Don Ross

Guitarists will be hauling their sleeping bags into the line-up to get a front row seat for Don Ross. It's been 10 years since he became the first Canadian to win the U.S. National Fingerstyle Championship, and he hasn't rested on his laurels. His playing has been mentioned in the same paragraphs as that of John Fahey, Leo Kottke and Michael Hedges, but his formative years were in high school punk and rock bands. In time he left that behind and basically taught himself to play well enough to get into York University's music program. Since graduating, he's released four albums, most recently This Dragon Won't Sleep, and toured extensively. He's been to Japan and has gathered a following in the U.S., as well as at the Montreux Jazz Festival. But don't try to pin down his style, because he's also been featured with a symphony orchestra as well as at most of Canada's folk festivals. So, air out the sleeping bag and watch for the workshops.

  -- SA Don Ross