Justin Roth is a nationally touring singer/songwriter/acoustic guitarist based in Colorado. His brilliantly inventive fingerstyle guitar arrangements define his unique mix of indie folk and instrumental guitar music. Justin has toured with David Wilcox and John Gorka and opened for some of the finest singer/songwriters on the acoustic music scene, including Shawn Colvin, Lucy Kaplansky, Darrell Scott, and Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul and Mary). Equally, his guitar playing has earned him shared stages with some of the greatest fingerstyle players of today, such as Tommy Emmanuel, Andy McKee, Billy McLaughlin, Michael Gulezian and Pat Donohue.

Major festival appearances include the Rocky Mountain Folks Fest, Kerrville Folk Festival and Sisters Folk Fest, as well as teaching his unique style and techniques at guitar workshops, festival workshops and online at JamPlay.com. He has sold over 13,000 copies of his five independent CDs in addition to being a core contributor to an instrumental album produced for Target Stores by guitarist extraordinaire, Billy McLaughlin, entitled Lifescapes – Solo Guitar, which has sold over 70,000 copies nationwide. Justin’s fan-funded album, Now You Know, was voted as one of the Top 100 Folk Albums of 2011. Justin lives in Fort Collins, CO with his wife and two kids.

Raised in Minnesota on rock and roll, singer-songwriter Justin Roth picked up the guitar in 9th grade, taking lessons from a heavy metal guitarist. His path to acoustic music was solidified at 17, when he saw innovative guitarist Michael Hedges open for Crosby, Stills & Nash. He had gone to see the famed headliners, but it was Hedges’ music that truly spoke to him. Justin was enthralled by Hedges’ expressive playing and inventive compositions and was immediately hooked by this new sound of the acoustic guitar. Justin saw that the acoustic guitar was capable of so much more than he had been exposed to before, and from that moment on, he knew that it would be the root of his musical world. From there, Justin added more layers to his playing, including partial capos and two-hand tapping, to create an even wider range of textures and voicings in his compositions and live performances.

Since then, Justin has gone on to wow audiences across the country, performing at such renowned venues as the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, The Ark in Ann Arbor and Saint Paul’s historic Fitzgerald Theater, home of Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion.” A dynamic live performer, Justin has won fans over with his intricate guitar solos, heartfelt songs and spontaneous delivery, often composing songs during his shows with the audience’s help. Gaining recognition as a songwriter as well as performer, Justin has won numerous songwriting awards. He has twice been a New Folk Finalist at the Kerrville Folk Festival and has won the Indie Acoustic Project’s award for Best Song of 2005 for his song Shine.

“Fans of Leo Kottke or Michael Hedges will find themselves right at home with [Roth’s] intricate guitar work…beautifully written lyrics.”
— San Francisco Art Magazine

“Superb guitar player, singer, songwriter well worth seeking out…exquisite, emotional and powerful!”
— Maverick Magazine (UK)

“Now you know—Justin Roth has come into his own.”
— John Gorka, Red House Recording Artist

“One of the best singer/songwriter/guitarists I’ve heard in ages…Justin Roth is a flat out talent…His vocal delivery is smooth. His guitar playing is extraordinary. He is quick with a wit.”
— The Journal Times, Racine, WI

“Intimate, personal and richly melodic… eloquent fingerstyle chops…Roth delivers as an artist who’s taken his craft to the next level.”
— Taylor Guitars Wood & Steel Magazine

“Roth’s rich and intricate acoustic guitar solos leave crowds somewhere between a peaceful dream state and ‘How’d he do that?”
— The Coloradoan, Fort Collins, CO

For North American bookings please contact:
Brad Raley
brad@blackoakartists.com