Gregory Alan Isakov

Gregory Alan Isakov

Gregory Alan Isakov is a South Africa-born American singer-songwriter whose work sits in contemporary folk, country folk, indie folk and liedermacher. He is born in Johannesburg in 1979 and is associated with Boulder, Colorado.

Early life and development

He moves to the United States with his family and grows up in the Philadelphia area. He starts touring at 16 with his first band. In 1999, he turns to solo acoustic performance and moves to Colorado, where he resides.

Recordings and style

His first album, Rust Colored Stones, appears in 2003, followed by Songs For October in 2005. Later albums include That Sea, The Gambler (2007), This Empty Northern Hemisphere (2009), The Weatherman (2013), Evening Machines (2018) and Appaloosa Bones (2023). His songs are known for detailed lyrics, and his performances are described as quiet and forceful, with voice and guitar at the centre of the sound.

Touring and collaborations

He tours both as a solo artist and with his band, The Freight. He shares stages with Rodrigo y Gabriela, Alexi Murdoch and Fiona Apple, and he plays at festivals including Falcon Ridge Folk Fest, Rocky Mountain Folks Fest and Southpark Music Festival.

Recognition

In 2007, he is named Best Male Singer-Songwriter by Westword Magazine. His style is compared with the work of Bruce Springsteen, Kelly Joe Phelps, Iron & Wine and Gillian Welch.