All Instrumental Self-Produced and Performed Solo Album
Debut Trio album W/Justin Avdek-Bass, Mario Copeland- Drums
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Pedal Steel/Lead/Bass VI Guitars on the new Carrie McFerrin release- Postpartum
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,Justin Wierenga may be the ultimate sideman. This incredibly talented guitarist who grew up in New Era and now calls Grand Rapids home, has for years been an in-demand musician for artists such as Hannah Rose & The GravesTones, Justin Avdek’s Underground Circus, Cosmic Knot and Muruga Booker, always providing amazing textures and guitar enhancements to a wide variety and styles of rock and blues and more. Well, now, he’s finally released his first solo album “Walking Like He Knows Something” which is chock full of instrumental gems that span rock, folk, bluegrass, funk, country and avant garde music. (Stateside Staff, Michigan NPR)
Justin Wierenga is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, band leader and session musician with a primary focus in guitar, pedal/lap steel guitar, and dobro. After playing professionally for over a decade in many styles of music, from country and bluegrass, to rock, metal, funk, jazz, reggae, new age and world music, Wierenga has forged a unique, singular voice for himself whether he be playing lap/pedal steel/bass or regular guitars, or any of the numerous instruments he plays.
Not all rock stars have a spiritual transcendental newness and originality to their music, Justin does. His music is creative, entertaining and introspective, and can rock the house as well. He's got the creativity of a jazz musician and the aura of a star. He not only plays his own original music, but he also can make the guitar he plays it on, and creates large soundscapes with the effects he uses with it. (Muruga Booker- 1991 Hiroshima Voice for Peace Award Recipient and world renowned percussionist and drummer who has recorded with Weather Report, Jerry Garcia, Merle Saunders, Paul Winter Consort, George Clinton & P-Funk, Babatunde Olatunji and many more.)
In 2019, Wierenga released his own original material on the debut album Walking Like He Knows Something, an all instrumental undertaking. The album features Wierenga on guitars, Justin Avdek on bass, and Mario Copeland on drums. In March 2020, Wierenga's 2nd album, Rides Again... For The First Time was released on the Bandcamp platform.
Currently Wierenga performs live with several groups on pedal/lap/bass/bass vi/dobro and regular guitars, and performs live as a solo guitarist.
Hit play on Justin Wierenga’s new album “Walking Like He Knows Something” and the album title seems more than apropos: Wierenga definitely knows something. Wierenga, usually a sideman for many West Michigan artists, knows how to make a distinct and skilled instrumental album. “Marshville” is the album’s strolling intro, with a gentle guitar leading into “The Wizard’s Bag,” an at-times disorienting but surprising and amusing song. The album continues to carry this sporadic quality throughout and, overall, is pure, plotted mayhem. Each song lends itself to the next, sometimes flowing seamlessly between two different tracks without detection. Still, each song has its own energy, sound and chaotic twist. A notable track, “Fresh Dirt,” one of the least intense roller-coaster songs, moves from slow, almost meditative rock into a full, rapid production with various instruments, yet never takes on the same push for attention like “I’ll Have My Own Coffee, Thanks.” Wierenga manages to piece together and execute these songs in a way that makes them sound like more than just a hodgepodge of creative improvisation. The album’s closing – and shortest – track, “Marshville Fireflies,” picks up the tone of “Marshville,” and leaves listeners feeling quite like walking up to their own house after a long, crazy, whirlwind day. – (Olivia Menchaca)
Justin Wierenga is the ultimate sideman. This talented guitarist, who grew up in New Era and now calls Grand Rapids home, has for years been an in-demand musician for artists such as Hannah Rose & The GravesTones, Justin Avdek’s Underground Circus, Cosmic Knot and Muruga Booker, always providing amazing textures and guitar enhancements to a wide variety and styles of rock and blues and more. Now, he’s finally released his first solo album (“Walking Like He Knows Something”) which is chock full of instrumental gems that span rock, folk, bluegrass, funk, country and avant garde music. He’s joined by longtime musical comrades Justin Avdek on bass and Mario Copeland on drums, partly because these players have a special bond. This is one of those musicians who’s a vintage and custom gear lover because he’s always searching for the perfect sound for his projects and for those of other artists. - (John Sinkevics)
If there is one thing you can’t put Justin Wierenga in, it’s a box. From solo, ambient looping concerts to bluegrass pickin’ to jazz fusion, Wierenga has made a name for himself as a fiercely unique guitarist among his peers. This album showcases a variety of sounds and styles, with Wierenga's trio rounded out by fellow genre benders Justin Avdek on bass and Hayaman Mana Tzach on drums. From track to track, you get a flurry of riffs, ambient twang, crazy sonic textures, slamming drums and beefy bass. I couldn’t help but smile at this record, as I’ve known these three musicians for years and to hear their talents combining on Wierenga’s releases is awesome to see! If you’re a fan of shameless shredding, funky grooves, and prog rock that pushes you as a listener as much as it pushed the musicians on the record, then check out the recently released album! - (Dutcher Snedeker)
Justin also taught at the 2022 Aquinas Jazz Camp, leading the private jazz guitar instruction and a small ensemble.
