Giles Ponticello
- Powell, OH
- Singing Guitarist
- 17 Verified Bookings
Michael W. said “Giles was a great entertainer. He showed up early to set up, brought all of his own equipment, and started on time. He did a great job choosing songs…”
Your list is empty.
Save musicians, entertainers, speakers, and services, and they’ll appear here.
An acoustic guitarist, who found his roots in Singer/Songwriters such as James Taylor, John Denver, Jackson Browne and the like. An optimistic, angst-free, and relevant music style with a lot of fingerpicking and some moderate strumming.
Available for your backyard parties, corporate events, Family Reunions, weddings, get-togethers, festivals, or even your living rooms. Very versatile and able to design a set according to the needs of the audience. Looking forward to hearing from you!
**I am fully supportive and available to perform music for LGBTQIA+ weddings. Love is Love.**
My husband and I booked Dan for our combined 50th birthday party. It was an outdoor event with around 80 guests. The music was phenomenal. Dan's skill at creating a vibrant, "feel good" atmosphere was just what we needed at our celebration. He is relaxed, accomplished, and plays original music along with well-known favorites. We have talked about making this an annual event and could not imagine it being the same without Dan's artistry.
Dan Heidt performed music for our wedding ceremony and our day time reception. There really are not enough words to describe how talented Dan is! He has a beautiful voice and is a brilliant guitar player. He was key part in making our wedding day so special. All our guests commented on how beautiful, joyful and fun his music was. He was a pleasure to work with and made sure all our wedding music dreams came true. He went above and beyond what we ever expected. He learned several new songs just for our wedding day, brought his own sound system to our venue, and he even traveled to our out of town venue just for our rehearsal. He always responded promptly (very important to a bride to be :) ) and was extremely positive and professional. I hope I can hire him for another event in the future! He can certainly consider my husband and me life long fans and supporters.
Obviously, I will rate the "normal items" first: professional--YES, courteous--YES, timely--YES, great music--YES, communicated well--YES. Dan played a back-yard, neighborhood party. He took the party to a new level through his great music. I felt guilty taking the accolades for a great event---when in reality it was Dan's music and interaction with our guest. Now nearly a week after the party, I am still having guests tell me how he made the night special. And perhaps the best compliment---his songs are still going through my head! I would definitely recommend for your event---but if you can't wait that long--go watch and listen to him play when he is out and about! I am---and I know many of my guests are going to do the same!
My wife and I first encountered Dan at the 2015 German Village Art Crawl and were immediately captivated by the beauty of his music and the sincerity of his style. We stood mesmerized as each tune rolled off his guitar perfectly complemented by his dulcet voice. We purchased a copy of "The View from up Here" and vowed to have him play at a future event in our lives. I played the CD regularly and introduced the songs to my grandkids, especially my all time favorite, "Treehouses".
Well the event appeared. Once a year my company hosts an international conference and learning event, the Powder Coating Summit. We hold it downtown in our lab and across the street at the Westin Great Southern. Our guests were entertained by a couple sets of lovely music performed by Dan in our lab after the more formal reception at the hotel. We received compliment after compliment for arranging such a great performer that brought smiles to their faces.
Response from Dan Heidt:
Thanks so much Kevin. It really was a treat for me to be with you all!
Dan made our daughters wedding ceremony more then special. His timing was impeccable and his music was absolutely beautiful. We received many, many compliments!
Thank you Dan for a flawless performance and we're sooo happy that you were there!
Dan performed for a private event at our home this past weekend and was phenomenal! From the moment he arrived, he was professional, knew how to handle the area with setup and such (he doesn't need much room!) and just knocked it out of the park! In fact, the following day one of our neighbors who was not at our event came over to thank us for having such a wonderful concert - she had opened her doors and windows to enjoy Dan's music!! We will definitely be asking Dan back for another event!! Highly recommend him if you are in the market for some excellent singer-songwriter (think Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Jim Croce, John Denver) performances!
