Colin Linden
Blues · CA · Active since 1960

Colin Linden

Gritty slide guitar and soulful storytelling that bridges the gap between the Mississippi Delta and the Canadian wilderness. Roots music with a deep, analog heart.

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Colin Linden sounds like the history of North American roots music filtered through a single, masterfully played guitar. His sound is defined by a deep, resonant warmth, where every slide across the strings feels like a conversation between the blues of the 1930s and the sophisticated Americana of today. It is music that feels lived-in, smelling of old tube amps and road-worn leather cases.

What makes Linden truly distinctive is his dual mastery of technical precision and raw emotional honesty. Whether he is performing intricate ragtime fingerpicking or wailing on an electric slide, there is a rhythmic pocket and a tonal depth that reveals his mentorship under blues legends. His production ear is equally vital, favoring organic textures and spatial arrangements that let the instruments breathe and the stories land.

Start with 'Big Mouth' or 'Blow' to hear the full range of his electric grit and acoustic finesse. These albums showcase his ability to craft songs that feel like instant classics, anchored by a vocal delivery that is as weathered and reliable as a favorite pair of boots.

Colin Kendall Linden (born 16 April 1960) is a Canadian guitarist, songwriter and record producer. Linden plays acoustic and electric guitar, specializing in slide guitar, country blues, and ragtime fingerpicking, who frequently collaborates with country and folk performers. He is a member of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings with Stephen Fearing and Tom Wilson, and has worked with Bruce Cockburn, Lucinda Williams, T-Bone Burnett, Kevin Gordon, Colin James, Emmylou Harris, Leon Redbone, Rita Chiarelli, Chris Thomas King, The Band, Keb' Mo', Charles Esten, and Bob Dylan.
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Our Catalog12 Albums · 1986 · 2021
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