Lou Shields continues the tradition of American music with a performance that pulls in styles of days-gone-by. Using his 1931 National Resonator Guitars, 1959 and 1962 Supro/National Electric Guitars 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, 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. He has toured throughout the United States and Europe for over 20 years and has released 9 full-length albums and 13 EP’s.
Lou developed a deep interest in music from a young age and taught himself to play guitar. By 18, he was already playing with friends and forming a band. This was around the same time he was involved in a devastating woodworking accident that resulted in the partial loss of two fingers on his right hand and damage to two others. Despite the setback, Lou quickly adapted to his new situation, learning to play with his modified picking hand.
Soon after, Lou began exploring the roots of American music, immersing himself in the rich musical history of the city. He frequented blues and jazz clubs in Chicago and traveled to Clarksdale, MS, and New Orleans, LA, to further deepen his understanding of the genres that shaped modern music.
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. 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 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.