John Kerkhoven is a harmonica player and singer based in Matane, Québec. His influences include blues and jazz, as well as traditional music from the Celtic, Québécois and other North American traditions.

Waltzes and Blues
Weaving his way from waltzes to blues, John takes his audiences on a musical journey through his repertoire of roots music from Ireland to Mississippi, and Louisiana to Gaspésie. He accompanies himself on guitar, and plays and improvises over live harmonica loops to further bring out the power, beauty and delightfulness of these related musical traditions.

Bio

John got his start playing in the metro and on the streets of Montreal, after which he was active on the Montreal scene. His trio The Mojo Vipers performed an eclectic repertoire of jazz and blues. His duo BluesReel released two albums and he has performed and recorded with some of Montreal’s best blues artists including The Durham County Poets and Jitterbug Swing.

These days he performs solo in the Lower Saint-Lawrence region of Quebec. He collaborates locally with other musicians and can also be seen on stage as part of the musical-literary project “Les Chemins de traverse”.

Recent Performances (among others)

• The Blues is a Feeling, a musical lecture, Matane, QC (2024)
• Opening act for Paule-Andrée Cassidy, Métis-sur-Mer, QC (2024)
• Élymes des sables, with Les Chemins de traverse, Saint-Léandre, QC (2024)
• A Weekend of Blues, Rob Lutes and John Kerkhoven, Métis-sur-Mer and Rimouski (2024)
• Solo performance of traditional Québécois harmonica, Festival Tidelidam!, Matane (2023)
• The colours of the harmonica, Matane Public Library, Matane, QC (2023)
• John Kerkhoven & Friends, The Wheel Club, Montreal (2022)
• Solo Performance, Livestream performance from The Wheel Club, Montreal (2021)

Photos

Photo: Sharon Cheema

Stage Plot

For small venues with no sound system, John can provide his own.

Photo: Elise Thierry