Rachelle van Zanten is an up and coming Canadian icon -- a multi-talented songwriter, slide guitarist and singer who's taking audiences by storm.

Raised in the foothills of northern British Columbia, van Zanten grew up playing bluegrass and old time country with her family. She spent the majority of her preteens singing to Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Hank Williams Sr., and Johnny Cash recordings. By age 13, she was well schooled in piano, drums and trumpet and later took up guitar.

In the mid-90's, van Zanten joined forces with Daisy Blue Groff, Carolyn Fortowsky, and Kim Gryba to form the renowned Canadian rock quartet, Painting Daisies. Simultaneously, van Zanten heard the inimitable slide guitar stylings of Lester Quitzau and immediately began to develop her own slide guitar technique.

Over a span of 11 years, the group recorded 4 rock albums and won "Entertainers of the Year" for the 2001 Prairie Music Awards. In 2003, she penned, "Walking Home Lately", which won the top prize in CBC's "Great Canadian Music Dream" competition, competing against over 4,000 acts.

In 2005 the band performed their final show in leaving van Zanten with opportunity to record and tour her new material. "Back to Francois" is a "fresh and rootsy debut album. It is contemporary, bright & optimistic whilst retaining its origins in the core values of North American music." (Mick Glossop, UK Producer).

The raunchy guitar tones heard on the now classic "Take Me Right Back" were recorded using a Johnson Chicago Blues Resonator through a Vox AC30.

As a solo performer, van Zanten and her slide guitar are gracing the international stages alongside such greats as Sylvia Tyson, Colin Linden, Sonny Rhodes, and Alison Brown.

She is now touring through Europe, Canada, and the United States in support of this new recording.

For the latest news and tour info, visit www.rachellevanzanten.com.

MORE INFORMATION

Official Rachelle van Zanten Website

Bottle Slide Triolian Resonator

Chicago Blues Resoantor

Guitar Player Magazine Interview