Biography
John Gorka made his Folk Harbour debut in 2015, and those of us in Lunenburg learned what many have known for some time: John is one of the pre-eminent male singer-songwriters in modern folk. His insightful and original songwriting, stunningly soulful baritone voice, and his engaging and humorous stage presence are a winning combination. The New Jersey native got his start playing at coffee houses in Pennsylvania; in 1984, he won the highly prestigious Kerrville Folk Festival’s New Folk Award, and soon, the musicians who had inspired him became his peers. John has released 14 recordings, most recently, True in Time (2018), a disc full of wry and poignant reflections of everyday life. Fellow Red Horse members and Festival artists, Lucy Kaplansky and Eliza Gilkyson added vocals on this strong and well-rounded record. In 2016, John released Before Beginning, The Unreleased “I Know” – Nashville, 1985, in which he brought never-before-heard studio versions of his earliest material to the public after three decades. As a testament to John’s longevity and consistent songwriting, this collection of songs earned John an Indie Acoustic Award for songwriter of the year in 2016.
Friday: 10:00 AM Alma Houston Talks, Lunenburg School of the Arts
3:00 PM Red Hourse, St. John’s Anglican Church
Main Stage
Saturday: 1:00 PM Americana Meets Canadiana, St. John’s Anglican Church
4:00 PM Central United Church
Sunday: 10:00 AM Gospel Concert, Main Stage