Hello,

I first heard Dan many years ago during the Lunenburg Folk Festival. He did quite a few of Stan's songs during his performance that year. What pleased me most was Dan's own material that year. Dan is a truly gifted artist but like several others I know he's a victim of the Stan stigma. Anyone who's heard Dan makes the comparison. I think that it does more harm than good. Dan's ability as both a singer and songwriter have long since been over shadowed by folks looking for a Stan clone. Dan's material is exceptional and he's worked hard to pay his dues and establish his own identity. I'd much rather hear folks simply accept him for what he creates as an artist. He's one of the finest people I've met and as I said gifted with his own contribution of original material.

I'm sure Dan admires Stan as much as all of his fans do. I'm also fairly sure he'd love one evening or show of his material to be heard as a creator of unique well crafted material delivered by one of the purest folk singer songwriters Nova Scotia Canada has ever layed claim to. I'm also very sure he'd like to be part of Stanfest as a gifted singer song writer and not simply someone who sings Stan's songs well.

There will only ever be one Stan. There is only one Dan McKinnon and he will be reckoned with in the years ahead.

Jim