Dan Vaillancourt [Escanaba & Wisconsin This We profile picture

Dan Vaillancourt [Escanaba & Wisconsin This We

Recording for the new Album is going well! yay.

About Me

More Downloadable Music exclusively on Nimbit! Check out the new digital album: Live @ Lemonjello's 11.03.07
Hi everybody. Nice to meet you. I'm a total dork.
Thanks for listening to the music and reading this... I've been blessed to be able to travel around and play lots of music and I thank you for making that possible... I know I can't do it without you.
I like stories...so free to contact me with good stories, small talk, comments, questions, curious anecdotes or whatever! Yes, I run my own myspace and I read everything you write to me and I like reading it... I love you guys and think you are pretty darn awesome. If you enjoy the tunes, tell your friends.
I'm making a new album currently and it is turning out great... I think you are going to love it! I need some help to raise enough money to finish the album... so ummm... Check Out The All-New Merch Page and buy something fun or donate a few bucks: http://danvaillancourt.com/merch.php
I am now going to complete the rest of the bio by inconspicuously writing in the third person. :)
Dan Vaillancourt is a nationally touring acoustic singer-songwriter from Michigan. He plays a style of music that is defined as funktified folk thus making him: The Funktified Folkman. For the majority of the 21st century, Dan has spent about 150 days a year traveling around and playing music at coffeehouses, bars, churches, clubs, theaters, music festivals, youth gatherings, living rooms, etc... He has played shows for anywhere from 3 people to 3000+ people. He has performed hundreds of shows in 29 states in the US and counting. His music has been heard on hundreds of radio stations around the world including many nationally syndicated radio shows. He even charted on the Top-30 AAA charts around the country. He has been on CD compilations with lots of talented artists including Corinne Bailey Rae, Beth Orton, Umphrey’s McGee, Donavon Frankenreiter and many more. He is currently working on his new studio album with the help of former-Grammy nominated producer, amazing guitar player and all around nice guy Ric Hordinski.
CDs, T-shirts, Special Deals, and More! Check Out The All-New Merch Page!: http://danvaillancourt.com/merch.php
Booking Info: www.sonicbids.com/danvaillancourt
WHAT IS HE REALLY LIKE?
Dan Vaillancourt is a pretty big dork and a pretty simple guy. He gets really excited about things like food, vegetable gardens, good coffee, intriguing conversations, Christopher Moore books, NPR, Coast to Coast AM and great scenery. His normal attire is jeans and a t-shirt that was probably given to him from a festival, venue, musician or something of the like. He hasn't owned a comb in a dozen years or more. He shaves every few weeks. Chances are that his laptop, car and coffeepot are older than yours. He doesn't own many non-music related items. He has had an array of jobs over the years including but not limited to: Paperboy, Small Engine Repairman, Computer Lab Attendant, Landscaper, Jewelery Maker and many more. He went to college and graduated with a degree in Cultural Anthropology and World Religion. Now he is a full-time touring musician and music teacher.
He rarely trashes hotel rooms, hardly ever throws TVs out of windows and only occasionally gets mad at his personal assistants when they bring him sub-par coffee...
WHY IS HE THE WAY HE IS?
His dad has taught private music lessons for over 30 years, likes being outdoors, has a garden and has a corny sense of humor. His mom is an artist, photographer, singer and songwriter and a great cook. Which goes to prove that Dan is basically just a product of his raising.
WHEN DID HE START PLAYING MUSIC?
