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"Dan McKinnon is a brilliant Canadian folk musician with unparalleled song writing and interpreting skills and a voice that could fill a castle! He connects beautifully with his audiences. Guaranteed! Songs from the heart, many maritime, many from the land, written with respect for the folk tradition(s), and every one of them stories you won’t forget." - Larry Kaplan
"Dan's first visit to Folk on the Pier' was a delight, he had the audience in his hand and is also a pleasure for the team to deal with, a true gent!" - Scott Butler
"Undoubtedly the hit of Cleckheaton Festival... " - Living Tradition
Though he can trace his family back to the Skye McKinnons, only a few generations removed from Scotland, Dan himself hails from Halifax, Nova Scotia, in the Canadian Maritimes, an area rich in the musical and cultural traditions of the North Atlantic.
"A special night with Dan McKinnon. Marvelous powerful voice delivering many thought provoking original songs with great story telling to set the scene... Very accomplished guitar accompaniment... Just lovely..." - Cramlington Folk
Dan's warm baritone voice, superb guitar arrangements and original compositions have won him widespread praise. Thoughtful songs and smooth melodies cover the entire folk spectrum.
Dan has tremendous stage charisma and engages an audience - both hearts and minds. He's equally happy on a large festival stage or a small venue or folk club, telling stories in song. And what stories... tales of the British war brides of Canadian servicemen in the 1940s... the story of how Canadian merchant navy sailors eventually got the recognition they deserved for their war service - sixty years late... and the true tale of a bride who wanted the best wedding dress and lost her beau by chasing her dream...
From the Living Tradition Review - "Undoubtedly the hit of Cleckheaton Festival this year was this supremely warm-hearted, warm-voiced singer-songwriter from the Canadian Maritimes. Encountering Dan's music for the first time is a life-affirming and immensely enriching experience. He comes armed with a package of exceedingly fine self-penned songs, almost any one of which would be the envy of many a more well-known songwriter. You can hear from the moment he steps out in front of an audience that he's one of the most engaging and genuine performers on the scene. Dan is blessed with a gorgeous baritone voice, and an exceptional command of phrasing, light and shade perfect for conveying the nuances and narratives of his uniformly finely-crafted songs." - David Kidman
"One hell of a treat to see. He's a great singer, great songwriter, and a great performer." - Mick Peat, BBC Radio Derby
Dan has received nominations for two MIANS Awards: Folk/Roots Recording of the Year & Male Artist Recording of the Year! As far back as 1998 he was given the AMTEC Award of Merit for the album Between Wind and Water and he was the Nova Scotia winner in the tenth and final CBC Atlantic Song Contest for the song, "Lakes of Bras d'Or."
"An excellent night of music from Dan McKinnon at Catshill last night. Great songs sung with a truly awesome voice and introduced with interesting and entertaining chat. A true master of his craft."- Bob Bignell, Bromsgrove Folk Club and Festival
A true troubador, Dan travels the country with one guitar, one backpack and one train ticket.
Tours booking now:
May/June 2027
MAY
17 Herga
22 Ask (Kent) TBC
23 Walthamstow
24 Sileby
26 Llantrisant
27 Bromsgrove
JUNE
2 Spalding
11 Lake District
18 Harthill (Sheffield)