Jim McLennan Music
Jim McLennan is known as a fingerstyle guitarist who specializes in
arranging compelling songs for solo instrumental guitar.
These days Jim is very active as both an electric and acoustic guitar player,
playing and performing in a number of ensembles.
Performances to come
May 30, 2025 Leanne Lightfoot Trio, Priddis, AB
May 31, 2025 Charlie Ewing, The Stop, Diamond Valley, AB
June 21, 2025 Leanne Lightfoot Trio, Clear Lake Festival, AB
June 27, 2025 Wailback, Beaver Fever Festivel, near Castle River, AB
July 18, 2025 Hugh McLennan and Western Spirit,
Vilna Cowboy Music Festival, Vilna, AB
July 24, 2025 Charlie Ewing, Wellspring Concert, Calgary, AB
Aug. 24, 2025 Leanne Lightfoot Trio, Gibsons, BC
Sept. 12 - 14, 2025 Hugh McLennan, Caroline Cowboy Festival, AB
Sept. 27, 2025 Hugh McLennan, Medicine Hat Cowboy Festival, AB
The Leanne Lightfoot Trio
consists of singer/songwriter Leanne, Jim and upright bassist Jamie Newsom.
The music is mainly Leanne's original songs, which can best described
as roots/folk with an occasional gentle lean towards jazz.
In April Leanne's 2025 recording, Still Knowing reached
#1 on Canada's national folk/roots/blues charts.
To find out more visit leannelightfoot.com
Hugh McLennan and Western Spirit
Jim's big brother Hugh is Canada's best-known cowboy, thanks to
thirty plus years of his syndicated radio program The Spirit of the West.
Jim, along with bassist Mike Dygert, has played with big brother for many years,
at cowboy gatherings, concerts and back porches throughout the Canadian West.
Jim is featured on both of Hugh's recordings,
The Creak of the Leather and A Little Past Our Prime. Visit hugh-mclennan.com
Sid Marty and Wailback
is comprised of writer/poet/singer/songwriter Sid Marty,
Jim on electric guitar and James van Leeuwen on acoustic guitar and vocals.
Fans and protectors of Alberta's precious wilderness will know Sid through his numerous books, including Men for the Mountains, Leaning on the Wind,
and his 2023 award-winning book of poetry, Old Man's River.
Turns out Sid is also one of Alberta's best songwriters. sidmarty.com
Charlie Ewing
is a rancher who's lived his whole life in Alberta's Porcupine Hills.
He writes and sings songs that resonate with those who love these hills
and the western and ranching lifestyle. charlieewing.com
Ryan Fritz
is a cowboy singer who lives in the shadow of the rockies in the ranch country
near Longview, Alberta. He grew up listening to Ian Tyson, and is quietly
taking the torch from Ian in his drive to honour and share the traditions of western and cowboy music. Ryan has recorded ten studio albums, two of which
Jim has played on. ryanfritz.net
Calling all guitarists!
Have a listen to Jim's One Tune Concerts.
Songs like Rouler Sa Bosse, Over the Rainbow, Foxglove, Just the Way You Are, Beatle Medley, Windy and Warm and so many more.
Jim McLennan
One Tune Concerts - Listen Here
Tom Cole Homebound Concerts -
Listen Here
Trevor Warke and Jim McLennan -
Listen Here
Another series we would like to recommend is
Steve Bell: Live from the Vault
Listen Here
Jim McLennan’s reputation as a fingerstyle guitarist, composer and arranger has produced an enduring legacy as one of Alberta’s finest guitarists. He recorded for Stefan Grossman’s iconic Kicking Mule record label in the 1970s, and has been featured in Guitar Player magazine.
Jim's first solo CD, Six-String Gumbo, was a Western Canadian Music Award finalist for Instrumental Recording of the Year.
Lynda McLennan taught high-school music for many years, working with choirs, bands, jazz choirs and was music director for several Mainstage musicals. She has directed church choirs and retired after 15 years as the Founder / Director of the Big Rock Singers, a community choir in Okotoks, Alberta. Her first love, though, is singing, and in performance she puts her personal stamp on tunes from Gershwin, Foster, Berlin, and others, in a musical style that can best be described as "folk jazz."
Available for House Concerts
and other Performance Venues
Available for House Concerts
and other Performance Venues
A Jim and Lynda McLennan performance includes instrumental guitar pieces from
Jim and vocal tunes from Lynda. One moment it’s a “folkafied” version of a standard
like Ain’t Misbehavin’ or Fly Me to the Moon, next up might be an acoustic nod to the R&B world of Sam Cooke or Curtis Mayfield. The only criteria for a McLennan
interpretation of a tune is that it be a great song.
Much of their music is recognized and loved by their listeners. Seasoned performers, their genuine and engaging stage demeanor immediately puts audiences at ease.
They have performed at Festival Place in Sherwood Park, the mid-Winter Roots and Blues Festival in Edmonton, the On the Edge Concert Series, Carlson’s on Macleod in High River, the Room Full of Sound concert series in Okotoks, Mikey’s Juke Joint in Calgary, the Blue Chair in Edmonton, the Canmore Folk Festival, and at numerous house concerts and other acoustic music venues. For information on booking Jim and Lynda McLennan, or for information on how to host a house concert, please send an email.
Please have a listen to a few samples of our music over the years.
In the Kitchen with Jim and Lynda McLennan - Where Did it Go?
by Nathan Tinkham
Northern Lights Lodge July 2018
Check out the following YouTube link for a sample of Jim and Lynda's music at the
Room Full of Sound Concert Series in 2015, Okotoks, Alberta.
Enjoy a few more instrumental guitar selections by Jim McLennan
Jim performing Live at Blue Chair Cafe, Edmonton,
at the Edmonton Winter Roots and Blues Roundup,
sponsored by Folkway International.
Sweet Tooth - an original tune Amazing Grace on electric guitar
A Room Full of Sound Concert Series
Current CD's available
Dancing On Air Six-String Gumbo
In Times Like These
Cost: $15.00 per CD Send an email to order
Six-String Gumbo
Six-String Gumbo
This is Jim's solo instrumental acoustic guitar CD, which was a Western Canadian Music Award finalist for Instrumental Recording of the Year. The songs include Jim's original compositions, and Jim's arrangements of tunes from the likes of Scott Joplin, Billy Joel, and Lennon and McCartney.
This is a recording of hymns and gospel tunes that features Jim's long time friend,
Trevor Warke.
Trev has an outstanding voice and has arranged these songs in a style reminiscent of Gordon Lightfoot. Jim's guitar adds some colour to these timeless songs of faith, including "How Great Thou Art," "The Church's One Foundation," and "Love Lifted Me."
In Times Like These
In Times Like These
Other CD's that feature Jim's playing.
Jim has played guitar on a number of artists' CDs over the years.
Here are some of them:
Quarter Section, by Meaghan McKenzie
Chronicles, by Tom Cole
Other People's Cattle, by Cowboy Celtic
The Creak of the Leather, by Hugh McLennan
World Weary, by Joe Cunningham
Between Heartache and Hope, by Dianne Quinton
Wailback, by Sid Marty and Wailback
River, by Steve Fisher
Runaway Remuda, by Ryan Fritz
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If you're interested in having Jim play on your recording,