Dan took piano lessons and tried to play violin while he was growing up. He was pretty stubborn and would do just about anything to get out of practicing to go outside and run around or do some sort of extreme sport that would frequently result in injuries. Finally, he started playing guitar when he was about 14 years old. About the same time that he started playing guitar, he became sick and this led to him being stuck at home more often and thus having more time to practice. Guitar became his passion and he would sometimes practice as much as 5 hours or more a day. By the time he was 15, he was writing his first songs and began teaching lessons. He still teaches music lessons and has written hundreds of songs and has since released four studio albums (two with bands and two solo) and many live recordings.
CREATING FUNKTIFIED FOLK
Dan has always been torn between two sides of music: Great songwriters and virtuosos. His earliest memory of a song being on the radio was listening to his mom singing along to Paul Simon's “You Can Call Me Al” off of the album 'Graceland,' which strangely enough became his favorite album of all time. Growing up he went to many bluegrass festivals with his father and listened to a lot of tradition music... and had a strange fascination with music that none of his peers listened to. He became infatuated with late night jazz and blues that aired on NPR and music from the 1960s like the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan. About the time he was 15, he discovered the music of some modern singer-songwriters like Ben Harper and Ani Difranco (who he saw open for Bob Dylan.)
It wasn't until he was 18 that he began to open up to other modern types of music mostly via mix tapes that his friends would make for him which introduced him to acts like G Love, David Wilcox, Allen Levi, Wyclef, Soul Coughing and early hip-hop, which would continue to expand his realm of musical influences. He began to realize that all music had a purpose and everything could be an influence in some way. When he was 19, he went to a Victor Wooten concert at The Ark in Ann Arbor on a whim and it changed his life forever. He was sitting in the forth row center and he saw Victor do things on a bass guitar that changed the way he looked at his instrument... He began looking for ways to translate these techniques on the guitar.
When he was 21, his friend Ashley Peacock took him on his first tour outside of Michigan and it opened his eyes to all of the amazing independent music that is out there. On that tour, he picked up three albums that would change his life forever. 1. “The Embodiment of Instrumentation” by the human beatbox Kyle Jones, a.k.a. Scratch . 2. The ambient guitar album called “Hush” by viruosic guitarist Ric Hordinski a.k.a. Monk. 3. “Beyond Words” by perhaps the world's most inventive vocalist Bobby Mcferrin.
There have been many other music inspirations and infatuations over the years and he continues to develop new ones in his constant quest to find new music. He still loves NPR and when people make him mixes. :)
RECENT VIDEOS
Amusement Park - 11.03.07 - Lemon Jello's in Holland, MI
Dove - 11.03.07 - Lemon Jello's in Holland, MI
WHAT DO PEOPLE SAY ABOUT HIM?
"I think the funky stuff is amazing—two of Dan's big strengths as a performer are his non-stop positive energy and rhythmic virtuosity." - Pat Wictor (Singer-Songwriter)
"...an ear of maturity and a knack for entertaining folks with his funky folk style." -Smother.net
“...The most talented musician/performer I have ever seen, and I've seen a bunch!" - Linda Z. Smith, (Founder of The Creative Spirit Center in Midland, MI)
"...Has the ring of early Todd Snider..." -Rob Reinhart (Acoustic Café Radio Host)
“...about as honest and friendly as one can find.” --Craig Carrick (NorEast'r Festival Booking Committee)
"...an entity all its own." -Yvonne Glasgow (Music Review)
“This is an interesting mix of songs from a natural storyteller, who manages to spin and weave his snapshots and snippets of dreams and conversations into engrossing tales that capture the listener's imagination...." -Bob Gottlieb (Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange)
"What really gives Vaillancourt's songs the lift that makes them stand out is the lyrics; his witty, worldly, and wise observations on love and life...." -eomentertainment.com
"...The Jimi Hendrix of Folk!" - Steve Wieske (fan)

