I'm a solo acoustic guitarist and vocalist based in Raleigh-Durham, playing corporate events, private parties, and country club functions across North Carolina.
I bring my own sound system and handle setup, so there's nothing extra to coordinate. My repertoire spans classic rock, Motown, and today's pop and country, and I read the room rather than working a set list.
I play regularly at Pinehurst Resort and Bald Head Island Club, with past clients including the World Golf Hall of Fame, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Titleist, and Campbell's.
My goal is to serve the event, so the music fits the moment instead of competing with it. Reach out and tell me about your event.
Be the first to review John Downing Music
Write a reviewPrice range: Starts at $850
Languages: English
Gig length: 60 - 240 minutes
Solo acoustic guitar and vocals, covering a wide range of eras and styles, 60s through today. I read the room and adjust based on the crowd and the tone of the event — whether that's quiet background music during dinner or a more interactive, request-driven set later on. I take requests and I'm comfortable adapting in real time. My goal is to fit the event, not make the event fit me.
I'm John Downing, a solo acoustic musician based in the Raleigh-Durham area. I've spent years playing live — guitar and vocals — for corporate events, private parties, and country club functions across the Triangle and beyond. My background is in music, and I bring a steady, professional approach to every event: read the room, adjust as needed, and make sure the night works for the people who hired me. I've performed at venues including Pinehurst Resort, Bald Head Island Club, and the World Golf Hall of Fame, for clients including BCBS, Titleist, and Campbell's Soup. My main job at any event is simple — serve the client and make their event work.
I'm fully self-contained — I bring my own PA system, guitar, and all necessary gear, so there's nothing the venue needs to provide beyond a power outlet and enough space for a small setup (roughly the footprint of a single table). I adjust my volume and sound to fit the size and feel of the room, from an intimate indoor space to a larger outdoor patio.
My live set draws from a catalog of 200+ songs spanning the 60s through today, organized by decade so I can shape the night to fit the crowd. Songs I return to often: Africa (Toto), Wagon Wheel, Fast Car, Tiny Dancer, Summer of '69, Boys of Summer, Drift Away, Just What I Needed, In Your Eyes, Drops of Jupiter, and You Are the Best Thing. I also take live requests and adjust the set as the night goes.
Classic Rock (Upbeat Sing-Alongs for Member Events)
Ideal for lively country club dinners or corporate team-building events in North Carolina, these classic rock hits energize guests with familiar, singable tunes.
Allman Brothers - Blue Sky
Allman Brothers - Melissa
Allman Brothers - Midnight Rider
Allman Brothers - Ramblin' Man
Beatles - Can’t Buy Me Love
Beatles - Come Together
Beatles - Get Back
Beatles - Hard Day’s Night
Beatles - Hey Jude
Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There
Beatles - Ticket to Ride
Beatles - Twist and Shout
Black Crowes - Hard to Handle
Black Crowes - Jealous Again
Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run
Bruce Springsteen - Dancing in the Dark
Chuck Berry - Johnny B Goode
Creedence Clearwater Revival - As Long as I Can See the Light
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Bad Moon Rising
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Fortunate Son
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have You Ever Seen the Rain
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Lodi
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Proud Mary
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Up Around the Bend
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - Love the One You’re With
Doobie Brothers - Listen to the Music
Eagles - Peaceful Easy Feeling
Eagles - Take It Easy
Fleetwood Mac - Go Your Own Way
Grand Funk Railroad - I’m Your Captain
Guns N’ Roses - Patience
Guns N’ Roses - Sweet Child O’ Mine
John Mellencamp - Jack and Diane
John Mellencamp - Small Town
Journey - Don’t Stop Believing
Led Zeppelin - Fool in the Rain
Led Zeppelin - Hey Hey What Can I Do
Led Zeppelin - Ramble On
Led Zeppelin - Rock N’ Roll
REO Speedwagon - Roll with the Changes
Rolling Stones - Honky Tonk Woman
Rolling Stones - Jumpin’ Jack Flash
Rolling Stones - Sympathy for the Devil
Rolling Stones - You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Stealers Wheel - Stuck in the Middle with You
Steppenwolf - Magic Carpet Ride
Steve Miller Band - The Joker
The Kinks - You Really Got Me
Tom Petty - American Girl
Tom Petty - Free Fallin’
Tom Petty - Learning to Fly
Tom Petty - Mary Jane’s Last Dance
Tom Petty - Wildflowers
Van Halen - Jump
Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl
Pop/Modern Hits (Engaging for Corporate Events)
These contemporary hits are perfect for corporate retreats or client appreciation events in Raleigh/Durham, offering a modern, upbeat vibe for diverse audiences.
