About

biography

It all started for Evan with a riveting performance of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born In The USA” at his school’s Talent Show when he was 6! When he was 11, he played his first official “gig” in the lobby of a local musician’s CD Release Party and that is when he got the ‘performing bug’.

Evan has been playing music live for nearly a decade already and has been writing songs for almost that long. In 2020 he released a vinyl 45 of his song “(If I Was A) Rockstar” which featured well-known Pittsburgh musicians, guitarist Danny Gochnour and keyboardist, Joe Munroe. In 2021 Rotella released a CD of acoustic songs written when he was 12 to 14 years-old, entitled “The Demo Tapes”.

For the last 4 years he’s honed his musical chops playing festivals, theatres, patios, bars, and parties across the Niagara Region. He’s also had the privilege of playing at the iconic Stone Pony in Asbury Park, New Jersey where Bruce Springsteen started his career.

Evan has opened shows for Steven Page (Barenaked Ladies), The Wilderness, Miss Emily, Honeymoon Suite, Wheatus, Stephen Stanley, Willie Nile, Joe Grushecky, Bobby Mahoney & The Seventh Son, Joe D’Urso, Southside Johnny, and the great Steve Earle. He has played with Teenage Head’s Dave Rave, Rick Rose, Bobby Mahoney, Danny Gochnour (Houserockers), and Lowest of the Low’s Stephen Stanley.

In 2023 Evan released his debut album with an all-star line-up entitled “Happy To Be Here” which is a collection of 10 original songs produced by Mark Rogers (LMT Connection) and Myles Rogers (Jin The Band).

In 2024 Evan released his sophomore album, "Last Train Home" a stark, folk inspired album that has received great reviews. His song "Maryanne" has received a Canada Folk award in 2025.

In 2024 was mentioned twice in Billboard Canada, and he completed 2 residencies at Hamilton’s legendary Casbah Lounge, as well as The Cameron House in Toronto with very special Toronto musical guests.

Evan was just awarded the Canada Folk "Colleen Peterson Award" for his song "Maryanne" on his album "Last Train Home"

Evan is currently in the studio with John-Angus Macdonald from Canada's The Trews working on his new album.