Canadian-born, Chicago-based Ian McKinley is a purveyor of lyric-driven country music, playing story-heavy songs about purpose, love, and regret. As a solo artist, McKinley leans into acoustic folk, drawing comparisons to James Taylor and John Prine. With The Ian McKinley Band, McKinley and bandmates turn up the intensity, adding healthy doses of volume and grit to a base of sweetened twang.
Born and raised outside Toronto, McKinley got his start playing in bands at some of Toronto’s finest dive bars, most notably as the original bass player for blues-rockers, The Noble Rogues.
Upcoming Shows:
June 14 (solo) at Jefferson Park Sunday Market
July 18 (w/The Ian McKinley Band) at the Back Porch Music Series in Jefferson Memorial Park
July 31 (w/The Ian McKinley Band) at Chicago Italian Beef Fest
August 13 (solo) at Nabala Cafe
The Sunrise now streaming!