John Wort Hannam

Description

“Hannam’s narrative, achingly resilient writing approach hooks the listener immediately - the real deal.” Shindig Magazine UK

Alberta's John Wort Hannam has been on his roots-fueled troubadour journey for two decades, spinning songwriting gold from the chaff of the lives he has encountered and from within his fertile imagination. Twenty years into his career and he shows no sign of slowing down.  In fact he appears to be gaining both a wider audience and momentum, winning two 2023 Canadian Folk Music Awards this year in Vancouver. John has enjoyed a lifetime passion for music and audiences and critics also hear something special in his narrative, lyrically-driven songs.  Mixing effortlessly with rich and clear-timbered vocals and lyrics that tug at the heart, his sound is both unique and familiar. Born on the island of Jersey in the UK and immigrated to Canada at the age of nine. Like a lot of perfomers, John began his singing career in a choir - the Calgary Boys’ Choir, . He only discovered the guitar and his knack for writing songs in his early thirties while working as a teacher.

In 2001, John Wort Hannam quit his teaching job and made himself a promise - he would try his hand at writing songs for the next ten months until his Employment Insurance ran out. And when the time was up, if he had a handful of songs, he would record them.  Those songs would become his first recording Pocket Full Of Holes, released in 2003. Twenty years later, the Alberta musician is recognized as one of the best folk-roots songwriters in Alberta, has released eight full-length recordings and has a few feathers in his hat that include a JUNO nomination, three Canadian Folk Music Award wins for Best Albums of the Year, and Solo Artist of the Year, a coveted Kerrville Texas New Folk songwriting competition win, and numerous Canadian Folk Music Award nominations and Western Canadian Music Award nominations.

HIGHLIGHTS
2023 Canadian Folk Music Award WINNER – Solo Artist of the Year
2023 Canadian Folk Music Award WINNER – Contemporary Album of the Year
2023 Canadian Folk Music Award Nominee– English Songwriter of the Year
2021 Number 1 album for Seven Weeks on CKUA Radio
2021 Western Canadian Music Award Nominee – Roots Artist of the Year
2019 Western Canadian Music Award Nominee – Roots Artist of the Year
2017 Mid-Atlantic Song Contest (US) Grand Prize WINNER
2017 Composed the University of Lethbridge Official 50th Anniversary Song.
2013 Canadian Folk Music Award Nominee – Solo Artist of the Year
2013 Canadian Folk Music Award Nominee – Contemporary Album of the Year
2013 Canadian Folk Music Award Nominee– English Songwriter of the Year
2012 Composed the 2012 AB Winter Games Official Song
2010 Canadian Folk Music Award WINNER- Contemporary Recording of the Year
2010 Western Canadian Music Award Nominee - Roots Recording of the Year
2010 Juno Award Nominee - Roots and Traditional Solo Category
2009 Grand Prize WINNER - Calgary Folk Festival Songwriting Competition
2008 Folk Alliance Music Award Nominee - Best Traditional Artist
2007 Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk WINNER
2007 Western Canadian Music Award Nominee - Songwriter of the Year
2007 Western Canadian Music Award Nominee - Roots Album of the Year
2007 Grand Prize WINNER- Calgary Folk Festival Songwriting Competition
2005 Canadian Folk Music Award Nominee - Best Album of the Year
2005 Canadian Folk Music Award Nominee - Best Vocalist of the Year
2005 Western Canadian Music Award Nominee - Songwriter of the Year

Venue Details

The Dream Café

67 Front Street
Penticton, British Columbia V2A 1H2

The Dream Café