Lou Shields

Lou Shields continues the tradition of American music with a performance that pulls in styles of days-gone-by. On stage you will find him using 1931 National Resonator Guitars, 1930s Arch Tops with D’Armond pickups played through a Fender PanoVerb amp. He accompanies this with a unique front porch style of foot percussion and sometimes a harmonica. Lou carries a full sound during live performances, filling the room with emotion and an early acoustic and electric sound reminiscent of Golden Age Blues and Americana. All while sharing stories, thoughts and experiences with the audience. Lou grew up in Chicago, living downtown or in the South Suburbs his entire life. His father Lou Sr had an extensive 45rpm record collection filled with early Rock ‘n Roll. Lou spent hours and hours spinning these classics on an old HiFi set which began his life long love and journey learning about the roots of this music. He also had exposure to Maxwell Street in Chicago when he was young, and those memories resonate with him much more now than when he first experienced this historical phenomenon—a place where goods, both old and new, were bought and sold, where people from all walks of life collided, and where the music he would eventually grow to love was performed on the street. While living in Chicago he owned an art gallery in Pilsen at 18th and Halsted St. Lou often creates his art from experiences on the road. He will take a picture of an old home in Mississippi and then draw it later or he takes inspiration from people and scenes in his wife’s early 20th century photo collection. He exhibits his art in Gallery shows or sells prints out of his merch box or at his wife’s vintage clothing store. In addition to being an artist, Lou is also a Professor of Art at a college in the Chicago-area. He enjoys teaching his students about art and art history. In 2015, Lou purchased 15 acres of land and a salvaged wood cabin in the Driftless Region of Southwest Wisconsin (near Viroqua) where he set up an off-grid homestead. Lou loves working with wood and reclaimed materials due to his deep connection to the past. In addition to living in the Chicago-area and Viroqua, Wisconsin he also lives in Madison, WI with his Wife, Stacey Roou and his teenage stepdaughters. Lou has no problem splitting his time between three areas – after all they are not that far apart and it gives him a balance of city and country life. Lou’s heart is on the road and he loves the ability to spend his time in different areas. Lou consistently tours throughout the United States and Europe in his camper van.