Southside Denny

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About Southside Denny

Solo acoustic guitarist, electric blues rocker, and composer Southside Denny was born and raised in South Bend, Indiana. He began gigging while still in high school, and by the mid-1980s, he was playing throughout the midwestern United States and in parts of Canada while building a solid reputation in the Chicago and Michiana-area blues scene.

In the early 1990s, Denny earned a regular gig at Buddy Guy’s Legends, in Chicago, and also performed regularly with Luther Allison, Sugar Blue, and Pinetop Perkins. During this period, he expanded his reach, appearing as an opening act for a Who’s Who of Chicago blues acts that included Ray Charles, Lonnie Mack, Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and Taj Mahal. He also shared the stage with many legendary rockers including The Beach Boys, John Fogerty, Edgar Winter, BTO, Three Dog Night, and Styxx.

In 1999, Denny was the second recipient to receive the Ole Harv Award for lifetime promotion of blues music in the Michiana area. A year later, he represented the State of Indiana at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. In 2008, he captured third place at the Montréal Grand Prix de la Guitare.

Having lived most of his life in South Bend–he lived briefly in Chicago, and in Phoenix, Arizona–in 2007, he relocated to Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He has since performed at the International Festival du Jazz de Montréal, the International Festival du blues de Mont Tremblant, Riverfront Blues, Trois Rivières en Blues, Lighthouse Blues Festival and other venues.

In 2019, Chicago label Blujazz Records reissued Denny’s Rollin’ Home album. His latest album, Heal It, was released in May 2024. He is now working on his tenth album as he continues to play on both sides of the border.

Upcoming shows

There is nothing that compares to seeing it live...who knows what will happen this time?

07/08/2026

7-8 Private Jazz & Blues show

2pm

-

3pm

Montréal

Event Details

07/08/2026

7-8 Private Jazz & Blues show

SS Denny will play a set at a private event with other Jazz and Blues Artists in Montréal...you could have one, too! info@southsidedenny.com

2pm

-

3pm

Montréal

07/10/2026

7-10 Mont Tremblant International Blues Festival

12:30pm

-

5pm

Mont Tremblant, QC

Event Details

07/10/2026

7-10 Mont Tremblant International Blues Festival

Denny will play three separate 30 minute sets in three different locations with harmonicist Peter Modos. Come see us throw down!

12:30pm

-

5pm

Mont Tremblant, QC

07/11/2026

7-11 Lighthouse Blues Festival

1 pm

-

1:50 pm

Downtown Kincardine, Ontario

Event Details

07/11/2026

7-11 Lighthouse Blues Festival

After a 2 year hiatus Denny returns for a solo acoustic performance at this wonderful Blues Festival in beautiful Kincardine, Ontario!

1 pm

-

1:50 pm

Downtown Kincardine, Ontario

0713/2026

7-13 Therapeutic Troubadour

2:30pm

-

3:30pm

Montréal

Event Details

0713/2026

7-13 Therapeutic Troubadour

The Therapeutic Troubadour strikes again, bringing music to those who need it most!

2:30pm

-

3:30pm

Montréal

07/17/2026

7-17 Au son du Moulin et Gin Festival du Blues

4:30pm

-

5:45pm

675 Boulevard Bécancour, Bécancour, Québec

Event Details

07/17/2026

7-17 Au son du Moulin et Gin Festival du Blues

Denny will do a solo acoustic set at Au son du Moulin et Gin Blues festival in Bécancour, Québec

4:30pm

-

5:45pm

675 Boulevard Bécancour, Bécancour, Québec

More Events

Denny has performed as opening act for...

Ray Charles: University of Notre Dame South Bend, IN, 1994
Lonnie Mack: South Bend and Mishawaka, IN various venues between 1984 and 1988
Buddy Guy: Buddy Guy’s Legends, Chicago, 1994
Stevie Ray Vaughan: Coronado Theatre, Rockford, Illinois, 1984
Koko Taylor: Riverfront Blues Festival, Peoria, Illinois, 1989
Luther Allison: Music Box, Mishawaka, IN, 1982
Taj Mahal: Buddy Guy’s Legends, 1992 & China Club, Chicago, 1993
Albert Collins: Kamm’s Island, Mishawaka, IN, 1987, and Slippery Noodle, Indianapolis, 1989
Koko Taylor: Riverfront Blues Festival, Peoria, Illinois, 1989, South Bend, Indiana 1993
Magic Slim: Buddy Guy’s Legends, Chicago, 1994
The Kenzie Report: Firefighter’s Bluesfest, South Bend, IN, 2013
Son Seals: Firefighter’s Blues Fest, South Bend, IN, 2006
Johnny Copeland: Buddy Guy’s Legends, Chicago, 1994
Bernard Allison: Firefly Festival, South Bend, IN, 1998, and Firefighter’s Blues festival in South Bend, IN, 2015
Honey Boy Edwards: Madison Oyster Bar, South Bend, IN, June, 1989
Lonnie Brooks: Buddy Guy’s Legends, Chicago 1994, State Theatre, Kalamazoo, MI, 2003
Fenton Robinson: The Music Box, Mishawaka, IN, 1982
Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers: Buddy Guy’s Legends, Chicago, IL, 1994
Guy Davis: Firefly Festival, South Bend, IN, 1998
Luther Johnson: Kamm’s Island, Mishawaka, IN, 1987
George Thorogood: Val du Lakes, Muskegon, MI, 1989
Legendary Blues Band: Duke’s Bistro, South Bend, IN, 1988
Edgar Winter: Slippery Noodle, Indianapolis, IN, 1996
The Beach Boys: St. Pat’s park, South Bend, IN, 2005
Bachman-Turner Overdrive: City Limits, Elkhart, IN, 1987
Three Dog Night: Firefly Festival, South Bend, IN, 1999
Styx: Morris performing Arts Center, South Bend, IN, 2004
Martin Deschamps: Place Desjardins, Lavaltrie, QC 2014

