Dubbed a "rough cut diamond" by the Oregonian, Jon Itkin makes literate, earthy music in the tradition of Americana artists like Johnny Cash and Townes Van Zandt. Itkin's songs are colored by a deep sense of narrative and imagery, a half-empty whiskey glass and a love of words -- The Band and Charles Bukowski are both important influences. A winner of the 2006 Willamette Valley Folk Fest New Song Contest, Itkin is quietly becoming one of the Northwest's most respected songwriters. Also a gifted instrumentalist, Itkin played lead guitar in Scotland Barr's Slow Drags, blows harp on occasion with internationally known blues duo Hillstomp and sits in with Northwest piano giant Rich Landar. With his own combos, Itkin has shared stages with alt-honky tonk masters Pete Anderson and Moot Davis and garage twanger Edde Spaghetti (of the Supersuckers). Itkin released Oregon, his first record, in late 2004. His second effort, Big Gold Guitar in the Sky is set to be released in March of 2007. Contributors to his recorded material have also worked with Buck Owens, Dvight Yoakam, Michelle Shocked, Richmond Fontaine, The Sadies, Eels, M. Ward, Wanda Jackson, Chuck Mangione and the Rochester Philharmonic. Itkin is currently performing alone with his 1968 Gibson J 45 and with his new band, Some Like-Minded Souls. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.