Triumph guitarist Rik Emmett just sold out City Winery Nashville, several weeks prior to the August 26th date. This will be his first time ever playing Nashville, and the Canadian singer/songwriter/guitarist’s show went clean on August 7th. Last year, Emmett sold out City Winery Chicago two months prior to the date of the show. Other sell-outs within the last two years include Rams Head Onstage in Annapolis, Tralf Music Hall in Buffalo, The Magic Bag in Detroit, Sellersville Theater and the Tin Angel in the Philadelphia area, Daryl’s House in Pawling, NY, and Tupelo Music Hall in Londonderry, NH (now with a brand new 500-capacity location, where Rik will be appearing for two nights this coming December). 

A YouTube video of the old Triumph classic "Magic Power" shot at Daryl’s House in May of 2015, has over 210,000 views: social media has played a key role in Emmett’s surging success in concert club settings.

One of the most versatile guitarists around, Emmett has been inducted into a few Canadian Halls of Fame for his gold & platinum work with the power rock band Triumph. Counted amongst the world’s finest guitarists, he has performed alongside legendary performers such as George Benson, Randy Bachman, and Steve Vai. He continues to surprise critics and fans with his vast musical expression, which runs the gamut from rock to jazz to classical to folk – all of which are on display in acoustic duo shows with guitarist Dave Dunlop. It’s as if the seasoned rock star has found a truer calling in a stripped-down setting.

“Rik Emmett’s performances at The Magic Bag are always intensely personal & profoundly intimate,” notes General Manager Robert Littleton. “He pulls out all the stops, everything from the Triumph classics to the latest recordings with Dave Dunlop. He still gives everything he’s got, and Rik lets Dunlop stretch out and play along with him. The two really complement each other; I couldn’t think of a better dynamic, or a better accompanist than Dave. Triumph fans are passionate, and music fans always have their opinions about how a show was done. Not once have I ever heard anything bad about the acoustic show. When you listen to some of the songs stripped down, something resonates, almost as if you’re hearing the song for the first time. Take 'Lay It On The Line' – a fan favorite, a crowd pleaser – it’s done so true, you’ll want to play air guitar for a chord or two. On a personal note, Rik & Dave are really easy going & super easy to work with. They're Canadian gentlemen and the kind of folk you welcome back like family.”

“Rik is a performer’s performer,” adds Donal McCoy, owner of the Tin Angel in Philadelphia where Emmett has performed more than a dozen shows over the years. “He doesn’t just do a show, but rather takes the audience on a journey, perfectly intertwining stories with fan favorites, both old and new.” Bruces Ranes of Sellersville Theater concurs, “Rik Emmett with Dave Dunlop sound exceptional… strong vocals with stellar fret-work as they perform a cross section of Triumph classics and solo material. In addition to selling very well, they’re a pleasure to work with.”

Rik Emmett and Dave Dunlop's tour schedule is as follows:

August
25 - City Winery Atlanta - Atlanta, GA
26 - City Winery Nashville - Nashville, TN
31 - Uxbridge Music Hall - Uxbridge, ON

September
7 - City Winery New York - New York, NY
8 - The Upper Room - Albany, NY
15 - Infinity Hall - Norfolk, CT
16 - Narrows Center for the Arts - Fall River, MA
28 - City Winery Chicago - Chicago, IL
29 - Shank Hall - Milwaukee, WI

October
4 - Yoshi's - Oakland, CA
5 - The Canyon - Agoura Hills, CA
7 - The Rose - Pasadena, CA
8 - The Coach House - San Juan Capistrano, CA
20 - New Hope Winery - New Hope, PA
21 - Rams Head Onstage - Annapolis, MD
22 - The Tin Pan - Richmond, VA

November
11 - Seneca Queen - Niagara Falls, ON
17 - Music Box Supper Club - Cleveland, OH
18 - The Lamp Theatre - Irwin, PA

December
1 - The Center for the Arts Natick - Natick, MA
2 - The Spire Center for the Performing Arts - Plymouth, MA
8 - Tupelo Music Hall - Derry, NH
9 - Tupelo Music Hall - Derry, NH

January
4 - The Brichmere - Alexandria, VA
5 - Harvester Performance Center - Rocky Mount, VA
26 - Live at the Ludlow Garage - Cincinnati, OH
27 - Live at the Ludlow Garage - Cincinnati, OH

May
19 - Daryl's House - Pawling, NY
20 - Daryl's House - Pawling, NY

For more information on Rik Emmett, visit RikEmmett.com.

Photo by Jeanine Leech