Dan played excellent background music for our outdoor portion of the wedding reception He was very professional, on time and reasonable I highly recommend him for entertainment and would hire him again in a heart beat
Dan Heidt is such an amazing talent and great to work with!
Hired Dan for a house party. He's an incredible musician, singer, and entertainer. Flexible to work with and a great guy. Everyone loved him - I will hire him again.
Response from Dan Heidt:
Thanks, Patrick! So glad to have had a chance to play for you and your great family and friends. It really was a great time!
Dan played at our end of summer bash party the last two years and he is absolutely phenomenal!! His voice is so incredibly clear his guitar playing fantastic. We'be already asked for him to come
back to play for our Christmas party as well. Truly a naturally gifted musician and a great person. We consider him an awesome musician and friend....
Book him!! (Just not on any days we're considering...lol)
Response from Dan Heidt:
Thanks, Danielle! It really was a blast. Looking forward to December! :-)
Dan was all around excellent! He responded to emails in a timely manner, learned "our song" for us, and arrived early to be ready for our wedding. I appreciated being able to listen to some examples of his work on YouTube prior to booking. The day was beautiful and the music flowed beautifully through the ceremony. I would definitely use Dan again for a future event and HIGHLY recommend him!
Response from Dan Heidt:
Thanks, Denny! What a perfect day! Congrats and best wishes to you both for happy life together!
Dan was awesome, crowd loved it! Sound was perfect and music was relevant, I plan on booking Dan again.
Birthday / Anniversary event. 54 guests. We are very pleased with Dan Heidt. On time. Pleasant, professional, friendly. Very good singing voice. Performed the songs we requested. All our guests enjoyed his singing and guitar playing. We would hire Dan again.
Dan performed on 6/28/14 for my company party - around 15 individuals. Dan's performance was exceptional, bringing both orginal and hit tunes to the venue. Dan is an accomplished guitar player and has an amazing voice. Dan was the consumate professional and had my guests dancing in the isles within minutes. He's truly amazing.
Dan did a fantastic job on a cover of a not well known song for our daughters wedding (father/daughter dance)! A true professional, easy to work with, etc. Not to mention, he is an excellent, innovative guitarist with a strong yet melodic voice. An excellent choice for any function. Thanks Dan!!
We have actually had Dan out for two different events. Both times, he was absolutely fantastic, leaving our guests raving about the entertainment and asking where they could find his music. In regard to the booking process, Dan was easy to reach, quite pleasant to work with, always professional, and his rates were very reasonable. I would wholeheartedly recommend Dan Heidt for any event you are planning.
Dan Heidt is a class act. An amazing finger style acoustic player with a voice like James Taylor. I can't wait to hire him again! Definitely a crowd please'r!
Dan is an excellent performer. The crowd agreed with that assesment.
Price Range: $250 and up
Gig Length: 60 - 240 minutes
Languages: English
I am a singer and songwriter. My range is wide, meaning I can keep it at a low and level with fingerpicking softer melodies, or can strum up some blues or folk with heavier lyrics and tone. I am versatile and can adjust the set according to the needs of the audience. I take every performance seriously and professionally, but I also truly have fun each time I play. I make it a rule to be at least 30 minutes early in order to be completely set up and ready to play when I am scheduled to begin.
I am a guitar player and singer/songwriter who has a handful of originals, but mostly play covers of songs from that Singer/Songwriter genre. My style is positive. I don't get political and I don't get depressing. The music can be summed up as "optimistic", I guess.
I have had great opportunities over the years to play in really neat venues. From Small Town Celebrations to Backyard Bonfires, I've played them all. Most notably, I was fortunate enough to provide the music for the James Taylor/Carole King Pre-Show Party in 2011 at the Schottenstein Center, here in Columbus, just before their concert, and then again when James brought his solo act to Columbus in 2014 and in 2018.
I have been playing guitar since I was about 11 years old. My father showed me the G, C, and D7 chord, and I took it from there. I listened to a lot of music growing up, and can remember long car rides as a kid on vacation in the backseat listening to John Denver, Kenny Rogers, and Loretta Lynn telling vivid stories through music, which I was able to play back in my mind's projector. I remember really liking what I was hearing, and today I am happy that I am able to tell others' stories and my own stories through music.
