Originally from Scotland, David Leask has spent the last 30 years of his artistic career as a multi-award-winning songwriter, a veteran live performer with over 3000 shows since moving to Canada and a sought after songwriting mentor and facilitator. His music draws from Celtic Soul, Folk/Pop & Jazz/Blues to create a sound all his own. Songwriters Magazine has referred to him as “the most consistent Canadian songwriting competition winner”, most recently taking home the “Songwriter of the Year” award from Mississauga Music, while also being named Performing Artist of the Year. Leask has been profiled in a SOCAN Words & Music Magazine article which called him a “lifer who has worked outside the commercial boundaries, earning a decent living and immense respect from his peers.”
His last album, “Voyageur in Song”, was nominated for Canadian Folk Music Association Contemporary Album of the Year and reached #8 on the Canadian Roots Music Chart. The album is a unique concept record inspired by the pieces and their stories from the Six String Nation Guitar - a guitar made up of 64 pieces of Canadian culture and history, nick-named Voyageur. The Toronto Star described "Voyageur In Song" as, "Possibly the most Canadian album on Canada's most historic instrument." The UK's Rock 'N Reel Magazine called it, “That rare thing, a genuinely inspiring album.”
Leask has learned firsthand about music’s healing power through playing in various health care settings for patients and their families, across different age ranges and different levels of care, and was recently asked to perform at the opening of the National Music Care conference for professional caregivers. His latest single and video, When I Become Confused, is a song that was inspired by these experiences of musical healing, but also ones that were close to home.
SONGWRITING EDUCATOR
A gifted songwriting teacher, David has been a songwriting mentor for 11 years with the School Alliance of Student Songwriters, on the songwriting faculty for Guitar Workshop Plus and is currently a mentor for Humber College's Graduate Certificate Program in Music Composition. He has conducted numerous songwriting workshops at folk festivals and on behalf of the Songwriters Association of Canada with students ranging in age from 7 to 70+ and has the experience, passion and people skills to motivate any individual to write a song. Find out more about David's songwriting workshops.
REVIEWS
"Leask brings to his music a compellingly honest baring of the soul."
Toronto Star
"Leask writes great songs... I've added him to an amazing group of talent that includes John Prine, Joe Henry and John Hiatt."
Brandon Sun
“Voyageur In Song is something truly special… the album is a unique and uplifting, almost spiritual listening experience...that rare thing, a genuinely inspiring album." UK's Rock 'n Reel Magazine
"Possibly the most Canadian Album on Canada's most historic instrument". Toronto Star
"This concept album is a delight on so many levels." FATEA
"A "Lifer" in Canadian Music...David Leask has worked outside the commercial boundaries, earning a decent living and immense respect from his peers."
SOCAN Words & Music
"Six of the best from this award winning wordsmith....all the songs are superbly crafted and David Leask possesses fine vocal talents..." maverick magazine
"the 6/8 time signature..underpins six beautifully mature songs, naturally & ingeniously"
rock 'n reel magazine
"Leask's vocal is a masterclass in emotional major league Rock. "Caught In The Tide" and "When You Think No One Loves You" feature that voice, in Prog mode against squalling guitars or gutsy soulful like a Marc Cohn or Liam O Maonlai from The Hothouse Flowers, always interesting."
northern sky magazine
“David Leask is little known outside of Canada, but this is a persuasive argument for spreading the word.”
FATEA magazine
"David Leask is a quadruple threat on stage with an outstanding voice, original songs, and stellar guitar and piano playing. His songwriting skills are second to none. There are few solo performers who can capture and hold an audience as well as Leask. I’ve presented him several times secure in the knowledge that he will deliver an outstanding show. David drew rave reviews and a double standing ovation at his last sold out show in Sudbury."
Bob Bale, Sudbury Concert Promoter
"Dave was such a rare treat to discover - one of those genuine talents with a truly natural connection between his guitar, his voice and his lyrics - a rare original."
