Lou Shields continues the tradition of American music with a solo-performance that pulls in styles of days-gone-by. Using his 1931 National Resonator Guitar or Banjo accompanied by a unique front porch style of foot percussion and harmonica, he uses his voice as an extension of the past. Lou carries a full sound during live performances while sharing stories, thoughts and experiences with the audience. He has toured throughout the United States and Europe for over 20 years and has released 8 full-length albums and 13 EP’s.
Lou learned how to play guitar at 18 years old. This was right about the time he was involved in terrible wood working accident which resulted in partially loosing two fingers on his right hand and damaging two others. He quickly learned to adapt with his new picking hand and went on to play in garage punk/rock bands in Chicago.
Lou grew up in Chicago, living downtown or in the South Suburbs his entire life. While downtown he owned an art gallery in Pilsen at 18th and Halsted. 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 young students about art appreciation and art history a two days a week, in addition to teaching some classes online.
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. The homestead is filled with antiques he found on the road from stopping at roadside estate sales and thrift stores. In addition to the cabin, Lou has built a screen porch, tiny house, an amazing reclaimed shed and other antique-styled outbuildings. Lou hired the Amish to build a barn on his homestead for woodworking and for community music gatherings. He also completed a log cabin in 2020 that was built on the high bluff with views of the Kickapoo River.
Lou enjoys playing his guitar on the back porch of his Kickapoo River Valley Homestead or listening to music on the record player. Since he was young he has admired old blues musicians such as Blind Willie McTell, Son House, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Lead Belly, Charley Patton, Robert Johnson, Mississippi John Hurt, Blind Lemon Jefferson and Jimi Hendrix.
In addition to living in the Chicago-area and Viroqua, Wisconsin he also lives in Madison, WI with his Wife, Stacey Roou and his stepdaughter. 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.