John Rutherford is a Calgary based blues guitarist and singer/songwriter whose work is laced with the tonality, phrasing and spirit of the blues. Fusing together a broad and eclectic range of influences Rutherford creates a sound distinctly his own.
While blues fuels his musical journey, Rutherford’s influences embrace jazz, funk, rock and soul grooves expressing an artistic vision that nods to tradition all the while searching for new ideas and directions.
Long a member of the Calgary and western Canadian roots & blues music community, John Rutherford's career has spanned more than three decades. His many travels have taken him across Canada and to Europe performing in clubs, concert venues and festivals large and small.
Rutherford has performed and recorded with numerous bands and artists including The Highwater Jug Band, Bill Dowey, The Hoodoo Sons, The Ronnie Hayward Trio, No Guff, Dice Deluxe, and Front Porch Roots Revue.
A proverbial opening act, Rutherford boasts an extraordinary list of artists he has warmed up audiences for including Buddy Guy, The Neville Brothers, John Hammond, Robert Jr. Lockwood, John Mayall, Colin James, Amos Garrett, Ellen McIlwain, Downchild and David Wilcox.
In recent years John has set out on his own with solo and band projects under his own name releasing the recording "Echo Broadcast" to critical acclaim in 2010. While constantly creating and contributing to a variety of projects Rutherfordʼs solo career has flourished touring nationally and throughout Alberta. A long overdue new recording of all original material is in the works and due for release in the spring of 2023.
