JD McPherson

Hailing from Broken Arrow, OK, JD McPherson has recorded four studio albums and toured extensively at venues worldwide, including festival sets at Glastonbury, Bonnaroo, and Newport Folk Festival, among many others. Rolling Stone has described his music as “Timeless, forward-thinking rock & roll.” His 2017 LP, Undivided Heart & Soul, was released to widespread critical acclaim with NPR praising, “McPherson’s mastery of rock and soul fundamentals is beyond question, but his voice moves in wild ways on these songs, and the band exudes a new kind of risky energy.”

McPherson was born as the youngest child, growing up on the family’s cattle ranch near the town of Talihina. His father was a farmer, while his mother was a church minister. He took up the guitar at age 13.

“Where I actually grew up was just completely removed from anything resembling a town or a city. It was an hour away from the nearest supermarket. What that granted me was a lot of isolation and when you are bored you tend to work really hard on your interests. So it probably would have been a different story if I grew up in a town somewhere.”

He studied visual arts in college, earning a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Tulsa, and later worked as an art and technology teacher. McPherson taught middle school art for four years before embarking on a music career.

After deciding to pursue music more seriously, McPherson sent a demo to Jimmy Sutton of the small independent record label Hi-STYLE Records, which specialized in roots music. This was the start of a process that ultimately led to 2010's Signs and Signifiers. After its wider release through Rounder Records, Rolling Stone gave Signs and Signifiers a 3½ star (out of 5) review in November 2012 and labeled McPherson an "Artist to Watch."

McPherson’s sophomore LP, Let The Good Times Roll, was released on Rounder Records in 2015, showing McPherson with a wider musical range and an even stronger ability to weave the present with the past.

In 2018 McPherson released his breakthrough debut Christmas album, SOCKS, featuring 11 all-original Christmas songs, the album received overwhelming critical praise…

“JD McPherson is a vivid reinterpreter of the strutting rock ’n’ roll of the 1950s. His holiday album, SOCKS, is a collection of original songs with startlingly original conceits.”

The New York Times

SOCKS overflows with vintage rock & roll tidings of comfort and joy…You could easily fool someone into thinking you discovered a gem of an album from 60 years ago."

Rolling Stone

“It’s not really much of a contest, in the end: McPherson’s album is so far ahead of the rest of the 2018 pack, everyone else is having to eat his Christmas dust.”

Variety

JD is currently recording a covers project (four songs have already been released digitally - "Just Around The Corner" by Big Al Downing, "Lust For Life/Sixteen" by Iggy Pop. “Let’s Rock” by Art Neville and “Manta Ray” by The Pixies). This summer JD will be part of the Robert Plant and Alison Krauss touring band as well as opening the show with his own band, "I was eating a bowl of Count Chocula when I got the call to come do my best Grady Martin impression with this gang of legends. Honored to have been invited, more than I can express."

Past Shows


Dec
13
th
2023
Fine Line
Dec
13
th
2023
Fine Line

JD McPherson

SOCKS: A Rock N’ Roll Christmas Tour
with Joel Paterson
Dec
14
th
2021
The Cedar Cultural Center
Dec
14
th
2021
The Cedar Cultural Center

JD McPherson

SOCKS: A Rock ‘N’ Roll Christmas Tour
with Joel Paterson
Dec
12
th
2020
Livestream
Dec
12
th
2020
Livestream

JD McPherson

SOCKS: A Christmas Performance Livestream
Dec
20
th
2019
Mainroom
Dec
20
th
2019
Mainroom

JD McPherson

Socks: A Rock ‘n’ Roll Christmas Tour
with Joel Paterson
Nov
29
th
2018
Mainroom
Nov
29
th
2018
Mainroom

JD McPherson

with EDDIE ANGEL’S GUITAR PARTY
Jan
20
th
2018
Mainroom
Jan
20
th
2018
Mainroom

The Current’s 13th Birthday Party

ft. JD MCPHERSON, RON GALLO, LADY LARK, REINA DEL CID
Feb
13
th
2015
Mainroom
Feb
13
th
2015
Mainroom

JD McPherson

with Actual Wolf
Sep
10
th
2014
Turf Club
Sep
10
th
2014
Turf Club

JD McPherson

with The Cactus Blossoms
Sep
9
th
2014
Turf Club
Sep
9
th
2014
Turf Club

JD McPherson

with The Cactus Blossoms
Mar
10
th
2014
Turf Club
Mar
10
th
2014
Turf Club

JD McPherson

with The Cactus Blossoms
May
4
th
2013
Mainroom
May
4
th
2013
Mainroom

JD McPherson

with The Cactus Blossoms
Nov
29
th
2012
Mainroom
Nov
29
th
2012
Mainroom

JD McPherson

with Farewell Milwaukee
Jun
26
th
2012
Fine Line
Jun
26
th
2012
Fine Line

JD McPherson

with Sons of Fathers

More Shows

Jun
7
th
Amsterdam Bar & Hall

The Crane Wives

May
18
th
Turf Club

Neil Hamburger

with Chris Crofton
Apr
30
th
7th St Entry

Sawyer Hill

May
30
th
7th St Entry

Nothing Buy Joy, glowingtide, Radiator Girl, and Orthe