Dave Arcari

SLIDE guitarist & songwriter Dave Arcari’s alt.blues sounds owe as much to trash country, punk and rockabilly as they do pre-war Delta blues and have been showcased via eight internationally-acclaimed solo album releases on labels including Buzz (UK), Dixiefrog (France) and Blue North (Finland).

After a successful Kickstarter campaign his latest album Still Friends was released on limited edition vinyl and CD in November 2025 landing a featured album slot on BBC Radio Scotland and a pick of the month tag from the Independent Blues Broadcasters’ Association.

A top three finalist in UK Blues Federation’s UK Blues Awards 2023 Arcari’s music features in numerous BBC TV programmes as well as popular USA series The Deadliest Catch.

The ultimate validation for Arcari’s music and performance came in 2019 when National Reso-Phonic Guitars launched the ‘Dave Arcari signature model’ guitar. Arcari joins an elite and exclusive group of players who have signature models and is the first – and only – musician outside the USA to be honoured by the iconic instrument maker whose name is synonymous with the development of the blues genre.

Arcari is also an official endorsee of G7th Capos, Reunion Blues Gig Bags, Newtone Strings and Diamond Bottlenecks.

While continuing to build his audience in the USA with once or twice-annual tours since 2013 – including official showcases at SxSW in Austin, Texas – Arcari also maintains his presence on the UK and European touring and festival circuits.

Arcari’s festival appearances include Glastonbury (UK), Red Rooster (UK), BluesAlive (Czech Republic & Poland shows), Moulin Blues (Netherlands), The Great British R&B Festival and Peer Festival (Belgium). He has also played industry showcases at the North by North East (NxNE) music festival in Toronto, Canada and he was a finalist the UK Indy Music Awards reaching the top four in his category (best male solo artist).

A series of shows with folks including Steve Earle, Alabama 3, Seasick Steve, Toby Keith and Jon Spencer along with his relentless UK and European tour schedule have established Arcari as a formidable international solo performer who is fast building a media reputation as a ‘hell-raising National guitar madman’.

A former debt collector, Arcari cut his musical teeth busking on the streets of Glasgow before forming his first band Summerfield Blues which won the Alexis Korner Memorial Trophy and accolade of Scottish Blues Band of the Year at Edinburgh International Blues Festival in1993.

He went on to form pioneering alt.blues trio Radiotones, releasing three studio albums between1998 and 2003 before embarking on a solo career.

In between times, Arcari also played guitar with Union Avenue – an oddball collective playing least expected covers (think The Clash, Pink Floyd, Undertones, Bob Marley) in a late 50’s/Sun Records-era Cash style. The band landed record of the week on Mark Radcliffe’s Radio 1 show with their version of Motorhead’s Ace of Spades.