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BIO
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.
Reviews
"Winnipeg-based Rogers (son of Canadian Folk icon the late Stan
Rogers) filled the stage with acoustic brilliance. It is safe to say
that regardless of the family tree, Nathan stands on his own with
his brand of fusion folk. His performance at the Market Hall was
intelligent and witty – his surprisingly self-deprecating humour is
ill-matched to the magnificent powerfully clear lyrics and
instrumentals that filled the stage. With great ease he seemed to
effortlessly entertain and delight the audience with songs from his
first CD True Stories."
Mary Helen Moes - The Peterborough Examiner, Feb. 2006
"The resemblance is unmistakable: The same hairline and solid
build. The same political edge, satirical bite, lightning wit and
contempt for fools. The same vocal timbre that provides a bed for a
rich baritone. The same way with words and melody. And yet,
significantly, Nathan Rogers is very much his own artist, despite
the similarities with his dad -- the late, great Stan Rogers."
Robert Reid - The Record - Jan. 2006
Tracks
Sample Tracks and YouTube videos
Web Site
Nathan Rogers web site