Devon MacKenzie
News contributor
Get ready to tap your toes, laugh and maybe even cry as Dave Gunning takes the stage at the Upstairs Lounge at Oak Bay Recreation this Friday, March 24.
The award-winning folk musician and entertainer will play songs from his most recent album Lift as well as favourites from his past records.
“We are very excited to present Dave here in Victoria, this will be our third time, and the Upstairs Lounge is an ideal venue for this charismatic story teller from Nova Scotia,” said show co-ordinator, Marie Bachand.
Gunning’s recording career spans over 20 years. Along with richly-deserved peer respect, he has also earned a shelf full of music industry awards including awards from the East Coast Music Awards and the Canadian Folk Music Awards, plus a 2012 Juno Award nomination.
His song writing skill has also been internationally recognized and he has spent time touring Europe and Australia, as well as Canada and the USA.
“I mean really, I love to see people laugh, so I tell lots of stories during my shows between songs,” Gunning said, adding he is eager to be back in Oak Bay in front of a Victorian audience.
“I’ve been touring, and I’ve been in Alberta most recently so I’m looking forward to thawing out,” he laughed.
Gunning recently found out his latest album was the number one most played CD for the entire month of May 2016 on folk radio in the USA. The ranking was based on playlists posted to folkdj-l on folkradio.org, a list of the monthly top-70 album airplay lists complied by Richard Gillmann. Hockey fans may also remember Gunning from his win in CBC’s Hockey Night In Canada Song Quest in 2014 with A Game Goin’ On, a co-write with David Francey.
Gunning plays about 150 shows a year all over the world as a one-man show.
“It’s really just me and my guitar, every night,” he said of his recent time spent touring Western Canada.
Advance tickets for this Friday’s show at the Upstairs Lounger are $20 and are available at Ivy’s Bookshop and at the Oak Bay Recreation Centre reception. They are $25 at the door. The Upstairs Lounge is an all-ages licensed restaurant and bar, and doors open at 6 p.m. for dinner service. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m.
For more information see davegunning.com.