Adele - Rolling in the Deep
All-American Rejects - Move Along
Backstreet Boys - I Want It That Way
Blink-182 - All the Small Things
Blink-182 - What’s My Age Again
Bruno Mars - Just the Way You Are
Coldplay - Fix You
Coldplay - Sky Full of Stars
Coldplay - Speed of Sound
Coldplay - The Scientist
Coldplay - Viva La Vida
Coldplay - Yellow
Counting Crows - American Girls
Counting Crows - Angels of the Silences
Counting Crows - Hangin’ Around
Counting Crows - Mr. Jones
Counting Crows - Round Here
Darius Rucker - Wagon Wheel
Fall Out Boy - Sugar, We’re Goin Down
Foo Fighters - Everlong
Foo Fighters - Learn to Fly
Foo Fighters - My Hero
Foo Fighters - Times Like These
Gnarls Barkley - Crazy
Goo Goo Dolls - Black Balloon
Goo Goo Dolls - Dizzy
Goo Goo Dolls - Give a Little Bit
Goo Goo Dolls - Here Is Gone
Goo Goo Dolls - Iris
Goo Goo Dolls - Name
Goo Goo Dolls - Slide
Goo Goo Dolls - Sympathy
Green Day - Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Green Day - Holiday
Green Day - Time of Your Life
Green Day - When I Come Around
Jason Mraz - I’m Yours
Jimmy Eat World - The Middle
Kings of Leon - Notion
Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire
Kings of Leon - Use Somebody
Lumineers - Ho Hey
Maroon 5 - This Love
Matchbox 20 - 3 AM
Matchbox 20 - Unwell
Oasis - Champagne Supernova
Oasis - Don’t Look Back in Anger
Oasis - Wonderwall
Semisonic - Closing Time
Spin Doctors - Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong
Spin Doctors - Two Princes
The Killers - Mr. Brightside
The Killers - Read My Mind
The Killers - When You Were Young
Third Eye Blind - Never Let You Go
Third Eye Blind - Semi-Charmed Life
Train - Calling All Angels
Train - Drops of Jupiter
Train - Hey, Soul Sister
Train - Meet Virginia
Walk the Moon - Shut Up and Dance
Country/Folk (Authentic NC Ambiance)
These songs resonate with North Carolina’s musical heritage, ideal for country club member dinners or corporate events seeking a warm, local vibe.
Darius Rucker - Wagon Wheel
Dolly Parton - Jolene
James Taylor - Carolina in My Mind
James Taylor - Copperline
James Taylor - Fire and Rain
Jimmy Buffett - A Pirate Looks at 40
Jimmy Buffett - Margaritaville
Jimmy Buffett - Son of a Son of a Sailor
John Denver - Take Me Home, Country Roads
John Prine - Angel from Montgomery
John Prine - Long Black Veil
Johnny Cash - Ring of Fire
Keith Urban - Days Go By
Lyle Lovett - If I Had a Boat
The Marshall Tucker Band - Can’t You See
Warren Haynes - Soulshine
Soft Rock/Acoustic Ballads (Elegant for Formal Dinners)
These mellow acoustic covers provide sophisticated background music for corporate keynotes or country club dinners in Raleigh/Durham, creating an elegant atmosphere.
Beatles - Here Comes the Sun
Beatles - In My Life
Beatles - Let It Be
Beatles - Yesterday
Ben E. King - Stand by Me
Bill Withers - Ain’t No Sunshine
Bill Withers - Lean on Me
Bill Withers - Use Me
Billy Joel - Movin’ Out
Bob Dylan - North Country Fair
Bob Seger - Like a Rock
Bob Seger - Night Moves
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - Southern Cross
David Gray - Babylon
David Gray - This Year’s Love
Don Henley - Boys of Summer
Eagle-Eye Cherry - Save Tonight
Elton John - Rocket Man
Elton John - Tiny Dancer
Eric Clapton - Change the World
Eric Clapton - Wonderful Tonight
Fleetwood Mac - Landslide
Green Day - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
Joni Mitchell - Big Yellow Taxi
Neil Young - Heart of Gold
Norah Jones - Come Away With Me
Norah Jones - Don’t Know Why
Norah Jones - Sunrise
Otis Redding - Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay
Paul Simon - Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard
Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
Ray LaMontagne - You Are the Best Thing
Simon & Garfunkel - Mrs. Robinson
Sting - Fields of Gold
Van Morrison - And It Stoned Me
Van Morrison - Crazy Love
Van Morrison - Into the Mystic
Alternative/Indie Rock (Dynamic for Casual Corporate Events)
These 90s and 2000s hits add a dynamic, modern edge to corporate happy hours or country club socials, appealing to younger professionals in NC.