I would love to hear from you concerning an event you might have that I could be a good fit for.
In terms of equipment, I use at least one acoustic Taylor guitar (714CE, sometimes I bring a second Taylor 610CE LTD , with additional tunings), one 60 watt amp (or one 200 watt amp, depending on the venue size), one mic stand and mic, plus a small harmonizing effects pedal and a small sound mixer. I pack pretty light, and can normally get from my car to the setup spot in one trip without assistance.
April 14, 2018 • 7:30pm - 8:15pm | Dinner Party |
November 04, 2017 • 6:00pm - 10:00pm | Personal Occasion |
January 23, 2016 • 7:00pm - 8:30pm | Birthday (Adult) |
July 18, 2015 • 6:00pm - 10:30pm | Wedding Reception |
May 23, 2015 • 4:30pm - 6:30pm | Wedding Ceremony |
January 29, 2015 • 6:00pm - 9:00pm | Fundraiser |
June 22, 2014 • 2:00pm - 4:00pm | Anniversary Party |
June 07, 2014 • 7:00pm - 8:30pm | Private Party |
September 07, 2013 • 6:30pm - 6:45pm | Wedding Reception |
By no means in any order aside from alphabetical... Here is a list of some of the songs I perform:
(Scroll to the Bottom for a list of a few wedding-specific favorites)
After the Goldrush: Neil Young
All Along the Watchtower: Bob Dylan
All Of Me: Frank Sinatra
All Of Me: John Legend
America: Simon & Garfunkel
Angel From Montgomery: John Prine
Another Song From That Summer: Dan Heidt (DH)
At Last: Etta James
Blue Moon: Rogers & Hart
Boulevard of Broken Dreams: Green Day
Bridge over Troubled Water: Simon & Garfunkel
Can’t Help Falling In Love With You: Elvis Presley
Caledonia: Dougie MacLean
Carolina in My Mind: James Taylor (JT)
Come Monday: Jimmy Buffet
Come Together: The Beatles
Copperline: JT
Country Road: JT
Country Roads Take Me Home: John Denver
Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight: JT
Drift Away: Dobie Gray
Fire & Rain: JT
Fishing in the Dark: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Folsom Prison Blues: Johnny Cash
For a Dancer: Jackson Browne
Friend of the Devil: Grateful Dead
Friends in Low Places: Garth Brooks
Frosty Panic: DH
Frozen man: JT
Go Down Moses: DH
Goin’ Down The Road Feeling Bad: Grateful Dead
The Greatest: Kenny Rogers
Handyman: JT
Happy Together: The Turtles
Have You Ever seen the Rain: CCR
Heartache Tonight: Eagles
Here Comes the Sun The Beatles
Hey Jude: The Beatles
Hotel California: Eagles
If We Were Vampires: Jason Isbell
I Want to Hold Your Hand: The Beatles
I Will Be Here: Stephen Curtis Chapman
I Won’t Back Down: Tom Petty
I’ll Be There: Jackson 5
I’m Sailing Away: Styx
I’ve just seen a Face: The Beatles
Imagine: John Lennon
Into the Mystic: Van Morrison
Jack & Diane: John Cougar Mellencamp
The Joker: Steve Miller Band
Knee Deep: Zac Brown Band
Lady in Red: Chris DeBurgh
Last Dance with Mary Jane: Tom Petty
Lean on Me: Bill Withers
Let It Be: The Beatles
Letters in the Dirt: Chuck Brodsky
Life in a Northern Town: Dream Academy
Lighthouse: JT
Live & Die: The Avett Brothers
Love Me Two Times: The Doors
Lovesong: The Cure
Margaritaville: Jimmy Buffet
Marry Me: Train
Mary Jane’s Last Dance: Tom Petty
Me & Julio Down by the Schoolyard: Simon & Garfunkel
Mightnight Special: CCR
Murdered in the City: The Avett Brothers
Old Time Rock & Roll: Bob Seger
On Your Side: DH
Orphan Girl: Gillian Welch
Overkill: Colin Hay
Painting: DH
Paradise: John Prine
Peaceful Easy Feeling: Eagles
People Are Strange: The Doors
Piano Man: Billy Joel
Please Come to Boston: Dave Loggins
Poems, Prayers & Promises: John Denver
Ramblin Man: Allman Brothers Band
Ring of Fire: Johnny Cash
Roadhouse Blues: The Doors
Rockin’ in the Free World: Neil Young
Rocky Mountain High: John Denver
Rocky Top: Traditional
Send Me on My Way: Rusted Root
Should I Stay or Should I Go: The Clash
Something in the Way She Moves: JT
Something in the Way She Moves: The Beatles
Somewhere Over the Rainbow: Trad.
