Jay Gavin grew up in a tiny close-knit Canadian fishing village on Prince Edward Island where the potato fields are lined by red dirt roads, there isn’t a stop light for 100 miles and the kitchen parties go on for days. He quit school in grade nine more interested in fishing and getting into trouble. His hands worn with the cracks and calluses of hard work tell the story of his years supplementing his musical dreams with sweat labor on fishing boats, tobacco fields, logging camps, construction sites and film sets. Jay was greatly inspired by his uncle, a much heralded and beloved fiddle player in the community. “He’s a great musician and he could play anything,” There was, and still is, a ton of great musicians in Tignish. It certainly had its effect on me!” After years touring North America and recording as a bassist with punk & metal bands like Spawner Record’s Huskavarna, and Texas thrash legends Speedealer, Jay came full circle and returned to his roots in country, folk & bluegrass.
Jay writes and sings songs for fans of real county music and is making a name for his catchy hooks, foot-stomping, autobiographical, everyman songs and good timin’ live shows. The Nashville Songwriters Ass. Intl. named Jay Gavin a writer that’s “One to Watch” in June 2023. At home in Canada, Jay loves hosting regular song circles bringing together the local and touring songwriting community.
Jay’s first full-length Americana album was 2019’s Boat On A Whale co-produced, and engineered by Canadian platinum-certified Jeff Zipp. 2021’s cover of the Conway and Loretta classic “You’re the Reason our Kids are Ugly” a duet with his cousin Shyanne Mae Gaudet was a sleeper hit reaching over 232K spins on YouTube Music. 2022’s Therapy EP, again with the help of Jeff Zipp was a super charged live off-the-floor banger packed with motorcycle themed bluegrassy country-folk. Auto biographical “Got Myself a Harley”, is the standout track and has 38K views for its video. 2023 saw the release of two singles -a cosmic chicken pickin and fuzzed out pedal steel drenched extended version of “Lost in Austin” and “Rhythms & Rhymes” Jay’s ode to John Prine’s “Paradise” packed with heartfelt nostalgia and exuberant adulation.
On the recommendation of Billy Don Burns, Jay drove down to Nashville to meet Grammy-nominated producer Denny Knight (Waylon Jennings, Conway Twitty) of the Nashville Music Group to begin his forthcoming album, Road Ready. With Denny producing, Bobby Bradley (JJ Cale, Ween’s country album) engineering and a band of Nashville A-listers like Jeff Williams (June Carter Cash’s Living Circle Band) on guitar, Steve Hinson (George Jones, Randy Travis) on pedal steel and dobro and Deannie Richardson (Vince Gill, Sister Sadie) on fiddle this is sure to be Jay Gavin’s breakout album. From the easy, affable strains of “Maybe It Was Me” and the quietly contemplative “Seen Better Days,” to the folksy amble and south-of-the border sounds of “Mexican Food, Cold Beer & Tattoos” Road Ready will soon find listeners doing their fair share of singing along. The first single “Between You and Me,” with guest Billy Don Burns drops February 2, 2024. The half-spoken narrative, flushed with regret and reflection, is a decidedly expressive classic country effort that affirms Jay’s authenticity in every note and strum.
A road warrior who toured 5 provinces and 10 states in 2023, sleeping most nights in his van, Jay can’t wait to get back at it in support of the new record. It’s no secret that he likes to have a good time and puts on a hell of a live show offering true country & folk entertainment to hard-working and sometimes remote communities. Whether backed by a full band or stripped down with just his guitar, his live show feels more like a party. You'll laugh and sing and dance and go home feeling that you've made a new friend.