List of some Artists Justin has shared the stage on guitar, dobro, bass, lap/pedal steel, keys or percussion with-
List of some Artists Justin has Recorded With-
Some Festivals/Events Played-
Justin Wierenga is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, band leader and session musician with a primary focus in guitar, pedal/lap steel guitar, and dobro. After playing professionally for over a decade in many styles of music, from country and bluegrass, to rock, metal, funk, jazz, reggae, new age and world music, Wierenga has forged a unique, singular voice for himself whether he be playing lap/pedal steel/bass or regular guitars, or any of the numerous instruments he plays.
Not all rock stars have a spiritual transcendental newness and originality to their music, Justin does. His music is creative, entertaining and introspective, and can rock the house as well. He's got the creativity of a jazz musician and the aura of a star. He not only plays his own original music, but he also can make the guitar he plays it on, and creates large soundscapes with the effects he uses with it. (Muruga Booker- 1991 Hiroshima Voice for Peace Award Recipient and world renowned percussionist and drummer who has recorded with Weather Report, Jerry Garcia, Merle Saunders, Paul Winter Consort, George Clinton & P-Funk, Babatunde Olatunji and many more.)
In 2019, Wierenga released his own original material on the debut album Walking Like He Knows Something, an all instrumental undertaking. The album features Wierenga on guitars, Justin Avdek on bass, and Mario Copeland on drums. In March 2020, Wierenga's 2nd album, Rides Again... For The First Time was released on the Bandcamp platform.
Currently Wierenga performs live with several groups on pedal/lap/bass/bass vi/dobro and regular guitars, and performs live as a solo guitarist.
Hit play on Justin Wierenga’s new album “Walking Like He Knows Something” and the album title seems more than apropos: Wierenga definitely knows something. Wierenga, usually a sideman for many West Michigan artists, knows how to make a distinct and skilled instrumental album. “Marshville” is the album’s strolling intro, with a gentle guitar leading into “The Wizard’s Bag,” an at-times disorienting but surprising and amusing song. The album continues to carry this sporadic quality throughout and, overall, is pure, plotted mayhem. Each song lends itself to the next, sometimes flowing seamlessly between two different tracks without detection. Still, each song has its own energy, sound and chaotic twist. A notable track, “Fresh Dirt,” one of the least intense roller-coaster songs, moves from slow, almost meditative rock into a full, rapid production with various instruments, yet never takes on the same push for attention like “I’ll Have My Own Coffee, Thanks.” Wierenga manages to piece together and execute these songs in a way that makes them sound like more than just a hodgepodge of creative improvisation. The album’s closing – and shortest – track, “Marshville Fireflies,” picks up the tone of “Marshville,” and leaves listeners feeling quite like walking up to their own house after a long, crazy, whirlwind day. – (Olivia Menchaca)