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 3/26/2005
Band Website: danvaillancourt.com
Band Members:
"Dan Vaillancourt does more with just an acoustic guitar than most three piece bands can accomplish." -Leo Zaccari 90.5FM The Night, Lincroft, NJ

In Concert: 10-String Guitar

On the Albums: Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Bass, Mandolin, Lapsteel, Dobro, Banjo, Percussion...
Influences: Paul Simon, Scratch, Victor Wooten, Ben Harper, Larry Norman, Monk, G Love, Ryan Adcock, Ashley Peacock, John Prine, Bela Fleck, Chris Thile, Bobby Mcferrin, Darden Smith, Edgar Meyers, Mike Marshall, Joseph Arthur, Lost and Found, Jeffery Hyde Thompson, Martin Sexton, Slam Stewart, Bob Dylan, e.e. cummings, David Wilcox
Sounds Like:People have suggested everyone from G. Love, Kaki King, Jimi Hendrix, Leo Kottke, Barenaked Ladies, Frank Zappa, Keller Williams, Bob Schneider, Arlo Guthrie, Jason Mraz, Shawn Mullins, Paul Simon and everything in between.

Any ideas... Feel free to send them to me!
Type of Label: None

My Blog

Making of the New Album, 5-Ways, BBQ Chicken Pizza and Vegans.

My new studio record follow up to Melodic Snapshots has been in the process for over a year... I figure you should know a little bit of background about the making of this record to understand what i...
Posted by Dan Vaillancourt [Escanaba & Wisconsin This Week!) on Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:36:00 PST

Spring Tour Part II: GA-AL-KY-OH-IN-MI - Rabbit Hash, Waffles, Scones and more!

This section of the tour is the part were I had the best chicken wings, scone, and waffle I've ever had and certainly one of the best lattes... and I drove a lot and played some music too. Pl...
Posted by Dan Vaillancourt [Escanaba & Wisconsin This Week!) on Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:13:00 PST

Spring 2008 Tour Video Journal In New Orleans and words too! (MI, WI, OH, LA, GA...etc)

I thought I’d quick write a few words for you to let you know how the tour is going... please forgive mispellings, grammar or other such things... :) and the fact the Myspace isn&rsquo...
Posted by Dan Vaillancourt [Escanaba & Wisconsin This Week!) on Wed, 02 Apr 2008 11:52:00 PST

READ ABOUT: Song of the Week 2008

-WHAT IS THE SONG OF THE WEEK SERIES?The Goal is to release 50 songs (5 Groups of 10 songs) in 2008... Who knows maybe I'll even through an extra couple in there is make 52... one for each each. Ea...
Posted by Dan Vaillancourt [Escanaba & Wisconsin This Week!) on Wed, 02 Jan 2008 12:31:00 PST

Summer Tour (Part 1) June 21 - July 21: Harry Potter, Police Raids, BBQ and More!

I FINALLY got these journals all typed up and the photos uploaded and all that jazz. Please comment with all of the important things about the shows that I forgot to include and...
Posted by Dan Vaillancourt [Escanaba & Wisconsin This Week!) on Mon, 08 Oct 2007 11:04:00 PST

Summer Tour Pt. II - July 28th - August 19th: Rock Camp, Bass Lake, Yeti, Car Accident.....

OK... So it took me 4 months to finally get these last summer tour journals posted. Saturday, July 28th 2007Brother's Coffee and Tea in Gaylord, Michigan With: DrakeThis was a nic...
Posted by Dan Vaillancourt [Escanaba & Wisconsin This Week!) on Sat, 05 Jan 2008 10:16:00 PST

Spring Tour Journals - Tom Selleck, Blizzards, Ferrets and More!

Thursday, March 29th 2007Mama Art Cafe - San Fransisco, CAW/ WaypastfrownWest Coast here I come!  My first trip to the coast and I spend a little over a week seeing much of California... We went ...
Posted by Dan Vaillancourt [Escanaba & Wisconsin This Week!) on Fri, 08 Jun 2007 09:29:00 PST

FALL Tour Journals - Sept , Oct, Nov, Dec!

Yes... I finally got my journals posted for the Fall Tour...  I know many of you were there... so feel free to add your thoughts and such... and send photos!  Enjoy! SEPTEMBER 2006I spent mo...
Posted by Dan Vaillancourt [Escanaba & Wisconsin This Week!) on Fri, 02 Feb 2007 11:29:00 PST

August Tour Journals

Wednesday, August 9th8th Street CoffeehouseEscanaba, MIA nice little 6 hour drive. I didn't quite get everything done that I should of in my couple days home and I'm not quite ready for another coup...
Posted by Dan Vaillancourt [Escanaba & Wisconsin This Week!) on Thu, 28 Sep 2006 08:07:00 PST

Rock and Roll Camp: Journals, Photos, Movie

::Rock and Roll Journals:: July 30th - August 5thRock and Roll Camp & Bass Lake Music FestivalCamp Michi-lu-caFairview, MI Rock and Roll Camp was awesome this year... We had a great group ...
Posted by Dan Vaillancourt [Escanaba & Wisconsin This Week!) on Sat, 23 Sep 2006 09:17:00 PST