Toronto singer / guitarist Brian Gladstone is a finger-picking guitar master, prophetic lyricist, philosophical story-teller, and dynamic performer. He writes like an early Bob Dylan, a guitar wizard on par with Jesse Cook, and a lyricist who can evoke a plethora of emotions with a single song.

Inspired by artists such as Doc Watson, Mississippi John Hurt, Peter, Paul & Mary, Bob Dylan and Gordon Lightfoot, Brian has been playing guitar and writing songs since the age of 14. During his early adult life, though, he detoured along a more academic path, training as a magnetics engineer. Scientist Nicola Tesla was another hero to Brian à "at one time, I actually thought I was sent to earth to finish his work, believe it or not! I have a lot of inventions and patents."

Brian has since combined his two passions, science and music, by becoming a world-renowned designer of musical technical components through his own engineering company and single-handedly revolutionized the type of power transformers being used in high-end audio equipment (and rated the best by many of the premiere sound system manufacturers). His style of precise technical writing compliments the highly focused approach he takes to both lyric writing and blending & bending various musical genres.

This drive for perfection and precision resulted in the 1999 release of Brian's debut CD, BACK TO THE DIRT, a quirky, soulful and totally inspiring collection of self-penned songs dealing with everything from traffic jams, life's hopeless losers and the need to preserve the wolverine. But it is his masterful guitar picking, change-ups and melodies that stand out and support the many industry and media comparisons made to the styles of Arlo Guthrie, Dylan and Phil Ochs. But his intense and playfully witty lyrics announced that here indeed was a true original!

Radio airplay for BACK TO THE DIRT around North American and overseas markets created a buzz in the industry resulting in favorable reviews and numerous awards.

Brian has also become active in philanthropic and environment causes, crating and producing a number of high-profile concerts and events for EARTH DAY and FOLK SINGERS FOR PEACE.

In 2001, Brian's second CD, PSYCHEDELIC PHOLK PSONGS brought further praise and even higher CD sales at home and internationally, and was signed with SILVERWOLF RECORDS in Vermont. (Josh White Jr, Odetta) In October of 2003, the third CD was recorded live from Toronto's famed Convocation Hall and released under the title, ALIVE AND PICKING, featuring frequent musical collaborator, Tony Quarrington.

In response to the rapidly growing interest in the roots/folk genre, Brian created the annual 3-DAY WINTERFOLK FESTIVAL in early 2003 bringing together musicians from across N. America in a series of concerts, workshops and media events. Subsequent to the success of this 2004's Festival, Brian's reputation as a promoter and event producer has grown and he's developing strong relationships within the Ontario and national music festivals associations and groups.

Gladstone continues to get airplay for all three albums around the world.

Listen!
1. Estrogen
2. Mr. Quick Picks Polka