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NATHAN ROGERS
Some say he was born into it, some that he was born with it, while others claim he has
earned it. With one foot planted firmly in folk music’s traditional roots and the other
reaching into its dynamic future, Nathan Rogers isn’t entirely sure what ‘it’ is; singer,
songwriter, guitarist, throat-chanter, percussionist, revivalist, or innovator. Whatever
it may be, “Nathan has the ability to turn the folk world on its ears.”
Like many, it all started at home but what a unique home it was. Nathan’s first experience
picking up the guitar was an attempt to copy the challenging riffs his brother David created
after studying with celebrated virtuosos Don Ross and Preston Reed. His sister Beth demanded
perfection in all vocals as any self-exacting classical voice teacher would, while his mother
initiated him into the business side of the music industry. His father and uncle informed both
his writing style and an ethos of Canadian people that shines in his lyrics.
While others were hiding their braces behind their hands, Nathan was already up high on
stages of all sorts. In winter, he traveled with and won solo vocal awards as part of the
Appleby Boys Choir. Summers were saved for his first love - appearances at folk festivals
and the opportunity to meet, perform with and learn from outstanding musicians. Before he
even had an album in hand, Nathan’s reputed vocal ability had him singing on stage with such
notables as JP Cormier, The Oysterband, Spirit of the West, John Cameron, Connie Caldor and
James Keelaghan.
With a degree in comparative religion, an award winning voice and two prized Laskin guitars
under his belt, Nathan founded his own record label, Halfway Cove Music. In 2005 he finally
released his debut album, True Stories. Produced by Rick Fenton (former AD of Winnipeg Folk
Festival), distributed by Festival and studded with such outstanding roots musicians as Nikki
Mehta, JP Cormier, and Murray Pulver, True Stories was met with critical acclaim both at home
and abroad. If multiple encores at every show are any indication, Canadian audiences
coast-to-coast seem to like it too.
Nathan’s performance style leaves the audiences wondering where the rest of the band
is hiding. Singing, chanting, playing the guitar and stomping, he fills any stage with
“magnificent powerfully clear lyrics and arrangements.” Described as ‘intelligent and witty’,
Nathan will ‘move men and women to tears with his sound and conviction.”
Nathan continues to earn his place in the Canadian folk and blues canon. As Fenton noted,
“I have never seen any musician Nathan’s age who works so hard on his singing and guitar
playing.” After completing a western Canada tour in 2005, 2006 will find him performing
at folk festivals across Canada and venues in the United States. Nathan still finds the
time to write and is hard at work on his second album tentatively scheduled for release
in 2007.
As a quality Australian luthier in Perth, Western Australia Andrew Ellis of Ellis Guitars
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Weissenborn, Left Hand Guitars and Lap Steel models, wood body and metal body resonators
and custom wood and timber stomp boxes are all hand crafted and handmade. A combination of
international solid timbers renowned for acoustic and sound-producing qualities, temperature
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awareness of the delicate processes of manufacture including wood tuning, thicknesses, bracing
and finishing techniques guarantee beauty and quality.
