Electronic Press Kit
G. Ken
Holman
Intimate acoustic performance focused on the storytelling tradition of classic singer-songwriters.
Enquire about bookingWestboro, Ottawa, Canada · GKHmusic.ca@gmail.com
Electronic Press Kit
Intimate acoustic performance focused on the storytelling tradition of classic singer-songwriters.
Enquire about bookingWestboro, Ottawa, Canada · GKHmusic.ca@gmail.com
About
For more than half a century — 54 years and counting — Ken Holman has had a guitar in his hands. What has kept him coming back is not the instrument itself but what it carries: the words. He is, first and always, a songwriter's singer.
Based in Westboro, Ottawa, Canada, Ken performs solo acoustic music drawn from the golden era of popular song: the 1950s through the 1980s. Radio hits, crooner ballads, and the great singer-songwriter canon sit alongside themed sets — a Western evening, a night of TV themes, show tunes — and dedicated tribute performances honouring Kris Kristofferson, Gordon Lightfoot, and Jim Croce, three writers whose words have mattered most to him.
He brings the same spirit of engagement to retirement communities, restaurant patrons, festival stages, and open mic nights: attentive, unaffected, focused on the song. When the occasion calls for a leprechaun hat and a shamrock shirt, he will supply those too.
Beyond music, Ken is a humanitarian volunteer in East Africa with a Canadian NGO, and a world-recognized expert in XML document standards whose career has taken him to conferences on every continent. He and his wife Kathryn make their home in the Ottawa area.
Listen
Better recordings are in production and will be added here as they become available.
A second clip, posted by an open mic host following a recent performance.
Watch on FacebookWhat I offer
All programmes are available as featured stage performances or background dinner music — please indicate your preference when enquiring.
Format 1
A curated selection drawn from across the classic era repertoire — 1950s through 1980s pop hits, ballads, and singer-songwriter staples.
Format 2
A full set dedicated to the catalogue of a single artist. Current tribute programmes:
Format 3
Programmatic sets built around a single theme. Current themed programmes:
Format 4
Audience-driven and participatory. Attendees choose the order. Current singalong programmes:
Format 5
Tailored programming for retirement home and memory care audiences, with repertoire chosen for familiarity, engagement, and warmth.
Repertoire
Song titles shown are representative samples only. Full set lists available on request.
Availability
Past and upcoming performances are shown below. Use this calendar to check availability before making an enquiry.
[ Google Calendar embed — to be configured ]
Booked dates, past performances, and open availability will appear here.
Gallery
Danby's 2026-03-30
Danby's 2026-03-30
Danby's 2026-03-30
Danby's 2026-03-30
Brews and Blues 2026-03-25
St. Patrick's Day 2026
Testimonials
Testimonials to be added with permission from past hosts and clients.
References available on request — GKHmusic.ca@gmail.com
Booking policy
All performances support Project TEMBO. In lieu of the performance fee, hosts are invited to make a donation of their choosing directly to this registered Canadian charity, for which they will receive an official tax receipt.
No rate is set. A fair contribution is appreciated. The charity — and the audiences — are the beneficiaries.
Contact
For booking enquiries, please include the proposed date, venue, approximate audience size, and which performance format interests you. An advance YouTube Music playlist will be provided for every confirmed booking.
A note about the instrument
Nashipai is a custom 12-string acoustic guitar, built in collaboration with Jeff McKay of McKay Guitars in Shanly, Ontario. The design elements were proposed by Ken and refined by Jeff — a genuine partnership between musician and luthier.
The name Nashipai is Maasai in origin, reflecting Ken's long connection with East Africa through his humanitarian work. The guitar's Maasai-patterned strap makes that connection visible on stage.
Ken has played 12-string guitar for 54 years. Nashipai arrived four weeks ago. The relationship is new; the voice is not.
