Blues guitarist David Gogo is known for his soulful, groovy blend of blues and rock music.
Earlier this year, Gogo received the Guitarist of the Year Award at the 2017 Maple Blues Awards in Toronto.
"I was really excited. It was fantastic and the competition was pretty fierce," said Gogo, adding he was up against contenders such as Colin James. "It's a nice feeling. It was a cool event."
Other contenders for the award included Paul DesLauriers, Steve Hill and Tim Williams.
The Maple Blues Award winners are chosen by blues fans across the country through a voting process, after the nominees are chosen by a judging panel. Gogo said he appreciates the support he received from fans who took the time to vote for him.
"It's nice when people take the time to let you know they like what you're doing," he said.
Gogo has received numerous Maple Blues Awards, but said it has been a number of years since he has won one, event though he has been nominated almost every year since his last win, which was around 2004. Gogo is a five-time Juno Award nominee and a Western Canadian Music Award winner.
His most recent album Vicksburg Call received radio play across the nation. He has had a busy touring schedule promoting the album.
Gogo said he is currently thinking of ideas for a new album.
"Writing, especially blues music, is a pretty emotional thing," he said, adding that as life progresses he learns more and accumulates more experiences, which he funnels into his music.
Gogo performs during David Gogo's Birthday Blues Bash with His Buddies, a celebrating marking his 48th birthday. The concert, a Festival Nanaimo signature event, is Saturday (March 18) at 7:30 p.m. at the Port Theatre and features performances by Shawn Hall, half of the duo for Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer; David Vest, a Maple Blues Award-winning piano player and Shaun Verreault of Wide Mouth Mason.
Gogo said each artist could be headlining their own show. Each will perform four songs and then the four musicians will jam together at the end of the concert.
Tickets range in price from $28 to $38 and are available in by phoning 250-754-8550 or visit www.porttheatre.com.
For more information about Gogo, please visit www.davidgogo.com.
arts@nanaimobulletin.com