“Storytelling is a skillset most artists truly strive for. The art of being able to show the audience the story versus telling it is all about the understanding of the craft of songwriting. Writing about what you remember is a beautiful talent, and Garry has that ability along with a smooth vocal line and guitar playing to match. He has the quiet ability to take you on a musical journey where you feel you are in the front row, watching the story unfold.”
— Nancy Laberge - Founder & Instructor, "WriteOn, the Songwriting Experience"
Full Bio
The Back Story
Garry Stickel is a Canadian singer-songwriter, whose music is deeply rooted in the fabric of rural Alberta culture. Raised on a small family farm in central Alberta, Garry learned the life skills that hard work instills. Many hours spent in the fields, listening to the tractor radio lured him to the exciting new musical sounds that were sweeping the globe in the early days of rock and roll. His passion for musical storytelling began early, finding its voice in church basements and coffee houses where he shared his first songs.
Although rural life offered few performance opportunities, Garry’s creativity never waned. It was when his eldest son, Kelly brought home a 4-track cassette recorder, that the father-son duo began writing and recording together, creating a long-standing partnership that continues to this day under the banner of “Stickel & Son”. Their music became a conduit for expressing personal stories, their faith and the shared experiences of rural life.
In 2020, during the quiet isolation of the COVID-19 lockdown, Garry began turning his focus back to his farming roots, resulting in two EP releases: “Grain Dust “and “SnapShots”. These heartfelt stories of his rural memories resonated deeply with like-minded audiences, sparking a new chapter in his musical journey.
Inspired by legendary storytellers like Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Jackson Browne, as well as more contemporary artists like Mark Erelli and Scott Cook, Garry continues to draw from these influences to craft songs rich with a quiet wisdom, clarity and strength. His acoustic solo performances are intimate and compelling, blending country, roots, blues and rock with a storyteller’s heart.
Garry‘s music invites listeners to journey with him through Alberta’s landscapes and history, intertwining their own memories with his, all woven together by his timeless and authentic voice.
Press photos
