artist David Gillis

David Gillis is building a reputation as a guitarist, a sideman and an award-winning songwriter.

Speaking of sides... On the side of song writing, David is the recipient of the Colleen Peterson Song-writing Award. Listeners are drawn in by his honest yet skewed perspective on story telling, his sometimes bizarre lyrics and always engaging melodic hooks. He writes ballads that will conjure up emotions that literally has the audience in tears, his next song may include a light hearted turn of the century tin-pan- alley ukulele number that transports you into a nostalgic movie.

When you listen to David play guitar you never know what he is going to do next. His arrangements and impromtu solo style are just as new to him as they are to the audience. His sizzling and creative instrumental version of "Spiderman" has people smiling while the level of technique is down-right insane. His poetic version of "Downtown" will twist and turn taking you on an impressionistic journey. With styles ranging from earthy folk to postbop jazz, his music has been recognized by Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine. David has played several times as a main stage performer at the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society, won the Gamble Rogers Fingerstyle Guitar competition and has placed "Top Five" in the International Fingerstyle Guitar competition, Winfield, Kansas 2007.