Planted at the crossroads of roots and soul, Charlie A’Court possesses a mighty voice, fierce guitar work and contemporary songwriting that is loved by fans across Canada and beyond. His latest album, A’Court, Spiegel, & Vinnick, won Blues Recording of The Year at the 2024 East Coast Music Awards. Also known as the International Roots & Blues Kitchen Party, this fully acoustic album sees A’Court in a wonderful, synergistic collaboration with Australian blues legend, Lloyd Spiegel, and Canadian roots/blues icon, Suzie Vinnick.

Charlie has always been recognized for exploring his musical horizons. As a six-time ECMA winner and eight-time Nova Scotia Music Award winner, Charlie has earned awards for Blues, Pop, and R&B/Soul Recordings of the Year, and on multiple occasions been recognized as Entertainer of the Year. A’Court has also received multiple Maple Blues Award nominations including Male Vocalist and Songwriter of the Year.

This fall (2024), Charlie will be releasing his new album. “San Palarino” is an Americana- driven deep dive into growing older, emotional well-being, and the collective weight bearing down on humanity. Much of the album features co-writes with some of Canada’s top singer/songwriters including Matt Andersen, Terra Spencer, and Colin MacDonald (The Trews). The music is drawing directly from his influences like Martin Sexton, Melissa Etheridge, Hot House Flowers, and Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit.

Growing up in rural Nova Scotia, Canada, Charlie spent his youth learning to sing and play guitar, discovering singers like Otis Redding and Sam Cooke. “I remember being so moved and almost not old enough to know why” says A’Court. “There was something honest about the way they sang. They would sing with such conviction that simply commanded attention.” It wasn’t long before he discovered the blistering blues guitar playing of B.B. King, and Buddy Guy. “These guys would wail in a way where every note mattered. They sang without apology and played guitar like it was their last day” recalls A’Court.

Then there was Eric Clapton. “He really opened my mind as a musician. Through the 90s, Clapton’s music showed me that my music could balance between blues and adult contemporary songwriting.”

As a songwriter A’Court is sought after for his style of Canadian soul. Whether it’s a full-
blown electric rocker on “Can’t Stop the Clock” for Christine Campbell and “Love & Insanity” for Mike Biggar, or acoustic grooves on tracks like “Standing On The Other Side”, “When The Lights Went Out” and “Through The Night” for folk-duo phenom Quote The Raven’s last two albums, Charlie is a stirring and poignant lyricist who just gets better with age.

A’Court has performed at national and international festivals like Stan Rogers Folk Festival (CAN), Mariposa Folk Festival (CAN), Harvest Music Festival (CAN), Woodford Folk Festival (AUS), Kerrville Folk Festival (USA) and has shared the stage with James Cotton, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, George Thorogood, Harry Manx, Martin Sexton, Delbert McClinton, UB40, Canned Heat, Colin James, Dan Aykroyd and Jimmie Vaughan, among countless others.

“A’Court slides into his role as smooth soul man with ease…Singing high and mighty, rising into falsetto, getting into the groove, or slaying us with tenderness, he’s a singing tour-de-force.” Bob Mersereau, CBC