Hornby Island Blues Workshop

Rick Fines is an accomplished songwriter, acoustic and dobro guitarist and vocalist with a very recognizable voice that turns from gravel to silk. He is arguably one of the best acoustic fingerstyle and slide guitarists on the folk and blues circuits in North America. His classic blues guitar picking and authentic sounding vocals hark back to the blues ancients. He worked with the trio Jackson Delta, and has played for legendary blues piano player Pinetop Perkins, songstress Colleen Peterson, folk icon Penny Lang and many others. In 1998 and 1999 Rick won the Maple Blues Award for Acoustic Act Of The Year. In 2003 Rick’s song Riley Wants His Life Back won first place in the blues category at the very prestigious International Songwriting Competition. B.B. King was one of the judges. In October 2005 Rick took first place in the Sweet Gum Bottom Acoustic Blues Competition in Alabama and in 2006 Rick and Suzie Vinnick won the Maple Blues Songwriter of the Year award. In addition to a busy touring schedule, Rick conducts classes and workshops and has taught fingerstyle guitar at the Haliburton School of the Arts in Ontario. He also works with kids as part of the Blues In The Schools programs in Ottawa, Saskatoon, Toronto and Fredericton.