Old Man Luedecke

Old Man Luedecke

Old Man Luedecke is the performing name of Chris Luedecke, a singer and banjo player who lives near Halifax, Nova Scotia. He is associated with folk, bluegrass and acoustic music, and his work centres on banjo-led songwriting and live performance.

Career

Luedecke begins performing under the Old Man Luedecke name after leaving Toronto and moving to the Yukon, where he meets a woman, buys a banjo and starts developing his performing career. He spends a period back in the Yukon writing many songs, playing regular banjo sets in a gambling hall with can-can dancers and in a honky tonk called the Snakepit, where he accompanies a piano player known as Bob. He also appears at the Dawson City Music Festival.

He later returns to Halifax to reconnect musically and record his debut album, Mole in the Ground. The album gains college radio play and is featured on CBC’s Atlantic Airwaves. He continues to live in Halifax and perform in the city and across Canada.

Performance style

His stage work combines humorous, rustic elements with more earnest material, and his performances are described as being aimed at audiences of different ages. His banjo playing remains central to his identity as an artist.