Lester Slade is a traveling songwriter based in Iqaluit, Nunavut. Years on the road have shaped his stripped-down sound, rooted in real stories and an honest approach to songwriting.

Fresh off tours through the Netherlands, Europe, and Canada’s East Coast, Lester has just completed his new 11-track album, the follow-up to 2024’s Fireweed. Written between shows and quiet stretches in the North, the album marks a new chapter in his work as a storyteller, capturing the landscapes, people, and experiences that shape his music.

Whether recording in the Arctic, or performing for new audiences in the south, Lester’s songs offer a clear-eyed take on the lives we lead and the truths we carry, blending folk, Americana, and alt-country influences into a sound that is both intimate and expansive.

Press

“Burnt Out Lightning is a complete album in the best sense. If you’re not already a country music fan, this album should change that. And if you are a country music fan, consider this one a win. A big win.”
— Grid City Magazine

It’s not often that a modern country album is able to exude so much loveable energy and sincerity as “Burnt Out Lightning” Slade is powerful artist, one who’s strength lies in his ability to simply be himself on each track. There are slower ballads and more light hearted jingles across the record. Having a bit of everything, ‘Burnt Out Lightning’ just becomes a delightful listen from front to back.”
— Find No Enemy

“The raw energy of punk, country, and rock n roll wrapped up unintentionally in the odes of road-worn stories, Burnt Out Lightning documented and reflected on a moment when life was special This album takes listeners on a journey of the best and the worst memories.”
— Punk Head Magazine

There's a timeless quality to Lester Slade's writing. He's an old soul but a restless one and it can be heard on his first record. (Burnt Out Lightning)  But on this  release, I believe his gift for song craft has hit its stride. He's got the right crew to dig in, get those words out and hit you right in the gut with phrases that stay in your mind long after the song has finished. It takes a great storyteller to do that and he is definitely one of them.

“I really like the earthy approach Lester took by working with Keith Hallett. They are a match made in honky tonk heaven; the perfect mix of warm, analog tone and hard-edged Americana.”

— Alex Madsen, The Divorcees