Durham County Poets

Durham County Poets are a true band in every sense of the  word—dynamic, versatile, and deeply rooted in storytelling. Formed in 2011 in a small café in Ormstown, Québec, their music has since carried them to festivals, concert halls, and clubs across Canada and the United States. With an infectious love for songwriting and performance, the Poets have carved out a unique place on the Canadian roots and blues scene, weaving together blues, soul, folk, R&B, gospel, and Canadiana into a sound that is both timeless and distinctly their own.

At the heart of the Poets is the warm, soul-stirring voice of Kevin Harvey, whose expressive delivery has been called a Canadian treasure. Harvey, who has used a wheelchair since 1981, refuses to let physical challenges define or confine him. His presence radiates strength, humor, and spirit, embodying the band’s ethos of resilience and community.  Harvey is joined by Carl Rufh (bass), Rob Couture (drums), and Rob MacDonald (guitar), with saxophonists Mark Leclerc and Kaven Jalbert appearing regularly as guests, adding fire and texture to the band’s rich sound.

The Poets’ debut album, Where the River Flows, was a grassroots success, recorded with the help of volunteers and fueled by peanut-butter sandwiches. It laid the foundation for their reputation as authentic songwriters and performers. With the support of a growing team, they released Chickaboodah Stew and Grimshaw Road, further honing their craft and expanding their reach.

Their fourth album, Hand Me Down Blues (2019), remained on the Roots Music Report’s Canadian Top 50 for over 12 months and earned a 2020 JUNO Award nomination for Blues Album of the Year. It also brought Maple Blues Award nominations for Recording/Producer of the Year (Bill Garrett) and Songwriter of the Year (Kevin Harvey).

The band’s growing list of honors includes:

• 2022 Maple Blues Awards: Male Vocalist of the Year (Kevin Harvey – nomination)
• 2022 Penguin Eggs/Roots Music Canada Critics’ List: #4 Album of the Year (Out of the Woods)
• 2021 Maple Blues Awards: Producer of the Year (Bill Garrett – nomination); Songwriter of the Year (Kevin Harvey – nomination)
• 2020 JUNO Awards: Blues Album of the Year (Hand Me Down Blues – nomination)
• 2020 Canadian Folk Music Awards: Traditional Singer of the Year (Kevin Harvey – nomination)
• 2019 Maple Blues Awards: New Group of the Year (nomination)
• 2019 Blues and Roots Radio: Top-5 Folk Song of the Year (Help Me to Change)

In 2022, the Poets released Out of the Woods, produced by Bill Garrett, which received widespread acclaim and landed on multiple Top 40, Top 20, and Top 10 “Best Album of the Year” lists. The album showcases their versatility—from rollicking blues to heartfelt gospel—and was celebrated by critics as one of the standout Canadian blues releases of the year.

The Poets have toured to many festivals in North America, including Ottawa Blues, Rochester Jazz, Mt-Tremblant Blues, WinterGrass, Deep Roots, Southside Blues and more.