We’re excited announce the addition of St. Louis-based blues pianist and preservationist Ethan Leinwand to the faculty of the 2017 Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival.

A student of the music’s rich history and varied regional styles, Ethan presents personal interpretations of many of the great (and forgotten) old-time barrelhouse masters. He specializes in St. Louis pre-war piano blues, Texas barrelhouse, early Chicago boogie-woogie, and New Orleans rhythm ‘n’ blues. His influences include: Jimmy Yancey, Henry Brown, Little Brother Montgomery, Peetie Wheatstraw, ‘Pinetop’ Sparks, ‘Cripple’ Clarence Lofton, Montana Taylor, Jabo Williams, Leroy Carr, Albert Ammons, Professor Longhair, Otis Spann and James Booker.

Originally from Middletown, CT, Ethan has spent time living in New Orleans, LA and Brooklyn, NY. He moved to St. Louis, MO in the summer of 2014, after a short visit convinced him that, with its thriving blues community and storied music history – particularly on the piano – St. Louis was the ideal place to live and work.

In addition to performing solo, he plays in multiple projects including The Bottlesnakes (a piano/guitar duo with Nick Pence),  The St. Louis Steady Grinders (with vocalist Miss Jubilee), and his band from NYC, Chickentown (a trio with  Joaquin Cotler on vocals/washboard and Seth Johnson on guitar). He also performs regularly with The Tom Hall, Mat Wilson, and  Miss Jubilee and The Humdingers.