About...

Adam Dobres has fully given himself to his art and is a gifted guitarist with a natural talent at telling stories with his music. He fuses a rich organic sensibility with an almost exotic sense of space and melody.

On his latest album, Kin, nominated for WCMA 2023 for best instrumental album, he guides us on a musical journey with melodies that weave captivating stories of joy, struggle, courage, longing, and love. With ‘Kin’ Adam builds upon his strong solo debut offering in 2017 which garnered him critical acclaim including nominations for ‘Instrumental Artist of the Year’ in the West Coast Music Awards and his song ‘Orca's Jig’ for ‘Best Roots Recording’ in the Vancouver Island Music Awards. 

On ‘Kin’ Adam moves eloquently and confidently through melodic finger-style to uninhibited gypsy jazz, full circle through gentle and serene lullabies while not forgetting a rendezvous in the moonlit shadows to dance the circle of an alchemist's dream. 

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