John McGrail

Cleveland based singer songwriter John McGrail has been writing music for over 40 years and performing for over 35 of those years. His tastes are wide as is exemplified by the variety of artist with whom he has shared a stage. He has performed with or opened for Ellis Paul, the Irish group The Chieftains, East LA Tex-Mex group Las Cafeteras, The Cowboy Junkies, New Age artist Larkin, native American songwriter Bill Miller and political folk songwriter Dan Bern amongst others.

Categorized as a folk musician he accepts that and on some level even agrees but his influences range far beyond that and they all contribute to the ‘folk’ music that he creates. Analysis of his tunes would find things like odd meters, Floydian textures, and the occasional stinging guitar solo. Then there are the lyrics... well there are those who have described him as the Dark Prince of Cleveland Folk.

Never one to be pigeonholed John uses whatever he has at his disposal to present his music. As of late for live performances it is his trio of Jay Bentoff (bass) and Sheela Das (flute, whistles, guitar). When in the studio he grasps for whatever it is that will get his music across in a manner that makes him happy. Whether it’s loops and programs and virtual instruments or the more traditional types, one will usually find him using all and blending them in a most unique way. Boundaries are for breaking.