Audioslave - I Am the Highway
Augustana - Boston
Bush - Comedown
Bush - Glycerine
Bush - Machinehead
Collective Soul - Run
Collective Soul - Shine
Collective Soul - The World I Know
Cranberries - Dreams
Cranberries - Linger
Creed - Higher
Creed - One Last Breath
Dave Matthews - Best of What’s Around
Dave Matthews - Crash Into Me
Dave Matthews Band - Ants Marching
Deep Blue Something - Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Dexter Freebish - Leaving Town
Eve 6 - Inside Out
Fastball - Fire Escape
Fastball - The Way
Gin Blossoms - Hey Jealousy
Jane’s Addiction - Jane Says
Lifehouse - Hanging by a Moment
Lifehouse - Sick Cycle Carousel
Live - All Over You
Live - Lightning Crashes
Live - Run to the Water
Our Lady Peace - Clumsy
Our Lady Peace - Somewhere Out There
Pearl Jam - Better Man
Pearl Jam - Daughter
Pearl Jam - Elderly Woman Behind the Counter
Pearl Jam - Last Kiss
Pearl Jam - Wishlist
Radiohead - Creep
Radiohead - High and Dry
Red Hot Chili Peppers - My Friends
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Scar Tissue
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Under the Bridge
Rusted Root - Send Me on My Way
Smashing Pumpkins - Tonight, Tonight
Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars
Stone Temple Pilots - Interstate Love Song
Stone Temple Pilots - Plush
Sublime - What I Got
The Flys - Got You Where I Want You
The Verve - Bittersweet Symphony
Tonic - If You Could Only See
Wallflowers - 6th Avenue Heartache
Wallflowers - One Headlight
Weezer - Say It Ain’t So
Zwan - Honestly
Classic Pop/Soul (Timeless for Mixed Audiences)
These Motown, soul, and crooner hits bring a timeless, upbeat energy to corporate mixers or country club events, engaging diverse guests in Raleigh/Durham.
Blues Brothers - Sweet Home Chicago
Dobie Gray - Drift Away
Elvis Presley - Can’t Help Falling in Love
Elvis Presley - Suspicious Minds
Four Non Blondes - What’s Up
Four Tops - Baby I Need Your Loving
Frank Sinatra - Fly Me to the Moon
Frank Sinatra - I’ve Got the World on a String
Frank Sinatra - I’ve Got You Under My Skin
Frank Sinatra - In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning
Frankie Valli - Can’t Take My Eyes Off You
Joe Cocker - Feelin’ Alright
Joe Cocker - With a Little Help from My Friends
Louis Armstrong - What a Wonderful World
Ray Charles - I Got a Woman
Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody
Stevie Wonder - Signed, Sealed, Delivered
Stevie Wonder - Superstition
Temptations - My Girl
The Foundations - Build Me Up Buttercup
The Monkees - I’m a Believer
The Proclaimers - 500 Miles
Modern Rock (Energetic for Corporate Socials)
These rock hits from the 80s onward add energy to corporate socials or country club events, offering a bold yet event-appropriate sound for NC audiences.
Aerosmith - Crazy
Asia - Heat of the Moment
Bon Jovi - Livin’ on a Prayer
Bryan Adams - Summer of ’69
Cars - Just What I Needed
David Bowie - Heroes
David Bowie - The Man Who Sold the World
Dire Straits - Sultans of Swing
Duran Duran - Hungry Like the Wolf
George Michael - Faith
Hootie and the Blowfish - I Only Wanna Be with You
Hootie and the Blowfish - Let Her Cry
INXS - Never Tear Us Apart
John Mayer - Gravity
John Mayer - Slow Dancing in a Burning Room
John Mayer - Waiting on the World to Change
Kid Rock - All Summer Long
Modern English - Melt with You
Needtobreathe - Brother
Needtobreathe - Outsiders
Needtobreathe - Something Beautiful
Needtobreathe - Washed by the Water
Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline
Ozzy Osbourne - Mama, I’m Coming Home
Peter Gabriel - In Your Eyes
Queen - Another One Bites the Dust
Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Queen - I Want to Break Free
Queen - Somebody to Love
Queen - We Are the Champions
REM - Losing My Religion
Roy Orbison - I Drove All Night
Roy Orbison - Pretty Woman
Rush - Closer to the Heart
Simple Minds - Don’t You (Forget About Me)
Taylor Swift - Love Story
Taylor Swift - Mean
Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World
Toto - Africa
U2 - Beautiful Day
U2 - I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
U2 - Mysterious Ways
U2 - Running to Stand Still
U2 - Sunday Bloody Sunday
U2 - With or Without You
Van Halen - Right Now
White Snake - Here I Go Again
My live set draws on six decades of music, and that range shows up in who's shaped my sound: the Beatles, Beach Boys, and Temptations from the 60s; Creedence Clearwater Revival, the Allman Brothers, Van Morrison, and Elton John from the 70s; Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Journey, and Queen from the 80s; Goo Goo Dolls, Counting Crows, and Pearl Jam from the 90s; and Coldplay, Kings of Leon, and the Killers from the 2000s and beyond. That range is the point — I can shape a night around whatever era and energy the room actually wants.
Power Outlet and about 6x6 feet worth of space!
Singing Guitarist
