Award Winning songwriter Dan Weber has been described as “The Classic Mid-Life Overnight Sensation” after bursting onto the festival scene in 2010 to a standing ovation at the Sisters Folk Festival for his engaging set in the Dave Carter songwriting contest. Since then he’s toured extensively across the country becoming a rare 3 time finalist in the legendary Kerrville ‘New Folk’ competition, had 2 top finishes in the Woody Guthrie songwriting contest and in 2015 won the prestigious Winfield, Kansas ‘NewSong’ contest for Oh Woody, his anthemic tribute to Woody Guthrie, that rose to #2 on the Folk charts in 2015. An ex-Park Ranger, Eagle Scout, Altar boy and lifelong ‘Deadhead’, he left his hometown of Rochester, NY in 1989 in a beat-up primer grey ‘78 Pontiac Trans-Am with ‘a guy named Joe’ he’d met in a bar the night before, and never looked back. Living first in Seattle during the ‘grunge era’, then off the grid in a sheepherder’s trailer in Utah’s remote Canyonlands National Park, Weber eventually moved back north to Portland, OR, and settled in a 1948 Kaiser shipyard worker’s house in Vancouver, VA. Along the way he picked up stories and hitchhikers and eventually, picked up a guitar and began writing songs. Weber began performing later in life at age 40 but being a gifted storyteller, he quickly won over audiences with his natural charisma, upbeat performances, authentic songwriting, and off-the-cuff hilarious stories from the many roads he’s traveled. None other than legendary Folk troubadour Ramblin’ Jack Elliott said “I love Dan’s songs and he tells really good stories.” His songs have been described as “Guthrie-esque and reminiscent of early John Prine” and “A rare combination of wit, emotion and Harry Chapin-esque imagery” and the UK’s Maverick Magazine said: “4 Stars: The touch of a true Master Craftsman songwriter.” There’s also been recognition from DJ’s: “Hank and Jesus is easily the best folk song I heard last year” and The Victory Review wrote “Weber's writing is as strong as any in the Contemporary Folk community. Goodbye to Dad is one of the best original tunes that I have heard in a long time.” After the success of 2015’s release of What I’m Lookin’ For, a 14 song CD of classic Folk and Americana that climbed to #6 on the charts and included Oh Woody as well as the breakout hit (I Deal with) Crazy ALL Day, an everyman’s anthem and crowd sing-a-long favorite, Weber is currently working on his first live recording and new material for an upcoming CD. If his phenomenal growth in such a short period of time is any indication, it promises to be his best work yet. Here are what some other nice folks have said: "I love Dan’s songs and he tells really good stories.” - Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Legendary Folk Troubadour “4 Stars: Has you hanging on to every word. That’s the touch of a true master craftsman songwriter. Quite indispensable.” - Alan Cackett, Editor, Maverick Magazine "Don't be deceived by the white-straw-cowboy-brim halo, Dan Weber is the real deal." - Nancy Jones Emrich, Promoter: LilFest "Weber's writing is as strong as any in the Contemporary Folk community. - Christopher Anderson, Victory Review: Acoustic Music Magazine “Dan Weber sings short stories with the exuberance of Kerouac, the economy of Hemingway, and the melodic elegance of Hank Williams.” - Tim Connor, Songwriter "Dan Weber has an instant classic on his hands." - Diane Hunt, DJ ‘Folk Espresso’ KBOO 90.7 FM Portland, OR "Amazingly new to the music trip, but Dan's stories and melodies sound like they were carved back there, somewhere.” - Inessa Anderson, DJ, KINK 101.9 FM Portland, OR "‘Hank and Jesus’ by Dan Weber is easily the best folk song I heard last year. It has a timeless and authentic ‘Me and Bobby McGee’ feel to it.” - Jack Bohl, DJ, Pastures of Plenty’ KBOO 90.7 FM Portland, OR "Dan is one of those rare performers that make you feel like you are the person in the audience he is telling the story to. It is so wonderful to have artist like him. Come back soon!" - Suzan Lundy, McLundy’s Green Room “The first time we saw Dan Weber perform, I turned to my husband after just two songs and said, "Oh, yeah, this guy's got 'IT'" - Joanne Smiddie-Brush, Flying Cat House Concerts