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A performer of blues and traditional music, John Kerkhoven is a harmonica player and singer based in Matane, Québec.

Migratory Melodies
A captivating musical voyage across the landscape of North American roots music, played on the harmonica.

Le Blues de Philémon
A musical story about a young Gaspésian harmonica player and fisherman in the 1950s who, facing an uncertain future, goes on a voyage of discovery in the South of the USA. (In French.)

  

Photo: Tatum Guillermic

A particular stand-out for me was ... the country blues fiddle tune “Black Pine Waltz” done on harmonica. Very cool! – Roots Music Canada

Profile

John collaborated with numerous musicians on the Montréal scene in a variety of genres and styles, which laid the foundations for his current performances. Now living in Matane, John continues his introspective and exploratory journey, creating original shows which present the musical traditions he is inspired by in dialogue with each other.

Montréal was for him a decade of apprenticeship with two main projects: BluesReel, a folk and blues duo, and The Mojo Vipers, a blues and jazz trio. Since his arrival in Eastern Québec in 2022, he has been reinventing himself as an artist, notably with his participation in the musical-theatrical project Les Chemins de traverse and with his solo shows, Mélodies Migratoires and the musical story Le Blues de Philémon.

Recent Performances (among others)

  • Le Blues de Philémon, a musical story, La Salso, Matane, QC (2025)
  • Migratory Melodies, Centre Socioculturel Le Jubé, Saint-Léandre, QC (2025)
  • Kerkhoven & Compagnie (Blues), Marché Public, Matane, QC (2025)
  • The colours of the harmonica, Bibliothèque Françoise-Bédard, Rivière-du-Loup, QC (2025)
  • The Blues is a Feeling, a musical lecture, Matane, QC (2024)
  • Opening act for Paule-Andrée Cassidy, Métis-sur-Mer, QC (2024)
  • Élymes des sables, with Les Chemins de traverse, Saint-Léandre, QC (2024)
  • A Weekend of Blues, Rob Lutes and John Kerkhoven, Métis-sur-Mer and Rimouski (2024)
  • Solo performance of traditional Québécois harmonica, Festival Tidelidam!, Matane (2023)
  • The colours of the harmonica, Matane Public Library, Matane, QC (2023)
  • John Kerkhoven & Friends, The Wheel Club, Montreal (2022)
  • Solo Performance, Livestream performance from The Wheel Club, Montreal (2021)

He recently played the opener for Paule-Andrée Cassidy ... wowing the audience with his musical talent. – Heritage Lower Saint-Lawrence

Photos
John Kerkhoven

Photo: Sharon Cheema
John Kerkhoven

Photo: Tatum Guillermic

John Kerkhoven

Photo: Peter Graham

Stage Plot

For small venues with no sound system, John can provide his own.


Photo: Elise Thierry