John Wort Hannam

With the Grain – John Wort Hannam by ColdsnapFest

Performing on: FolkFest Reunion Night – Wednesday, January 25 at ArSpace
Performing with: Gordie Tentrees

Why you should see him:

He taught language arts for five years– but was bitten by the music bug. He bought a guitar, learned to play– and before long became a mainstay of the music festival circuit around North America.

Fun fact: The song “In the Grain” is inspired by John’s conversation with his father about whether he should quit teaching to pursue a musical career.

Learn more –> johnworthannam.com

Artist Bio:

For five years John Wort Hannam taught grade 9 language arts on the largest reserve in Canada – The Kainai Nation, part of the Blackfoot Confederacy. But in 1997 he heard a Loudon Wainwright III record and was hooked by the music and the stories. In 1998 he bought a guitar and learned some chords. In 2002 he quit teaching and began to pursue the dream of being a working musician.

John Wort Hannam comes from a long line of people who make a living using their hands. His great-great grandfather drove horse and buggy for the village doctor. His great-grandfather was a stevedore, his grandfather, a farmer and his father still works as a master carpenter. Wort Hannam now carries on the tradition making his living writing songs and playing music. He independently released his debut CD “pocket full of holes” in 2002 and his 2nd CD “Dynamite and ‘Dozers” in 2004. His third CD “Two-Bit Suit” was released by Black Hen Music in the spring of 2007. In May of 2009 John went back in the studio and recorded “Queen’s Hotel”. Thriving on live performance, John Wort Hannam is truly happy when he is on the road playing and connecting personally with an audience. He tours extensively in Canada and the US. His many appearances have included a 2009 Mainstage performance at the Kerrville Folk Festival, a 2008 performance at Trafalgar Square and the 2006 Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington DC in conjunction to one of John’s songs, “Church of the Long Grass” appearing on the prestigious Folkways recording label.