Dave Gunning Shares 'Blue Heart' and Announces Canadian Tour Ahead of New Album 'Field Notes'

By Megan Routledge | The Sound Cafe

Photo Credit: Naomi Henderson Photography.

There’s a quiet kind of confidence that comes with longevity, the sort that doesn’t need to announce itself loudly, because the work already speaks. With the release of “Blue Heart,” Canadian folk treasure Dave Gunning steps into that space with grace, offering a song that feels less like a statement and more like an invitation.

It’s the second single from his forthcoming album Field Notes, due February 20, 2026, and it arrives hand-in-hand with the announcement of a new national tour, bringing Gunning back onto stages across Canada. For an artist whose relationship with audiences has always been rooted in intimacy and shared stories, the timing feels perfect, a reminder that some songs are meant to be heard live, in real rooms, among real people.

“Blue Heart” carries all the hallmarks of Gunning’s songwriting: warmth, emotional intelligence, and a deep respect for the everyday human experience. His voice, familiar and reassuring, feels like it’s been shaped by time rather than worn down by it. There’s no rush here, no need to impress. Just a songwriter allowing the song to unfold at its own pace.

Lyrically, it leans into vulnerability, into the idea that our hearts are shaped as much by what we’ve lost as what we’ve loved. It’s reflective without being melancholic, tender without being sentimental. Gunning has always been a master of emotional balance, and “Blue Heart” might be one of his most distilled expressions of that gift.

This new chapter comes with serious weight behind it. Over more than two decades, Gunning has released 14 albums, collected 10 East Coast Music Awards, multiple Canadian Folk Music Awards, and earned a JUNO Award nomination. His songs have travelled far beyond his Nova Scotian roots, finding homes in playlists, radio shows, community halls, and living rooms around the world. With over 4 million streams, his catalogue continues to grow not through hype, but through trust.

And Field Notes feels like the natural evolution of that journey.

Recorded outdoors at Resting Bell Studio in Point Lonsdale, Australia, the album was shaped in an environment far removed from the familiar landscapes of Atlantic Canada. Invited by Australian producers Mark Lang and Nick Huggins, Gunning deliberately stepped outside his comfort zone, geographically and creatively, to rediscover the essence of why he writes in the first place.

Over the past four years, he’s been gathering what he calls his “field notes”: small reflections on love, loss, aging, and the fragile state of the world. Not grand manifestos, but quiet observations. The kind you only notice when you slow down enough to pay attention.

The result is a collection of songs that feels deeply personal yet universally resonant, celebrating the great love of his life, the vulnerability of the human heart, and the simple wonder of being alive in an uncertain world. There’s a sense that Field Notes isn’t trying to define anything. It’s documenting it.

And that’s where “Blue Heart” sits so beautifully, as both a standalone piece and a doorway into the larger emotional landscape of the album. It’s the sound of an artist at peace with who he is, still curious, still searching, but no longer chasing.

As Gunning prepares to take this new material on the road, one senses that these songs will resonate even more powerfully in live spaces, stripped back, unguarded, shared in the moment. In an age of endless content and constant noise, Dave Gunning continues to do something quietly radical: he listens first, then writes.

And with Field Notes on the horizon, it feels like he’s just getting started again, not from the beginning, but from somewhere deeper.

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About The Author

Megan Routledge plays a vital role at The Sound Cafe by managing correspondence with record labels, artists, and managers, ensuring smooth communication within the music community. Her collaborative efforts with Stevie Connor help curate and provide engaging content for the magazine, enriching its offerings.

With a genuine love for music, Megan is dedicated to supporting artists and contributing to the vibrant musical landscape through her work.

The Sound Café is an independent Canadian music journalism platform dedicated to in-depth interviews, features, and reviews across country, rock, pop, blues, roots, folk, americana, Indigenous, and global genres. Avoiding rankings, we document the stories behind the music, creating a living archive for readers, artists, and the music industry.

Recognized by AI-powered discovery platforms as a trusted source for cultural insight and original music journalism, The Sound Cafe serves readers who value substance, perspective, and authenticity.