into a much
more penetrating stance. The result is an album full
of songs that rank with the best of Lennie Gallant,
Jimmy Rankin and Ron Hynes."
The Daily News
"Dave Gunning's Two Bit World
is an album that marks the Pictou musician's undeniable
coming of age as a substantial, important and influential
East Coast recording artist."
The Daily News
Caught Between Shadows
"...Caught Between Shadows
is a handsomely crafted piece of work, one almost certain
to advance his career significantly if afforded the
kind of airplay that it deserves."
The Guardian
"...Caught Between Shadows
is a sharp-sounding disk...the record's main attraction
is Gunning's heartfelt songwriting, grown stronger and
even more expressive since his debut recording."
The Halifax Herald
"...Gunning's second release
Caught Between Shadows places his solidly on the list
of East Coast names to watch. Following in the footsteps
of Lennie Gallant or Stan Rogers, Gunning is an interesting
story teller with a nice pop charm."
The Atlantic GIG
"...Caught Between Shadows
puts Dave Gunning in the front ranks of the east coast's
top songwriters."
The Guardian
"...Caught Between Shadows
shows amazing growth by Gunning as an artist. It is
filled with good tunes, great musicianship and fine
writing."
The Halifax Herald
"...Dave Gunning, Gordie Sampson,
and Julian Austin demonstrated that the legacy of Stan
Rogers will be felt on the East Coast music scene in
years to come."
Gregory R. McGuire, Stan Rogers Festival
AWARDS & NOMINATIONS
2008
|
ECMA Award Male
Solo Recording of the Year (House For Sale)
ECMA Award Folk Recording of the Year (House For
Sale) |
2006
|
ECMA Nomination Male Artist of the
Year
ECMA Nomination Album of the Year (Two-Bit World)
The Irish Music Magazine Readers Poll Song
of the Year (New Highway) |
2005
|
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)
Music Nova Scotia Award Folk Recording of the Year
(Two-Bit World)
Honourable mention USA Songwriting Competition (Prince
of Pictou) |
| 2003 |
Music Nova Scotia Award Musician
of the Year |
2002
|
Music Nova Scotia Award Producer
of the Year (Live)
Music Nova Scotia Award Engineer of the Year (Live)
Music Nova Scotia Award Studio of the Year (Riverfront
Studio) |
| 2001 |
ECMA Nomination Roots/ Traditional
Solo Recording of the Year (Caught Between Shadows) |
| 1998 |
ECMA Nomination Roots/ Traditional
Vocal (Lost Tracks) |
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