The Story

Born into a mennonite community in Southern Manitoba, his parents, the town rebels ran an illegal roadhouse on the outskirts of town, brought in bands and set fire to the dancefloor. His grandpa, a bootlegger, delivered his homemade goods down the gravel covered back roads of Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

At eighteen Cam left the prairies and made his way south to Chicago. While living there he ran a soup kitchen and started working with the homeless. From there he moved North back to Canada where he continued working with the homeless at various shelters, soup kitchens, and detox centres. Now, a full time musician and songwriter, Cam carries with him these life experiences as he embarks on his musical journey.

Cam Penner live. Unvarnished, tale telling songs of misguided love, endless nights and long hauls through the prairies. Cam (guitar, harmonica, vocals) has been penning these kinds of songs for the last ten years. Songs about real people, real situations, sufferin' and laughin: Laughin' at your sufferin' kinda songs. These are songs inspired by rolling fields, vast skies, the long road home and cold, Canadian nights.

For the last year Cam has been focusing his attention on writing and touring as a solo artist he has also, ironically, found himself homeless. After sinking the rest of his savings and the money he made from selling his house into his new album ‘Felt Like a Sunday Night’ he has been on the road. A friend’s couch or a relative’s spare bed has been a godsend providing him a place to lay his head. During the last year Cam has toured in the UK three times including Ireland & Scotland. He also spent three months in London booking himself over twenty shows during his stay. Cam also toured through California and Nevada and spent the summer touring across Western Canada with his band the Gravel Road.

The Music

"Prairie Soul" (Singer/Songwriter in the Roots/Americana Tradition.)

Cam Penner live. Unvarnished, tale telling songs of misguided love, endless nights and long hauls through the prairies.

Cam (guitar, harmonica, vocals) has been penning these kinds of songs for the last ten years. Songs about real people, real situations, sufferin' and laughin: Laughin' at your sufferin' kinda songs. These are songs inspired by rolling fields, vast skies, hard luck and long, cold, Canadian nights. Songs that win fans one at a time, but keep them for life.

Cam Penner continues to define his vocal style with a mature, confident, soulful quality that captures the listener’s attention.

Cam Penner has shared stages and opened up for Fred Eaglesmith, Romi Mayes, Carolyn Mark, Bill Bourne, Greg Trooper, Blackie & the Rodeo Kings, John Prine, Lyle Lovett, Richard Thompson and the Flatlanders.

Then there's the Gravel Road, the die-hards, the spit and grit of the music. With all pistons firing this band comes out kickin' and gets the crowd on their feet. These three extraordinary musicians, Jeff Drummond, Ross Watson and Adam Esposito are the cornerstone, providing a driving blend of bass, electric guitar, vocals and drums as the backbone to Cam's plaintive and poetic lyrics. Old country, rock n' roll, and Americana blend to create a delicious, get your ass on the dance floor, roots-rock sound.