Southside Denny has performed on stage with:

Sugar Blue: Chicago, Montréal, South Bend, IN., Fort Wayne, IN.
Luther Allison: Many times in South Bend, IN, and Kalamazoo, MI
Pinetop Perkins: Many times in La Porte, IN
Larry McCray: Chicago, South Bend, IN, Bay City, MI, many others
Lefty Diz: Many times in Chicago
John Fogerty: John appeared once with Denny’s band in South Bend, IN, in 1987
Duke Tumatoe: Denny was the Duke’s lead guitarist for most of 1984

Some Festival Performances:

Montréal Jazz festival, Montréal
International Festival Du Blues de Mont Tremblant, Mont Tremblant, QC
Trois Rivières en Blues, Trois Rivières, QC
Lighthouse Blues festival, Kincardine, Ontario
Peoria Riverfront Blues Festival, Peoria, Illinois
South Bend Jazz Festival, South Bend, Indiana
Firefighter’s Blues Festival, South Bend, Indiana
Elkhart Jazz Festival, Elkhart, Indiana
Firefly Festival, South Bend, Indiana
LaPorte County Blues Festival, LaPorte, Indiana
BBQ Rib Fest, Fort Wayne, Indiana
L’October Blues, Joliette, QC
Lachute en Blues, QC
Rendez-Vous Éstivale, LeGardeur, QC

Therapeutic Troubadour

Comforting those who need it the most

Denny enjoys performing therapeutic music for clients with special needs. Music is an incredibly moving, stimulating and powerful force. It brings happiness, peace and reminiscence to the people who need it the most. Many of Denny's instrumental pieces are soothing and comforting to the people he visits living in assisted living facilities or hospitals. Some enjoy hearing soft, inspiring sounds. Some enjoy Blues pieces, and even like to improvise vocally or on other instruments to what he plays. It is also comforting for the health care workers to listen during their routine.

The Therapeutic Troubadour works at:

Centre D'Hébergement Denis-Benjamin-Viger

CHSLD St-Andrews

Hôpital Sainte-Anne

CHSLD Bourget

Jewish Elder Care

CHSLD Maimonides

Mount Sinai Hospital

CHSLD Le Glenmount

CHSLD Lev Tov

Les Pavillions LaSalle

Centre de soins prolongés Grace Dart

CHSLD Father Dowd

Centre D'Hébergement St-Jean-de-Matha

The Alexander - Gravenhurst, Ontario

Guitar studies with Southside Denny

Personal coaching/Workshops

Denny has been a guitar educator for most of his musical life. He has students ranging from beginners wanting to develop and learn good habits to professionals who are looking for new ideas. Guitarists curious about musical theory, increasing chord vocabulary, learning slide guitar, using alternate tunings and improvisation. Denny has 30 years of coaching experience and has been very successful at communicating his approach to all levels of players. If you are serious and would like to study with him, either in person or online, please let us know through our Contact Page on this site.

Southside Denny has been conducting blues music workshops for a long time. Over the years he has gathered a lot of experience and insight that he enjoys sharing. A workshop can be about many different subjects including but not limited to Improvisation, Slide guitar, Alternate Tunings, Blues Riffs and Tricks, or more than one subject. His workshops include participation, jamming and experimentation. A workshop can be a lot of fun at a party or an event, or a nice addition to a performance. Some past clients include Sweetwater Sound, Hoosier Dad's Music, G&A Music, Le Royaume de la Musique, The Music Station, Blues on the River and many private goups...

Southside Denny

Southside Denny

About Southside Denny

Documents

Upcoming shows

07/08/2026

7-8 Private Jazz & Blues show

2pm

-

3pm

07/08/2026

7-8 Private Jazz & Blues show

2pm

-

3pm

07/10/2026

7-10 Mont Tremblant International Blues Festival

12:30pm

-

5pm

07/10/2026

7-10 Mont Tremblant International Blues Festival

12:30pm

-

5pm

07/11/2026

7-11 Lighthouse Blues Festival

1 pm

-

1:50 pm

07/11/2026

7-11 Lighthouse Blues Festival

1 pm

-

1:50 pm

0713/2026

7-13 Therapeutic Troubadour

2:30pm

-

3:30pm

0713/2026

7-13 Therapeutic Troubadour

2:30pm

-

3:30pm

07/17/2026

7-17 Au son du Moulin et Gin Festival du Blues

4:30pm

-

5:45pm

07/17/2026

7-17 Au son du Moulin et Gin Festival du Blues

4:30pm

-

5:45pm

Denny has performed as opening act for...

Therapeutic Troubadour

Comforting those who need it the most

Audio

Guitar studies with Southside Denny

Personal coaching/Workshops

Some recent Shots

Photos from here and there...

fun with some old friends

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