About Me

Canadian recording artist John Dickie has spent the better part of his life chasing song from small-town stages in Ontario to some of Canada’s most iconic venues, and everywhere in between. What started as a 10-year-old picking up a guitar has turned into a 35+ year journey of writing, recording, and performing music that refuses to sit in just one lane. Cutting his teeth in high school bands and later performing extensively with Vicious Circle, John quickly built a reputation as a versatile and hardworking musician. He went on to study Recording and Engineering at the Harris Institute for the Arts, where he also released his first solo record in November 1999 because of course it was released in November. Many of those early songs became the foundation for the Barrie-based rock/reggae band Shifter, who released the album Rhythm and Girth and spent years playing across Ontario. Along the way, John has shared stages at legendary venues like the El Mocambo, the Horseshoe Tavern, and the Kee to Bala earning his stripes one gig at a time. In recent years, John has returned to his solo work with a steady stream of releases: Me, My Friends and I (2020), Three (2022), and his latest album, Story for Another Time, released in December 2025. True to form, John typically plays most of the instruments on his recordings, leaning into real instruments, real takes, and a refreshingly old-school approach to making records. His live shows are just as dynamic ranging from stripped-down, acoustic, borderline bluegrass sets to blues-heavy jams and full-on rock and roll. With his latest release, John has assembled a band to bring these songs to life on stage, adding even more energy to an already engaging performance style. At his core, John Dickie is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer who blends influences from rock, 90s alternative, Canadian roots, blues, funk, reggae, folk, and beyond. The result? Music that feels familiar, a little unpredictable, and always honest.