8-2-2025

Vance Gilbert:  “If Joni Mitchell and Richie Havens had a love child, with Rodney Dangerfield as the midwife, the results might be something close to the great Vance Gilbert", says Richmond Magazine.

Considered by many to be an integral part of the national folk scene - and one of the originators of the finally recognized R&B/Folk/Jazz crossover-sub-genre - this Boston-based stalwart was born and raised in the Philadelphia area. In 1992, Shawn Colvin invited him to be special guest on her Fat City tour. “With the voice of an angel, the wit of a devil, and the guitar playing of a god...”, swooned The Fort Worth Star-Telegram about one of those shows.

Vance's new album, "The Mother Of Trouble”, features Grammy winner Lori McKenna on background vocals, Juno award recipient and Bonnie Raitt Grammy hit song co-writer Joey Landreth on guitars, and Americana-Roots master mandolinist Joe K. Walsh.

Gilbert has recorded 14 albums to date, including 5 for Philo/Rounder Records. He's been the opener of choice for artists as varied as Arlo Guthrie, Anita Baker, The Milk Carton Kids, and Southside Johnny, and the mid 2000s found Gilbert opening 150+ shows for comic legend George Carlin! He's currently the regular opener for Mad About You/Stranger Things star Paul Reiser’s stand-up shows, and he maintains his own busy acoustic music touring schedule.
He even has a tune on a Grammy-nominated children’s album. How rounded is that?

"He is that rare performer for whom people lean forward in their seats as eagerly between songs as they do during them..." - Boston Globe