At 44, Rick Fines is a veteran of the folk and blues circuits in North America.
In October 2005 Rick went to Alabama where he took first place in the Sweetgum Bottom Acoustic Blues Competition.
His song "Riley Wants His Life Back" won first place in the blues category of 2003 International Songwriting Competition, with B.B. King one of the judges!
He has eight MapleBlues Award nominations and won for Acoustic Act Of The Year twice and won Songwriter of the Year this year with Suzie Vinnick.
His work with Jackson Delta (for 15 years) brought nominations from both the Juno and the Handy Awards. He has played for legendary blues piano player Pinetop Perkins, songstress Colleen Peterson, folk icon Penny Lang and many others.
He tours from the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic, from B.C. to NYC this year alone, bringing his understanding of blues, finger-style and bottleneck guitar.
or with:
or trio:
Other friends compliment the trio with drums, guitar, trumpet, harmonica, etc. on occasion
In addition to a busy touring schedule, Fines conducts classes and workshops. For several years now he has taught fingerstyle guitar at the Haliburton School of the Arts in Ontario and instructed at the Hornby Island Blues Workshop in British Columbia.
He also works with kids as part of the Blues In The Schools programs in Ottawa, Saskatoon, Toronto and Fredericton.
This year Rick thanks the Ontario Arts Council for financial assistance with Blues In The Schools guitar and songwriting programs that took place in schools throughout Ontario.