About...

Adam Dobres is a gifted guitarist and composer whose deep passion for his art is evident in every note he plays. With a natural ability to tell stories through his music, Adam’s sound blends a rich, organic sensibility with an almost exotic sense of space and melody. His compositions resonate with emotion, capturing the complexities of joy, struggle, courage, longing, and love.

On his latest album, Kin—nominated for the 2023 WCMA for Best Instrumental Album—Adam takes listeners on a profound musical journey. With melodies that evoke powerful narratives, Kin builds upon the success of his 2017 solo debut, which earned him critical acclaim and multiple nominations, including ‘Instrumental Artist of the Year’ at the West Coast Music Awards and ‘Best Roots Recording’ for his track Orca's Jig at the Vancouver Island Music Awards.

On Kin, Adam effortlessly moves through a dynamic array of styles, from melodic finger-style guitar to uninhibited gypsy jazz, and back again through gentle lullabies. He creates a space where listeners can travel through both light and shadow, taking part in a musical experience that feels as if it were composed in the moonlit circles of an alchemist’s dream.

A new chapter in Adam’s creative journey unfolds on April 27th, 2025, when he will debut his Freda's Journey Suite with the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra. This deeply personal composition, written by Adam, is comprised of five movements that tell the story of his great-grandmother Freda, who undertook a tragic yet heroic journey from Russia to Canada in the early 1900s. Orchestrated and arranged by Adrian Dolan, the suite combines Adam’s distinctive guitar-driven melodies with the depth and grandeur of orchestral arrangements, bringing Freda’s remarkable journey to life in a truly unforgettable way.

Career highlights…

Over the past 20 years Adam has toured extensively around the world as a guitarist for a variety of groups.  The Wailin’ Jennys, Toni Childs, Pierre Schryer, Dermot Byrne (Altan), Daniel Lapp,  and Dustin Bentall.  A recent highlight was touring as an opening band with the Ruth Moody Band for Mark Knopfler (2013, 2015) which included 8 shows at the Royal Albert Hall in London, UK.  Adam has also appeared on the acclaimed radio show the Prairie Home Companion with The Wailin' Jennys.  He recorded on their latest album, "Fifteen", which recently hit the #1 spot on the american bluegrass charts as well as earning a Juno Nomination in 2018. 

In 2019 Adam and Pierre Schryer recorded their new celtic/world music album, “Mandorla” Mandorla recently Received nominations for Roots album of the year and World music album of the year with Canadian Folk Music awards and a Nomination for instrumental album of the year with West Coast Music awards. 

Quotes/Reviews…

“The celtic influence shines through these rich, complex compositions, to the extent that they feel like traditional pieces with a fresh interpretation.  In short, Brilliant!”

- Gene Wilburn, Penguin Eggs Magazine 2017

"Starting with the opening track, Sweet Celebration,and extending through Sailing the Salish Sea, and Orca's Jig, the seeming effortlessness of Dobres’ virtuosity carries you deeply into the subtleties and sheer beauty of the music But not content to limit himself, Dobres also tosses some jazzy, Django-style swirling licks to vary the mood. This extraordinary album is a must purchase for those who love the guitar."

- Gene Wilburn, Penguin Eggs Magazine 2017

"Ometz Lev - Courageous Heart" is another solo piece, this one with a continental sound, resembling some of John Renbourn's solo compositions from the late 1970s and 80s.

“While I love the entire album, it's with pieces like "Daffodil Hill", "Ometz Lev" and "The Dove" that Adam Dobres strongly demonstrates his individuality as a composer and performer. Dobres has prospects of building a strong worldwide following among fans of fingerstyle guitar. He's produced tablature books of his solo works and I'd like to see him teach at the major music camps. Go, Adam!

- Monor7th.com album review