Chris Yakopcic is a fingerstyle acoustic blues player, vocalist, and songwriter inspired by pre-war delta and piedmont players. His guitar playing builds on the rhythmic and often high energy thumb-bass picking patterns innovated by Robert Johnson, Bill Broonzy, and Blind Blake (among others).

In January 2015, Chris was a finalist in the 31^st International Blues Challenge (top 8 of 100 competing solo/duo acts) in Memphis, TN. He has qualified for the IBC four times after winning regional completions (held in Cleveland (2014), Cincinnati (2012), and Pittsburgh (2011)). Chris will return to Memphis for the 2016 IBC after winning the Dayton Blues Society’s competition in June, 2015.

Chris Yakopcic performs regularly at bars and listening rooms mostly located throughout Ohio and Pennsylvania. He has also performed on the main stage at blues festivals in Dayton and Cincinnati. He has recently started teaching and holding workshops on acoustic blues guitar. Chris will be releasing his second CD entitled ‘The Next Place I Leave’ in October of 2015.