Quique Escamilla was born and raised to a family of six in the warm, tropical southern lands of the state of Chiapas, Mexico. He started singing at the age of four at his family reunions. At the age of six in a crowded restaurant and accompanied by the in-house six-piece Mariachi band, he performed a full version of “El Rey” in front of an audience where he discovered for the first time the thrill of performing and the powerful magic of live music.
Today, Quique Escamilla is a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and producer living in Toronto. Since his arrival in 2007, he has rapidly become a rising star on the Canadian music scene. In 2011, he was discovered by a CBC radio producer and has since become a favourite on popular CBC Toronto shows such as Here and Now, Metro Morning, Fresh Air and Big City Small World. He has been a featured guest at special CBC presentations like the annual fundraiser Sounds of the Season —aired live from the Glenn Gould studio—alongside artists like Justin Rutledge, Sophie Milman, Jenn Grant and Michelle Wright. 2012 was a important and productive year for Quique in which he launched his self-titled debut EP, with a concert recorded for CBC’s Canada Live at Toronto’s Lula Lounge Arts Centre. In the summer, he was invited to open for Michael Franti & Spearhead at the prestigious stage of Luminato Festival 2012; as well as to perform at other great shows and summer festivals such as Mariposa Folk Festival, where he shared stages with artists such as Fred Penner, Jayme Stone, Julian Faulth; and wrapping up the summer season with the closing concert of La Falla Festival (La Tohu, Montreal) and Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square’s Tasty Thursdays summer series. In the fall and winter of 2012 he toured Canada opening solo for Danny Michel’s cd release shows for his latest album “Black Birds Dancing Over Me”, and ended that leg of the Michel’s tour with an opening slot at the majestic Winter Garden Theatre in Toronto and two sold out shows at Canada’s National Art Centre in Ottawa.
Quique and his band toured extensively in the summer of 2013. He performed at s ome popular Canadian festivals, including a spectacular show at the INTERSTELLAR RODEO ALL-STARS: FEATURING JIM CUDDY, DANNY MICHEL, AND QUIQUE ESCAMILLA and other 2013 festival performances included: Shelter Valley Folk Festival, Blue Skies, Toronto Harbourfront, South Country Fair, SunFest, Small World Music Festival, Yonge & Dundas Square, Toronto Bicycle Music Fest, etc. In most recent performances he got to share reputable stages along with high caliber artists such as Ron Sexsmith, Feist, The Sky Diggers, Serena Ryder, Alabama Shakes, Sarah Harmer.
Quique released his new record 500 Years of Night in late March and will go on a Canadian tour in 2014, beginning at western festivals in early July.
