Australian Blues|Roots|Gospel artist Dan Hopkins plays a punchy brand of modern roots that has a distinct delta flavour with soul and gospel overtones. Dan creates an experience that could be described as Ash Grunwald, Eric Bibb and Paul Kelly meeting down at the crossroads. This culminates in an emotionally driven journey down a sweetly plucked but often dirty slide guitar borne road across the Southern blues idiom.
Winner of the Australian Blues Music Festival Busking Contest in 2016 and Music Oz Awards Finalist in 2010, back to back festival appearances at Port Macquarie’s Howling Moon festival in 2017 and 2018, Dan’s dynamic finger style blues has enlivened audiences for Kevin Borich, Claude Hay, Mal Elastic, Hat Fitz and Cara, Blues Arcadia, Wendy Matthews, Mental as Anything and Sydney Blues Challenge winner (2014) Darren Jack.
Dan’s smooth rich vocal tone, his dynamic finger style blues and dexterity on the slide guitar mixed with poignant lyrics create a highly versatile performer not to be missed.
As a Band, Dan Hopkins and the Generous Few swing from sweet urban country blues fingerstyle to swampy lap slide guitar playing creating a smorgasborg of southern style footstomping folk, roots and blues that is both authentic and emotionally honest.
With uplifting appraisals from Khris Mazinski (Jeff Lang), Paul Gommersall (Kate Bush; Paul Weller; Sinead O’Connor) and Richard Cartwright (Platinum Entertainment) Dan and his crew are definitely a roots act on the rise.
Dan has recently released his album ‘Different Economy,’ to critical acclaim in his self-built solar powered shipping container studio, ‘The Blues Den.’ He has also recorded the E.P Golden Girl at Soundshed Studios in 2010 and has released a single dedicated to the plight of Asylum Seekers called Think Twice with Syd Green which has received both JJJ and national airplay. The songs often resonate from a place deep down but nothing short of a very entertaining delivery is what you can expect from Dan Hopkins and the Generous Few. Dan and his band will soon start work on their follow up album.
With a live sound contributed to by Christian Gardner on Bass, Ben Wehlow on drums, Bernard Smith on lead guitar and Dave Roberts on percussion the band is currently immersing themselves with local and regional tour dates. Keep a lookout for the Dan and the band this year for upcoming shows near you.
“By all accounts, Dan was legendary.” Eleanor Rigden Festival of Small Halls. 2019
“…compelling and emotive tunes with a beautiful voice…” Richard Cartwright – Platinum Entertainment 2011
“…killer live gig. Check these blokes out!”
Tess Jenner – Rollingstone Live Photography 2021