Balladeer and actor John Gogo hails from a musical family in Snuneymuxw (a.k.a. Nanaimo), on Vancouver Island. He’s best known for writing and performing his folk songs about the people & places, the true and the tall tales of the west coast – the islands in particular. From Haida Gwaii to St. John’s to Old Crow, John has played community halls & big houses, festivals & pubs, theatres and beer parlours.

John produced his 6th LP, Western Balladeer, which is slated for a summer release. Featured with him on his 10 song record are Duke & Goldie, daughter Jeri Gogo, Tyler Lieb, David Essig, Ed Peekeekoot, brother Paul Gogo, cousin Brent Gubbels, Alan Moberg, Tobin Stokes, Rick Scott, Daniel Lapp, Dazy Weymer & Valdy.

Lead single “Larry’s Grandad” is a true and personal story that tells of a time when life was both harder yet simpler. It was inspired by a family story told to John by Larry Glenwright in Riverport, Nova Scotia, who he met while he was on tour in the Maritimes in 2019. Larry told of how his Grandad was a coal miner as a young boy and how he met the love of his life. For John, he was immediately drawn to the charming story and knew it would fit right in with the songs he liked to write.