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Donovan Woods

Folk

Donovan Woods Tickets

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About

Donovan Woods in Concert

As the title of his 2018 album suggests, Canadian singer-songwriter Donovan Woods wants to have it ‘Both Ways.' While Woods embodies a bushy-bearded, plaid-shirted indie folk singer with deep Canadian roots in his solo career, he's also an increasingly successful Nashville songwriter. Tim McGraw ("Portland, Maine"), Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum ("Leaving Nashville"), and other American country stars have recorded down-to-earth tunes co-written by Woods and songwriting partner Abe Stoklasa.

Born and raised in Sarnia, Ontario, Woods says he wrote some 5,000 songs before collecting enough keepers for his 2007 debut, ‘The Hold Up.' One of them, "My Cousin Has a Grey Cup Ring," became a hockey-playoffs perennial, familiar to just about any Canadian fan. 

Woods distilled the quiet details of everyday rural life into intimate guitar-accompanied tunes on 2011's ‘The Widowmaker.' He moved to Nashville in 2014 after releasing ‘Don't Get Too Grand,' a quietly magnificent album that is to Ontario what Bruce Springsteen is to New Jersey. Woods writes about what his relatives and neighbors talk about. "I try to make sure it's all conversational," he has said.

After releasing ‘Hard Settle, Ain't Troubled' in 2016, Woods was named best English songwriter at the Canadian Folk Music Awards and nominated for songwriter of the year at the Juno Awards. With the addition of pedal-steel guitar, strings, and the ghostly arrangement haunting "They Don't Make Anything in That Town," the album reflected Woods' increasingly ambitious musical palette. 

His artistic ambitions continued to grow on ‘Both Ways,' which oscillates between elaborate productions and delicate acoustic numbers. While "Truck Full of Money" tallies up the joys and sorrows of life on the road with sweeping strings and electronics, "Next Year" is a quietly devastating rebuke of a father prone to broken promises.

Woods still doesn't sound like anyone else. Part stand-up storyteller, part backwoods confidante, he delivers a winning mixture of wry wit and relatable vulnerability. As he splits his time between Toronto and Nashville, Woods suggests that just maybe you can have it both ways if you try hard enough.

Reviews

Rating: 5 out of 5 based on 5 reviews
  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    One of the best folk artists of our time

    by Dan T on 7/13/23

    Donovan Woods is an amazingly talented folk musician. Highly recommend!

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    He sounds even better live

    by Justine on 5/22/22National Arts Centre / Centre national des Arts - Ottawa

    I didn't know someone can sound even better live. Donovan is a pure entertainer, singer, and storyteller. He gave me all the feels <3

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    It was like hangin w. Good friend.

    by Kelly B on 5/16/22Burton Cummings Theatre - Winnipeg

    Donovan woods is truly awesome. He simultaneously helps you unwind/chill out while making you laugh. It was so un expected. I have loved his music for years, but to experience it from him, it was so worth the wait.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Woods Wows Wpg

    by Vegas on 5/15/22Burton Cummings Theatre - Winnipeg

    The Donovan Woods concert was one of the best concerts I’ve been to in a long time. Great setting, very talented musician and great banter with the audience. Wpg hopes you come back soon!

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Always a great performance

    by Go see Matt Mays. Now on 3/3/19LONDON MUSIC HALL - London

    Katie Pruitt opened and has a voice and a presence that’s just beautiful and is not to be missed Donovan and the Opposition were so good. Very grateful to have seen this show