Raised in Minnesota on rock and roll, singer-songwriter Justin Roth picked up the guitar in 8th grade, taking lessons from a heavy metal guitarist. As his teacher started playing with an acoustic trio, Justin became more interested in playing unplugged. His path to acoustic music was solidified at 17, when he went saw innovative guitarist Michael Hedges open for Crosby, Stills & Nash. He had gone to see the famed headliners, it was Hedges’ music that truly spoke to him. Justin was enthralled by Hedges’ expressive playing and inventive compositions, and from that moment on, he knew that acoustic guitar music would be the root of his musical world. He began experimenting with alternate tunings and exploring the two-handed tapping technique he learned from acclaimed finger-style guitarist and composer Billy McLaughlin. From there, Justin added more layers to his playing, using partial capos to create more flexibility to his compositions and live performances.
"Fans of Leo Kottke or Michael Hedges will find themselves right at home with the intricate guitar work...beautifully written lyrics."
- San Francisco Art Magazine
Inspired by the singer-songwriters he saw perform in his college home of Duluth, Justin began honing his craft as a writer, marrying his accomplished guitar playing with his already strong singing voice. By his senior year, he had recorded his first album Up Until Now. Not really intending to pursue a musical career, Justin thought he would go on to get a regular day job. But, following graduation, he was encouraged by his friend Chris Cunningham (of acoustic/pop duo Storyhill) to drive out to Colorado to attend the Rocky Mountain Folks Fest. Keeping company with other musicians and swapping songs around late-night campfires, Justin realized that being a touring musician and recording songwriter was really all he wanted to do. An epic moment in his young life, it would later inspire the title track of his 2003 release Shine.
In 1998, Chris Cunningham invited Justin to join him on a cross-country tour. While they were on the road, they would often play on each other’s songs, working out harmonies and two-part guitar arrangements. One night when they were playing at a church, Justin saw a djembe drum left by the church band. During the soundcheck, Justin began drumming, backing up Chris. They both enjoyed the sound so much, Justin played percussion that night and every night thereafter. Justin has been playing the djembe ever since and has backed up such musicians as Ellis Paul, LJ Booth and Tom Prasada-Rao.
In 2000, Justin recorded a live duo album with Chris Cunningham called 2 Forms of ID. That same year he released his second solo album In Between and contributed four original compositions to the solo guitar compilation Lifescapes – Solo Guitar, produced by Billy McLaughlin. Sold exclusively at Target stores, the album went on to sell 70,000 copies nationwide.
Since then Justin has gone on to wow audiences across the country, performing at such renowned venues as the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, The Ark in Ann Arbor and Saint Paul’s historic Fitzgerald Theater, home of Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion. He has toured with Red House recording artist John Gorka and has shared the stage with some of the finest acts in the acoustic music scene, including Shawn Colvin, Martin Sexton, Lucy Kaplansky, David Wilcox and Richard Shindell.
"Justin Roth was a smash when he opened at The Ark for John Gorka last fall, selling out a big stack of CDs and nearly stealing the show."
