Harmonica ready, Anytime, Anywhere.

Quick Bio

Harpin’ Norm Lucien is a Toronto singer-songwriter and harmonica player whose original music blends folk, blues and country with touches of his French-Canadian heritage. Known for rhythmic, singable songs combining social commentary with a positive outlook, he has performed in Canada, Europe and Nashville’s Bluebird Café. Norm accompanies himself on harmonica, acoustic guitar and vocals, and has also written and recorded with other artists. (Official website, Bandcamp)

Meet Harpin’ Norm

Harpin’ Norm Lucien hopped off his tractor and walked into a kitchen jam at a downtown Toronto pub. He joined in on harmonica and soon found himself embraced by Toronto’s music community. As he backed musicians in a variety of styles, friends began calling him “Harpin’ Norm.” 

Norm picked up the harmonica at about thirteen, after receiving what he calls the “Best Christmas Gift Ever.” He taught himself to play, then added guitar and vocals. Eventually, he began writing his own songs. Nicole Coward recently covered his song “Strong Enough for Love” on her CD of the same name, which has received airplay in North America and Europe.Original Music

Norm’s EP The Stars All Around grew into his first CD, The World’s  Strongest Man. A song from his second CD, Close to the Flame, has been played by Danny Marks on Bluz.FM. He is now working on his third CD. Songs under consideration include “The Stars All Around,” “Deanna Moves,” “I Stand With the First Nation,” “A Strange Hypnosis,” “Crossroads/If You Arrive,” “Raise You Up” and “Who Will Write the Words.”

Harpin’ Will Play With Anyone!

Norm has played harmonica on recordings by Pete Otis, Sharon Katz, Alex Shain, James Sloan, Sepa and Asorti, Gráinne Ryan, Murray Powell, Sue and Dwight, and others. He can also be heard in videos with Peter Sommes, Peter Verity, Steve Raiken, Roger Zuraw, Blake Halliday, Brian Gladstone, Glen Hornblast, Paul Cross, Nicole Coward, Brian Jantzi, Bela Ray, Ron Leary, Louis Natale, Dorjee Tsering and David Story.

Norm always has a harmonica in his back pocket!

On Stage

In Nashville, Norm has played the Bluebird Café, the Commodore, the Blues and Boogie Bar, and Richard’s New Orleans Café. In Ontario, he has performed at the Brampton Folk Club, the Rockpile in Etobicoke, Fanjoy Bistro in Erin, the Garafraxa in Durham, the Black Swan Tavern, Vino Rosso, the El Mocambo, the Elora Arts Center and house concerts in Toronto. He also plays festivals and benefits.

More Than a Harmonica Player

Along with writing his own songs, Norm helps other musicians edit their work, writes songs on a freelance basis and translates lyrics. His recent translation for Lithuanian musician Sepa, of Sepa and Asorti, was “Mes Laukiam/Just Listen,” a song about listening to one another.

Norm has given two television interviews and performances, a radio interview, and hosted a show on CIUT FM 88.9 featuring independent recording artists. His videos, available under the Videos tab and on YouTube, include original songs about protecting food, water, farmland and history, as well as songs about overcoming adversity.

Having recently returned from a week of performing in Nashville, Harpin’ Norm is back on the Ontario scene with  performances at The ‘Black Swan Tavern’,  ‘Vino Rosso’ the famous ‘El Macombo’ on Spadina Ave, Toronto and the Elora Arts Center.