Jesse Roper

Jesse Roper closed out 2022 with the release of “Horizons,” adding to a catalogue that spans “The Roper Show EP” (2012), “Son of John” (2013), “Red Bird” (2015), and “Access to Infinity” (2018). The Victoria, British Columbia blues musician has built his reputation the long way around — one sold-out room and one festival stage at a time.

Born in 1982 and raised in rural Metchosin, Roper picked up the guitar at age six after his father bought him one, but stage fright kept him from performing publicly until his late twenties. He spent eight years working as a painter before committing to music full-time, admitting he “was busy, but wasn’t happy.” His breakthrough came in January 2015, when “Red Bird” launched at a sold-out show at Victoria’s Sugar Nightclub in front of 650 fans.

That performance turned him into a go-to west coast festival draw. In 2015 alone he played twelve festivals, including Rock the Shores, Rifflandia, Sunfest, and Burnaby Roots and Blues, plus industry presents at Folk Alliance International in Kansas City, CMW in Toronto, and BreakOut West. “Red Bird” earned a 2015 Western Canadian Music Award nomination for Best Blues Recording. He has since shared bills with Keith Urban, Colin James, Tower of Power, and Beth Hart, and recorded the single “Cupid” at Bear Creek Studios with producer Ryan Hadlock.