The modern renaissance of folk music began when John Gorka won the Kerrville Folk Festival's New Folk award in 1984, and it grew to maturity when he released his debut album, "I Know," three years later. Here was a singer-songwriter with a striking baritone voice that made you feel like you'd been hearing it all your life, with the songwriting chops to take on and see into nearly every type of song–from personal pieces about love and sadness, to bemused observations about daily life, political thinking-aloud, and sheer unmitigated whimsy. Almost three decades later, John still calls himself an aspiring folksinger, and his music just keeps getting deeper and better. John has graced the stage at Austin City Limits, Mountain Stage, and etown, and has appeared on CNN.