Folk Thief, aka Dave Hadgkiss, is back in the Lower Mainland after spending the past six months touring Canada.
To mark his return, the Vancouver-based singer-songwriter will play an intimate show at Kanaka Creek Coffee House in Maple Ridge.
“Being on tour was a crazy ride, seeing all these amazing small towns and cities all the way across Canada – sleeping on stages, couches, floors and, if I was lucky, the odd hotel room – so I’m really looking forward to being home in Vancouver and playing shows for the people who’ve supported me from the very beginning," says Hadgkiss.
Born and raised in Kamloops, Hadgkiss began playing guitar at the age of 14.
He spent some time screaming into a microphone and stomping on distortion pedals in the Kamloops-based geek rock band, the Gelcaps, and his own punk rock recording project, Weapons Will Kill.
But a borrowed copy of the Townes Van Zandt biopic Be Here to Love Me inspired him to blow the dust off his acoustic guitar and re-examine music's ability to tell stories and express the full range of human emotion.
That's how Folk Thief was born.
With influences ranging from folk to punk, from country to rock ’n’ roll, Hadgkiss has developed his own unique style.
His debut album, Love, Heartache and Oblivion, was released in March and quickly rose to the Top 10 on the college radio charts.
The album is receiving praise for its interesting and creative lyrics, sweet finger-style guitar playing, and minimalist recording.
His live shows are becoming known as intimate gatherings where the audience can get lost in Hadgkiss’ uniquely style of storytelling.
Showtime
Folk Thief plays Kanaka Creek Coffee, 24155 102nd Ave in Maple Ridge on Friday, Nov. 25 at 5:30 p.m. Entry by donation.