Justin Wierenga is the ultimate sideman. This talented guitarist, who grew up in New Era and now calls Grand Rapids home, has for years been an in-demand musician for artists such as Hannah Rose & The GravesTones, Justin Avdek’s Underground Circus, Cosmic Knot and Muruga Booker, always providing amazing textures and guitar enhancements to a wide variety and styles of rock and blues and more. Now, he’s finally released his first solo album (“Walking Like He Knows Something”) which is chock full of instrumental gems that span rock, folk, bluegrass, funk, country and avant garde music. He’s joined by longtime musical comrades Justin Avdek on bass and Mario Copeland on drums, partly because these players have a special bond. This is one of those musicians who’s a vintage and custom gear lover because he’s always searching for the perfect sound for his projects and for those of other artists. - (John Sinkevics)
If there is one thing you can’t put Justin Wierenga in, it’s a box. From solo, ambient looping concerts to bluegrass pickin’ to jazz fusion, Wierenga has made a name for himself as a fiercely unique guitarist among his peers. This album showcases a variety of sounds and styles, with Wierenga's trio rounded out by fellow genre benders Justin Avdek on bass and Hayaman Mana Tzach on drums. From track to track, you get a flurry of riffs, ambient twang, crazy sonic textures, slamming drums and beefy bass. I couldn’t help but smile at this record, as I’ve known these three musicians for years and to hear their talents combining on Wierenga’s releases is awesome to see! If you’re a fan of shameless shredding, funky grooves, and prog rock that pushes you as a listener as much as it pushed the musicians on the record, then check out the recently released album! - (Dutcher Snedeker)
Justin also taught at the 2022 Aquinas Jazz Camp, leading the private jazz guitar instruction and a small ensemble.
List of some Artists Justin has shared the stage on guitar, dobro, bass, lap/pedal steel, keys or percussion with-
- Mark Lavengood Band
- Carrie McFerrin
- Ralston Bowles
- Earth Radio
- The Local Commuters
- Carrie McFerrin & The McFerrinheits
- Ryan Whyte Maloney
- Luke Lenhart Band
- Benzing Graves Collective
- Muruga Booker
- Martha Reeves
- Andre Foxxe/Psychedelic Ghetto Pimps
- Sheila Horne (Amuka)
- Lindsay Lou
- Dennis Coffey
- Speak Easy
- Cosmic Knot
- Rick Chyme
- Cameron Blake
- Eric Engblade
- Dutcher Snedeker
- Deerfield Run
- The Legal Immigrants
- Ben Erhart
- Emery Plews Band
- Hannah Rose and the Gravestones
- Earth Radio
- Brad Fritcher's Moods
- Travis Swanson
- Justin Avdek
- Emery Plews Band
- Megan Dooley
- The Dead Shepards
- Chordis Bell
- The Underground Circus
- Kyle Brown and THC
- Whiskey Bound
- Lynn Thompson
List of some Artists Justin has Recorded With-
- Muruga Booker
- Carrie McFerrin
- Nathan Walton
- Deerfield Run
- The Heiden Underground
- Bobby Jacobs & The Willoughby Band
- The Local Commuters
- Eli Kahn
- Jesse Cline
- Eric Engblade
- Diff and Dudley
- Hannah Rose Graves
- Brad Fritcher
- Cosmic Knot
- Justin Avdek
- Lynn Thompson
- Dutcher Snedeker
- Geoff Lamden
- Emery Plews Band
- The Underground Circus
- Chordis Bell
Some Festivals/Events Played-
- Electric Forest 2022
- Hoxeyville Music Festival
- Cowpie Music Festival
- Meijer Gardens Concert Series
- Hash Bash
- Beaver Island Music Festival
- Pond Jam Music Festival
- Freebird Music Festival
- Torch Lake Campout
- Sounds of the Zoo
- Thunder Bay Folk Festival
- Smoky Run Music Festival
- Big Fam
- Starwood
- Earthwork Harvest Gathering
- Buttermilk Jamboree
- Cowpie Music Festival
- Muskegon Summer Celebration
- Festival Of The Angry Bear
Photos-
- A Tiny Place Photography
- Thunder Bay Folk Society
- Sarah Reimink
- Nathan Purchase