Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 1, 2026

Jimmy Bowskill

Jimmy Bowskill is a Canadian blues singer, guitarist and bassist.

Last revised
Jul 1, 2026
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≈ 4 min
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Jimmy Bowskill
Background information
Born (1990-09-16) September 16, 1990
GenresBlues, Rock, Country
InstrumentsGuitar, Pedal Steel
Years active2003-present
Member ofBlue Rodeo
Formerly ofThe Sheepdogs

Jimmy Bowskill (born 16 September 1990) is a Canadian blues singer, guitarist and bassist.

Early life

Bowskill grew up in Bailieboro, a small village near Peterborough, Ontario,where he learned to play guitar.1

Career

Bowskill began performing at a young age, and first played on stage at age 11 at Jeff Healey's club in Toronto.2 "They wouldn’t let an 11-year-old inside his club, so I started busking on the side-walk outside," he recalled in Guitar Player Magazine "Jeff heard about me, invited me in to play, and I did pretty well. I got a lot of gigs and exposure just from that one night."3

Bowskill's second album, Soap Bars & Dog Ears, was nominated for a Juno Award when he was 14.4

In 2005, he was presented with a Maple Blues Award as Best New Artist of the Year.5

In 2010, he toured in Europe with Joe Bonamassa and Jeff Beck.6 He also performed locally at the Belleville Blues Festival.7

In 2009, he released his first live album, Jimmy Bowskill Band Live.

In 2012, Bowskill introduced his album Back Number at the Kincardine Lighthouse Blues Festival.8 The album was recorded at Metalworks Studios in Mississauga, Ontario. He also performed at the Windsor International BluesFest9 and at the All-Canadian Jazz Festival in Port Hope with the Ganaraska Sheiks.10

While on tour in 2009, the Jimmy Bowskill Band included Wayne Deadder on bass and Dan Neill on drums.11 In 2012, the band members were Ian McKeown on bass and Dan Reiff on drums.12

From 2015-22, Bowskill was a member of the Canadian rock band, The Sheepdogs, playing lead, rhythm and pedal steel guitar.1314

In 2016, Blue Rodeo released their album, 1000 Arms, with Bowskill contributing on two tracks.1516 By the time Blue Rodeo released their next album, Many a Mile, in 2021, Bowskill was a full member of the band.17

In 2023, Bowskill released Too Many Roads with singer-songwriter Brittany Brooks, whom he later married.18

In 2024, Bowskill released Blissful State of Mind with Brooks.19

Discography

Solo albums

  • Old Soul 20 (2003)
  • Jimmy Bowskill (2007)
  • Jimmy Bowskill Band Live2122 (2009)
  • Back Number2324 (2012).

With the Jimmy Bowskill Band

  • Soap Bars & Dog Ears25 (2004)

With Carlos del Junco

  • Blues Etc...26 (2016)

With The Sheepdogs

  • Changing Colours27 (2018)
  • No Simple Thing28 (2021)
  • Live At Lee's29 (2022)
  • Outta Sight30 (2022)

With Blue Rodeo

As Brooks & Bowskill (With Brittany Brooks)

  • Too Many Roads31 (2023)
  • Blissful State of Mind (2024)
References

References

  1. Reaney, James. "Age not an issue for Bowskill". CANOE - Jam!. 15 October 2009.
  2. Wong, Jan (2003-09-20). "The Grade 7 Blues". Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2026-03-28.
  3. Leslie, Barry Cleveland and Jimmy. "Four New Electric Players of Note". GuitarPlayer.com. Archived from the original on 2019-05-01. Retrieved 2019-05-01.
  4. Espinoza, Victoria. "Jimmy Bowskill: Back Number Review". Blues Rock Review, 11 May 2012
  5. "The Jimmy Bowskill Band" Archived 2016-03-01 at the Wayback Machine, CBC Music
  6. Harrison, John. "3 J’s – 3 Different Blues" Archived 2014-04-13 at the Wayback Machine. English Network DE, 21 July 2010.
  7. Miller, Jason. "Belleville blues festival included Juno nominee Jimmy Bowskill" Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine. The Whig, 22 March 2010
  8. Sutter, Sarah. "Kincardine Lighthouse Blues Fest to feature rising blues star" Archived 2014-04-13 at the Wayback Machine.The album was Kincardine News, 19 July 2012.
  9. Durnbeck, Lou. "Bluesfest 2012 – A Review" Archived 2014-04-13 at the Wayback Machine. In Retro Magazine 17 July 2012.
  10. "Port Hope Summer Bandshell Concert Series starts June 18". Northumberland News, Jun 10, 2015
  11. Bass, Dale. "Bowskill has mad skill" Archived 2014-04-19 at the Wayback Machine Kamloops This Week, 21 May 2009
  12. "John’s Blues Picks". Toronto Blues Society, June 2012'.
  13. "Serious on stage, Sheepdogs Ewan Currie may be pulling your leg when asked 10 questions". London Free Press, March 1, 2016
  14. "The Sheepdogs take the stage at Isaac’s" Archived 2016-12-20 at the Wayback Machine. Brock Press, March 7, 2016
  15. "Blue Rodeo Announce '1000 Arms' Album, Plot Cross-Canada Tour". exclaim.ca.
  16. "Blue Rodeo". Elmore Magazine. 11 November 2016.
  17. "Blue Rodeo on the making of new album 'Many a Mile': 'Everybody was willing to let go of how everything was before and it was really great'". thestar.com. 2021-12-03. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  18. "Album Review: Brooks & Bowskill, Too Many Roads". Parton and Pearl. 23 January 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  19. Gordy the Moose. "Brooks and Bowskill – Blissful State of Mind [review]". Roots Music Canada. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  20. Curtis, Joe. "Concert review: Jimmy Bowskill Guest Hosted the Healey’s Thurs. Special Guest Night". Jazz Review.29 January 2011
  21. Feenstra, Pete. " JIMMY BOWSKILL BAND Live RUF 1158 (2010)". Get Ready to Rock
  22. Tucker, Mark S. "FAME Review: Jimmy Bowskill - The Jimmy Bowskill Band Live". Acoustic Music
  23. Ross, Lionel. THE JIMMY BOWSKILL BAND Back Number". Blues in the Northwest, 27 February 2012.
  24. Kempft, Mike. "Jimmy Bowskill / Back Number". Rock Times, 4 January 2012.
  25. Blues, Roser (2005-04-01). "The Jimmy Bowskill Band "Soap Bars & Dog Ears"". La hora del blues. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  26. "A Conversation With ... Carlos del Junco". FYIMusicNews. 2016-12-05. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  27. "The Sheepdogs: Changing Colours (Album Review) | Folk Radio". Folk Radio UK. 2018-04-22. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  28. Thiessen, Brock (30 April 2021). "The Sheepdogs Return with New EP 'No Simple Thing'". Exclaim!. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  29. Lewrylast, Fraser (2022-02-11). "The Sheepdogs release live album Live At Lees ahead of UK tour". louder. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  30. Thorley, Andy (2022-06-08). "REVIEW: THE SHEEPDOGS - OUTTA SIGHT (2022) - Maximum Volume Music". Maximum Volume Music. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  31. Jones, Helen (2023-02-23). "Brooks & Bowskill "Too Many Roads"". Americana UK. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
External links