Dik Banovich has been on the folk & blues scene for more than 35 years. Brought up in Chicago in the 1950's and 1960's, his finger picking style and gutsy vocals reveal his early exposure to the blues,as well as his Irish roots.
Since 2002 Dik has lived in Brittany and continues to perform and tour as well as running guitar workshops from his home in Brittany.
Settling in Scotland in the 1970s, he was known as Almost Blind Boy Banovich by his contemporaries in Glasgow. Says it all really!! The Guitar has taken him on an amazing musical journey through many styles of playing - from blues to bluegrass - from traditional celtic folk to swing and back again - but he somehow manages to combine all this musical diversity into a sound which is unique, particularly in his own original songs and instrumentals. He says hes on a voyage of self discovery - but we hear a man who has made music his life, the bluesman, the guitarst, the traveller, in other words, we hear him. Dik has toured extensively in Britain, Europe, Scandinavia, the States and West Africa. He has played clubs, folk clubs, art centres, pubs, and concerts in all imaginable ( and unimaginable! ) venues both at home and abroad.
He has numerous TV and radio appearances under his belt as well as playing major festivals such as the Glasgow Folk Festival, Glasgow International Jazz Festival, Edinburgh Blues Festival, Edinburgh Folk Festival, The Edinburgh Festival, The Arran Blues Festival, The Arran Folk Festival, The Aberdeen Alternative Festival, Rootin Aboot Aberdeen, Carrbridge Folk Festival, Cambridge Folk Festival ( Club Tent with Spider Mackenzie), Dumfermline Jazz Festival, Forres Folk Festival, Ballahulish Folk Festival, Louisburg Folk Festival NC.USA, Tonder Folk Festival Denmark, and more recently since moving to Devon,Tapely Park, Arlington Festival ( with Wes Bird & Tony Prince as Beatha ), Barnstaple Jazz Festival, The Polperro Arts Festival 2000 / 2001, The Wiviliscombe Music Festival (West Fest), Appeldore Arts Festival, and Malborough Festival of Music & Arts 2001, Big Wheel Blues Festival - Isle of Man 2002.
Numerous concerts and festivals in France including, Blues sur Seine 2013, Carrefour du Blues - Cantal 2014 more info on www.dikbanovich.fr
Dik has opened for Peter Greens Splinter Group, Paul Lamb and the Kingsnakes, Tam White, Run Rig, Dick Gaughan, Mojo Pep, The Men They Couldnt Hang as well as Hot Chocolate and Chaz & Dave!! ..... and the list goes on! For many years Dik performed with harmonica player Spider Mackenzie, described by Blueprint Magazine as Scotlands greatest undiscovered natural talent. Together the press called them Scotlands most popular blues duo. - Press and Journal - Aberdeen
more recently ............ run this through a translator.
Le Télégramme - 23 mai 2013
"Grosse affluence, samedi soir, à La Clef des Arts, pour le concert organisé par l'office culturel, autour du blues..... Dik Banovich ont fait voyager les auditeurs sur les terres enchantées du sud profond américain...... ont mené un public conquis sur les rives enchantées du Mississipi et de la Louisiane, à travers cette musique chargée de sens et d'émotions."
Big Bill Broonzy, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGee, Blind Blake, Wizz Jones, James Taylor, all good acoustic guitar players really!
Takamine, Taylor guitars, AER Domino.
Aiersi, Michael Messer, Gretsch Resonators
Dik also teaches both on a one to one basis and in workshop situations from his home in Central Brittany.