Song for Adam: Jackson Browne
Speechless: DH
Stand By Me: Ben E. King
Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For: U2
Summer in the City: Lovin’ Spoonful
Summertime: Gershwin
Sunshine on my Shoulders: John Denver
Superman: Five for Fighting
Sweet Baby James: JT
Sweet Home Alabama: Lynyrd Skynryd
Take it Easy: Eagles
The Way You Look Tonight: Frank Sinatra / Michael Buble
Thinking Out Loud: Ed Sheeran
This Love Will Carry Me: Dougie MacLean
This Old Guitar: John Denver
‘Til there was You: Meredith Wilson
To Make You feel My Love: Bob Dylan
Treehouses: Dan Heidt (DH)
Turn the Page: Bob Seger
Under the Boardwalk: The Drifters
Unknown Legend: Neil Young
Up on the Roof: Carole King
Vincent: Don McLean
Waiting: DH
Wasted on the Way: Crosby Stills & Nash
The Water is Wide: JT / Traditional
We are Each Other’s Angels: Chuck Brodsky
The Weight: The Band
What a Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong
When I Say I Do: Matthew West
When You Say Nothing At All: Allison Kraus
Wildflowers: Tom Petty
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow: Carole King
You can Close Your Eyes: JT
You Swept me Away: The Avett Brothers
You Were Always on My Mind: Willie Nelson
You’ve Got A Friend: Carole King / JT
Your Song: Elton John
Your Wildest Dreams: Moody Blues
Songs Popular for Weddings (Include but certainly are not limited to):
All Of Me: John Legend
At Last: Etta James
Bridge Over Troubled Water: Simon & Garfunkel
Can’t Help Falling In Love With You: Elvis Presley
Cinderella: Steven Curtis Chapman
Danny’s song: Kenny Loggins
I Will Be Here: Steven Curtis Chapman
If We Were Vampires: Jason Isbell
It’s Your Love: Tim McGraw
Lovesong: The Cure
Make you Feel my Love: Bob Dylan
Marry Me: Train
Marry You: Bruno Mars
Stay With You: John Legend
The Way You Look Tonight: Frank Sinatra / Michael Buble
‘Til there was You: Meredith Wilson
Thinking Out Loud: Ed Sheeran
We are Each Other’s Angels: Chuck Brodsky
When I Say I Do: Matthew West
When You Say Nothing At All: Allison Kraus
You Swept Me Away: The Avett Brothers
Your Song: Elton John
James Taylor, John Denver, Jackson Browne, David Wilcox, Graham Nash, Carol King, Chuck Brodsky, so many others.
no specific requirements other than access to an electrical source.
Michael W. said “Giles was a great entertainer. He showed up early to set up, brought all of his own equipment, and started on time. He did a great job choosing songs…”
Michael T. said “Besides being a fantastic singer and musician, Austin related well to the audience and captivated all. We went into this event hoping our guests would…”
Johny R. said “Stefan took on a tough job singing for my friend at her birthday trail ride. He could not have handled the challenges any better and the music was great.”
Over 40 years of experience entertaining patrons in all types of venues. I play over 300 songs ranging from Classic Rock, Reggae, and New and Classic Country! I…