Most folks would simply describe Woodbridge as a "human jukebox." Playing acoustic guitar both solo and in bands for over 45 years allows him to do over 200 songs off the top of his head and probably that many again with a take-along electronic fake book. As a certified boomer, Woodbridge can perform anything from the Rolling Stones to Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen to Bruce Cockburn, Jim Croce to John Prine. His fave gigs are campfires, sing-a-longs, house parties, and corporate events where there's lots of interaction with his engaged audience and the creation of a memorable event is inevitable.
We were celebrating the Golden wedding anniversary of our brother and sister-in-law and we thought a low key musical tribute at our table at the restaurant before dinner would be ideal. Woodbridge was great to work with: responsive and readily avaiable to plan the song choices and generous with his time. He is a true entertainer and went out of his way to customize song lyrics for the occasion. He has a warm singing voice, is very versatile and he made everyone of us happy in his pleasant way. He is a true professional and has an excellent command of a range of music genres. Highly recommend.
Response from Woodbridge:
My goodness, Ginger! Such lovely words and sentiments! Thank you for them and for inviting me into your little party-of-five in honour of your pals' 50th wedding anniversary. I'm happy to have been of service and been part of some special memories on that milestone evening.
We hired Woodbridge to perform “Just Beyond the Moon” at a funeral. He learned the song in less than a week and performed it beautifully. He was so pleasant to work with, reliable, professional, I can’t say enough. We would definitely hire him again, but he’s headed to NS. They are so lucky to be getting him!
Response from Woodbridge:
Thanks for your kind words, Joelle. It was a pleasure and honour to be part of this event.
Excellent concert. Everyone enjoyed it very much.
We hired Woodbridge for our Canada Day gathering - the first allowed since restrictions limited our ability to have any parties. It was an amazing time had by all our guests and Ian was great for providing the entertainment. He accommodated many requests, read the crowd perfectly, and played longer when we requested he stay longer as everyone was having such a great time. He truly felt like part of the party versus a hired musician. Thank you Woodbridge - we can't wait to have you back!!!!
Response from Woodbridge:
Thanks for the kind words, Amanda and for hiring me. It really was a great "coming out" party after so many months of pandemic and you and Mike were both very gracious hosts, making me feel very welcome. I hope to perform for you and your friends again!
Ian was very kind, played longer than requested and took requests.
Response from Woodbridge:
Thanks for the lovely reference, Noemi. It'll really help me land more gigs. Blessings to you and Amir.
We hired Woodbridge for my 86 year old fathers Christmas celebration. He was so good with my parents involving them on the singing and song selection. Would definitely hire him again for future family functions . Great repotoire of songs
Response from Woodbridge:
Thank you so much, Karen, for your gracious review! I had a fantastic time entertaining your Dad and family and was happy to play some requests and have some of them join in the singing. I'm so glad we found each other!
Ian (Woodbridge) was a delightful highlight to our event. He is a talented performer and gave a show that delighted everyone present. His repertoire is extensive and he engages guests wonderfully, no matter their age or musical preferences. Would not hesitate to recommend or re-engage Ian.
Response from Woodbridge:
Barbara hired me to play around the campfire at her sweetie's birthday party. As it turned out, others were also having birthdays that day or a day or two before or after! We had to move indoors part way through because of rain, but that didn't dampen the spirits of anyone in my audience, many of which were happy to sing along with me. I was glad to take song requests from Barbara and her guests - and could satisfy the majority of them!
A gracious host, nice folks, and a lovely country setting. All in all, a splendid gig. Can I play at your next birthday, Barbara?!
Price Range: $250, less if it's a short gig
Gig Length: 45 - 120 minutes
Languages: English
Insurance: $1,000,000 - I can obtain this through the musicians' union - although it must be added to my performance cost.
Unions: AFM
Woodbridge expects the unexpected, so he'll be both prepared and not. That is, expect a guy that's probably NOT going to have a firm set list in his hand, written speculatively beforehand. Rather, he'll have a few lists and some resource materials (a fake book or two and a tablet computer) and will, on the fly, tailor the performance based on the audience and the vibe. He'll take requests and will likely be able to satisfy a few of them immediately - if they're not from the mainstream crap pop music of the past decade or two. And he will surprise you. Ever seen a guy in his late fifties perform Britney Spears' "Oops..." on an acoustic guitar?!
Woodbridge (AKA Ian Bowden) taught himself how to play the guitar at age 14 and has never been away from one for more than a couple of weeks the rest of his entire life. He's also learned octave mandolin, mandola, Irish bouzouki, cello, and a few other instruments in the past decade or two. Fortunately, he has an insatiable appetite for learning new songs - especially those of his youth (1965-85), which he considers the golden era of popular music - and adds to his repertoire each month. Having a decent singing voice and a good musical ear has helped this quest.
Naturally gregarious and happy to play in front of a crowd of a dozen or a thousand, Woodbridge often will put a different musical twist on a familiar pop or rock song. This allows the crowd to join in singing to a song they know, but interpreted in a different style.
Can you see me? Can I see you? To me, lighting isn't as important as sound, so...
If your event is relatively small (e.g. campfire or house party), you're probably going to get just me, my relatively loud speaking and singing voices, and my acoustic guitar. If it's bigger, I'll bring along a single amp and microphone - enough to amplify myself into a small room (e.g. restaurant). If you're in a hall or a larger space, then I'll bring my complete PA system and everyone will be able to hear me!
| August 04, 2023 • 7:00pm - 7:15pm | Anniversary Party |
| September 03, 2022 • 2:00pm - 3:00pm | Funeral/Memorial Service |
| July 23, 2022 • 8:00pm - 9:00pm | Festival |
| June 11, 2022 • 12:00pm - 3:00pm | Corporate Event |
| July 01, 2021 • 5:00pm - 8:00pm | Personal Occasion |
| September 30, 2018 • 4:30pm - 6:00pm | Birthday Party |
| December 18, 2016 • 1:00pm - 2:30pm | Holiday Party (Christmas) |
Rather than give you a set list - which is quite limiting - I'd prefer to provide you with my repertoire, which is considerably broader and more eclectic.
A few years ago, I sat down and made a repertoire list. Since then, I keep remembering other songs I remember - and most often, I don't remember to add them to the list! If you want to see the list, just ask!
Bruce Cockburn
Bruce Springsteen
John Prine
Steve Goodman
Arlo Guthrie
Neil Young
Jim Croce
The Rolling Stones
The Beatles
I can bring along whatever amplification equipment is required for everyone to hear my performance.
Denver, CO 
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27 Verified Bookings Beverly H. said “We had just a small group of family and friends. Some had gone through some difficult times recently and this was such a happy time for them. John was…”
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4 Verified Bookings Lisa B. said “We hired Joe to perform at our wedding and are we ever glad that we did! Leading up to the event Joe was the ultimate professional. He was responsive,…”
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