Ariel Posen

For Ariel Posen, songwriting and guitar playing have always gone hand-in-hand. He’s spent a decade building a bridge between those two worlds, balancing his work as a hotshot instrumentalist — including collaborations with everyone from John Mayer to Tom Jones — with solo albums rooted in melody and autobiographical storytelling. The result is a career that’s every bit as diverse as his music. With performances at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival, his own Fender Stratocaster signature model, and a powerful voice that matches his fretwork, Posen explores uncharted territory, blurring the lines between genre and generation along the way. 

Raised by musical parents in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Posen played guitar for hometown friends The Bros. Landreth — and won a Juno Award for the band’s first release, Let It Lie — before launching his solo career in 2019. Multiple solo records followed, showcasing an ever-evolving mix of rock & roll, R&B, Americana, and electrified roots music. Some albums were filled with tightly-constructed, vocally-driven songs. Others were collections of improvised guitar instrumentals. Together, they highlight a musician who continues to push ahead, chasing down new sounds while still honouring his roots.

For Ariel Posen, songwriting and guitar playing have always gone hand-in-hand. He’s spent a decade building a bridge between those two worlds, balancing his work as a hotshot instrumentalist — including collaborations with everyone from John Mayer to Tom Jones — with solo albums rooted in melody and autobiographical storytelling. The result is a career that’s every bit as diverse as his music. With performances at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival, his own Fender Stratocaster signature model, and a powerful voice that matches his fretwork, Posen explores uncharted territory, blurring the lines between genre and generation along the way. 

Raised by musical parents in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Posen played guitar for hometown friends The Bros. Landreth — and won a Juno Award for the band’s first release, Let It Lie — before launching his solo career in 2019. Multiple solo records followed, showcasing an ever-evolving mix of rock & roll, R&B, Americana, and electrified roots music. Some albums were filled with tightly-constructed, vocally-driven songs. Others were collections of improvised guitar instrumentals. Together, they highlight a musician who continues to push ahead, chasing down new sounds while still honouring his roots.