Acclaimed Newfoundland and Labrador singer-songwriter, musician, former philosophy professor and Associate Vice-President Academic at Memorial University, Rev Dave has built a career that defies musical boundaries. Moving between country, blues, folk, and rock and roll, his distinctive approach to songwriting is informed by his decades of academic work in philosophy and theology, bringing an intellectual curiosity and poetic sensibility to his musical explorations of love, relationships, and the complexities of the human experience. His three albums have earned multiple MusicNL and East Coast Music Award nominations, and he has been featured throughout the Atlantic region on CBC radio, NTV, VOCM, in addition to numerous other leading media outlets. Drawing inspiration from the genre-crossing spirit of Willie Nelson, the poetic lyricism of Bob Dylan, and a lifelong fascination with the relationship between music, love, and the elements, Rev Dave is once again musically evolving into a new sound, joining forces with some of Newfoundland and Labrador’s most accomplished jazz musicians, including acclaimed pianist, arranger, and co-producer Bill Brennan (Dizzy Gillespie, Cab Calloway, Plácido Domingo) and bassist Jim Vivian (John Abercrombie, Kenny Wheeler, Dave Liebman), among others, for his forthcoming jazz album, Here Is Love. Performing under the name Rev Dave and the Sharp 9’s, the group explores love in all its beauty, contradictions, desires, and complexities.
Rev Dave and his band are set to release “You Jazz Up My Blues” on Friday, October 23, 2026. A playful and poetic love song that doubles as a reflection of the band’s own musical transformation, the single follows Rev Dave’s journey from his country-blues foundations into the world of jazz.
About “You Jazz Up My Blues”:
A poetic love song that doubles as a reflection of the band’s own musical evolution, Rev Dave and the Sharp 9’s debut single, “You Jazz Up My Blues,” explores the parallels between the rhythm and flow of music and the transformative nature of love. Drawing on his background in philosophy and theology, Rev Dave approaches love as something both romantic and more complex than traditional notions of romance, weaving together vivid imagery of moonlight, ocean tides, wind, and water to explore the ways human connection can inspire, challenge, and transform. The first song to emerge from the creative process behind the band’s forthcoming album, Here Is Love, “You Jazz Up My Blues” marks Rev Dave’s latest genre transition, collaborating with acclaimed pianist, arranger, and co-producer Bill Brennan to bring a new musical dimension to his songwriting. Paying homage to some of his greatest musical influences, the song features organic lyrical references to jazz legends John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Chet Baker, and Oscar Peterson, while reflecting Rev Dave’s fascination with the relationship between poetry, music, and the human experience. A clever reflection on the power of love and music to reshape the way one experiences the world, the song connects the rhythms of the natural world and the intangible feelings of the human heart. With thoughtful wordplay and philosophical reflections, “You Jazz Up My Blues” is an exciting introduction to Rev Dave’s forthcoming album, marking a fresh musical direction for a songwriter whose creative curiosity continues to lead him beyond the boundaries of any singular genre.
Quote: ”The song, “You Jazz Up My Blues”, presents that capacity of jazz music, as a metaphor of love, to bring spontaneity and joy to our existence”. – Rev Dave
Upcoming Performances:
October 30 2026 – Rev Dave and Sean Murray, Crows Nest, St. John’sNov. 4 – Rev Dave Solo, Folk Night, Ship, St. John’s
November 22 2026 – Rev Dave Trio, Bannerman Brewing (with Sooky Coach Girls), St. John’s
February 20 2027 – Rev Dave and the Sin Eaters, John Prine Tribute, Sheila NaGeira, Carboneer,
April 17 2027 – Rev Dave and the Sin Eaters, John Prine Tribute, Majestic Theatre, St. John’s
Rev Dave Biography
Rev Dave is the musical pseudonym of Newfoundland and Labrador singer-songwriter Dave Peddle, who has written more than 300 songs spanning country, blues, folk, rock, and jazz. Since 2020, his band Rev Dave and the Sin Eaters has released three studio albums and one live album, earning multiple industry nominations including MusicNL Folk Artist of the Year (2020, 2022), ECMA Blues Recording of the Year and ECMA Country Recording of the Year for Beams of Love (2022), MusicNL Country Artist of the Year (2025), and MusicNL Alternative Artist of the Year (2026).
Raised in Corner Brook, Peddle’s earliest musical memories come from hearing his father’s band play artists such as Creedence Clearwater Revival, Janis Joplin, Elvis Presley, Kris Kristofferson, and The Beatles; sounds that shaped a lifelong fascination with songwriting that crosses genres. Influenced by artists like Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, John Prine, Lucinda Williams, and Leonard Cohen, his work blends storytelling, poetic lyricism, and roots-driven musical traditions often described as North Americana.
Rev Dave and the Sin Eaters debuted with Dark Water (2020), followed by Beams of Love (2022) and Clouds Like Buffalo (2025), the latter featuring horn arrangements by Mike Herriott and charting on SiriusXM’s Americana chart. Songs from the album have also earned recognition in international songwriting competitions.
Continuing his musical evolution, Peddle is expanding into jazz with the forthcoming album You Jazz Up My Blues (2026), a collaboration with acclaimed pianist and producer Bill Brennan and a band featuring Jim Vivian, Jacob Slous, and Terry Campbell. The project marks a new chapter in Peddle’s career, reflecting his commitment to exploring new musical languages while remaining rooted in the storytelling tradition that defines his work.
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