Juno-winner Jack Semple is a complete musician with amazing technical and stylistic range.  Equally at home with acoustic and electric guitar, his singing is an equal partner to his playing.  In fact, one of Jack's favourite things is to combine the two,  singing in unison the lines that his fingers are laying down on his cherished blond Fender Stratocaster.  It's a musical effect you need to hear to believe.
Youngest of six, he grew up on a farm north of Saskatchewan, learning his first chords from indulgent brothers before launching full bore into classical, acoustic and flamenco training.   Jack never lost the flamenco touch, applying the classic Spanish techniques to his blues playing, even on the electric guitar.  Hawk-eyed fans will notice the long acrylic fingernails on his right hand (",,it's like having a pick attached to each finger").
   Semple has played from Vancouver to Montreux, has worked for CBC radio and TV, won a Juno award, and shared the stage with top artists including Martha Reeves, Prairie Oyster, Colin James and k.d. lang.  Festival-goers from last year will want to know that Jack was the guitarist with The Lincolns when the band played their storied gig at Wayne Gretsky's wedding. He still has Gordie Howe's autograph on a Wayne and Janet wedding napkin.
  Among his influences Semple sites B.B. King, Jose Feliciano and Gordon Lightfoot, a trio of musical royalty that will no doubt make itself heard throughout his performance. This will be Jack's first visit to PEI and we are confident that our Thursday night Mainstage audience will be pleasantly astonished.

 

Jack will also be presenting a free workshop (with his acoustic guitar in hand) in St. Paul's Andligan Church, Thursday, August 18 at 1pm.   This will be the perfect chance to get an up-close look at his masterful technique, and ask a few questions about his music.

Jack's workshop is presented by Mark's Work Wearhouse.

 

Jack's website

(check out the "media" page!)