With fourteen albums to his credit, there’s no denying Dave Gunning’s impressive body of work. Fortunately, he’s just getting started...

Dave’s musical journey took root in his teenage years, inspired and informed by performing heroes Stan Rogers, John Allan Cameron, Stompin’ Tom and Gordon Lightfoot. What began as a high school hobby gradually deepened into something more meaningful with the release of his first recording, Lost Tracks, in 1996. His follow-up album, Caught Between Shadows (2000), further showcased Gunning’s talents as listeners gained an early glimpse into his skills as not only a singer, songwriter and guitarist, but a storyteller.

With the release of Two-bit World in 2004, Dave had graduated from apprentice to master craftsman. His gift as a storyteller-in-song translated perfectly to the stage - and audiences took notice as he began to win over fans regionally, nationally and internationally.

In many ways, the ensuing awards and accolades speak for themselves: ten East Coast Music Awards, two Canadian Folk Music Awards, four Music Nova Scotia Awards and a Juno Award nomination for his tribute album to the late John Allan Cameron. There has been other recognition as well - what Dave might refer to as ‘Forrest Gump moments’ -like the time the Canadian Mint ruled that the cover of Dave’s award-winning No More Pennies CD contravened the institution’s copyright policy. This became a nationwide story in 2013. Undeterred, Gunning quickly started ‘making lemonade’ with the news by collecting pennies and loose change at his shows and donating the proceeds to charity. The Mint soon changed its decision...

No More Pennies was also home to “A Game Goin’ On”, co-written with fellow troubadour David Francey. Celebrating Canada’s favourite sport, the song went on to win CBC’s Hockey Night In Canada Song Quest challenge in 2014, with a national broadcast during the NHL Winter Classic game on New Year’s Day.

Much like Forrest Gump, with humility front and centre, Dave often attributes some of his success to being in the right place at the right time. Those who know, though, realize that luck and ‘good timing’ are mostly the results of hard work, talent and determination.

Gunning has never needed to look far beyond his Pictou County, Nova Scotia backyard for inspiration. That’s where the characters live. That’s where the stories come from. Often shining a light on the well-deserving underdogs, he has also never shied away from the tougher topics, staying true to the folk music tradition. In recent years, those topics have tended to be more social and environmental in nature - causes that Gunning holds near and dear. Nowhere has that been more evident, or public, than Dave’s strong stance against a local bleached kraft pulp mill - a proven polluter in the community.

Despite delivering some very important messages in his songs, audiences should also be prepared to laugh at a Dave Gunning show. His banter is perfectly timed, self-effacing and very, very funny. It’s this light-hearted balance, sincerity and impeccable performance that make him one of the country’s most engaging entertainers.

“Once I’m out on stage and the audience has had their first couple of good laughs it puts me at ease. I believe that that’s why I lean toward stories with humour,” says Gunning. “It makes me less nervous. I love seeing people laugh and I love knowing that there are moments when they are feeling emotional.”

2022 welcomed the release of Gunning’s latest recording, The Same Storm. Written and recorded mostly at home during the pandemic, the album continues along a similar path as its predecessors - celebrating moments big and small, lending a voice to the folks that need it most, indulging in a bit of nostalgia but always keeping an eye toward the future and the stories it will bring.