Shari Ulrich
"A true transatlantic traveler who brings the traditional favourites as well as his stirring songs of longing for his homeland. He uses looping and effects pedals which give him a versatile and remarkably big sound for a solo performer."
Gus Noble, President, Chicago Scottish Festival
"He has ballads that are so beautiful it could almost make you cry, and then he has the ability to get you up and on the floor dancing until your feet hurt."
Katie Sinclair, AD Fergus Scottish Festival
"Allowing these individuals to experience the thrill of creating, writing and recording music is something they will never forget."
Kevin Collins, Executive Director, Friends of We Care Foundation Inc.
PREVIOUS PERFORMANCES
National Arts Centre, Ottawa, ON, The Rose Theatre, Brampton, ON, Nathan Phillips Square Summer Concerts, Toronto, ON, Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, Oakville, ON, Hammerson Hall, Living Arts Centre, Mississauga, ON, Canada Day, Mel Lastman Square, Toronto, ON, Sean O' Sullivan Theatre, St. Catharines, ON, Home County Folk Festival, London, ON, Summerfolk Festival, Owen Sound, ON, Owen Sound Celtic Festival, Owen Sound, ON, Live From The Rock Folk Festival, Red Rock, ON, Summer Music In The Park, Village of Yorkville, Toronto, ON, Unionville Concert Series, Unionville, ON, Summer Streetfest, Woodstock, ON, Engineered Air Theatre, Calgary, AB, West End Cultural Centre, Winnipeg, MB, Empress Theatre, Fort Macleod, AB
SONGWRITING AWARDS
2022 - Winner Sauga Song of the Summer - Feet In Your Shoes
2021 – Semi-finalist, International Songwriting Competition – “When I Become Confused”, “The Things We Carry”
2020 - Finalist in the Love Songs Category in the International Songwriting Competition - "Perfect Imperfections"
2020 - Semi-finalist in the International Songwriting Competition - "The Legend Of Joe Labobe" & "Perfect Imperfections".
2019 - Finalist in the International Songwriting Competition - Video - "When You Think No One Loves You"
2019 - Nominee Independent Music Awards - Video - "When You Think No One Loves You"
2018 - Finalist in Unsigned Only Vocal Performance - "When You Think No One Loves You"
2018 - Finalist in the Canadian Songwriting Competition - "Undo" & "Everybody Sing"
2018 - Finalist in the International Songwriting Competition - "When You Think No One Loves You"
2018 - Semi-finalist in the International Songwriting Competition - "Red Balloon", "Between Him & Me", "Caught in the Tide"
2014 - Finalist in the International Songwriting Competition - "Everybody Sing"
2011 - 1st Place USA Songwriting Competition Comedy Category - "Infomaniac"
2011 - Runner-up in the John Lennon 70th Birthday Song Contest - "Everybody Sing"
2009 - Overall winner OCFF Songs From The Heart - "While I Still Breathe"
2009 - Top Ten Finalist Toronto Song Contest - "The Toronto We Know"
2009 1st Place Unisong Song Contest - "Freedom By The Barrel"
2007 1st Place OCFF Songs from the Heart Political Category- "Freedom By The Barrel"
2007 1st Place in the International Songwriting Competition - "Strong in Broken Places",
2006 Finalist in the John Lennon Song Contest - "Undo"
2005: 1st Place in the International Songwriting Competition - “The Honey I Want”, Blues Category
2005: Winner OCFF Songs From The Heart - “The Honey I Want”, Blues Category
2004: 1st Place in the NSAI Single Song Showdown - “You Can Cry”
2003: 1st & 2nd Place in the Unisong Song Contest - “Five Minutes” & “You Can Cry”
2003: 1st place in the Quinte Spirit Songwriting Contest - “Halfway to Heaven”
HI REZ PROMO SHOTS
Click image to view hi rez promo shots.