Nick Knirk is a versatile and highly accomplished professional guitarist based in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, renowned for his mastery across an array of musical styles, including rock, blues, country, pop, and classical. His true passion lies in jazz and gypsy jazz guitar, where he channels the spirit of Django Reinhardt with dazzling technique, intricate improvisations, and a deep sense of musical storytelling.

A seasoned performer, Nick has captivated audiences at prestigious venues such as The Guitar Sanctuary, The Granada Theater, Trees in Deep Ellum, Choctaw Casino, Winstar Casino, The Ritz-Carlton (Dallas), Union Station (Fort Worth), House of Blues (Dallas), and Arlington Hall.

Nick’s instrumental album, Nick Pickin’ (2014), earned praise from The Dallas Morning News in a January 2014 Guide Live review, describing it as “pleasingly plucky.” The reviewer highlighted the track “Chicken Legs” as “going to the top of the pecking order in the guitarist’s instrumental collection,” concluding that “Knirk is a capable ax man you should get to know.” His discography also includes collaborations like Secret Agent Men (2020), Reprised (2019), and Acoustically Speaking (2019) with Michael Horne; contributions to Michael Hix’s Changes EP (2019) and the Crazy Like Clark single (2018); and earlier work with Waking Norman, including Live at the Granada (2009) and Two Years Gone (2003).

As co-founder, guitarist, and songwriter for Waking Norman (2002–2009), Nick helped build a highly successful original band that grossed over $100,000 annually. The band shared stages with major acts like Blues Traveler, Vertical Horizon, Cross Canadian Ragweed, and Monte Montgomery, and performed for U.S. troops in Alaska and Greenland at the request of the U.S. Department of Defense. A highlight was their music video for “Stuck in a Stare,” co-written by Nick. The video was shot in Ojai Valley, California, and filmed by an HBO Studios crew, featuring the award-winning director of photography from Six Feet Under. In 2014, Nick opened for surf guitar legend Dick Dale while performing with Andy Timmons’ surf band at Trees in Deep Ellum.

In a 2014 International Musician interview, Nick shared advice for aspiring musicians: “Learn about music and music theory… Learn chord charts, lead sheets, rhythms, so you can take those gigs and you don’t have to fake it. And then, get out there and gig. Everybody’s practicing, but you have to be gigging to develop. You need the pressure of the stage to improve. And don’t get hung up on one style. Have an open mind and allow things to inspire you.”

He holds a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies and Guitar Performance from the University of North Texas (1994–1998) and a Master of Music in Theory & Composition from Stephen F. Austin University. His 2025 graduate orchestral thesis, Gypsy Spirit Suite, showcases his composition and orchestration skills for large ensemble.

In the spring of 2026, Knirk plans to release the first audio recording of the Gypsy Spirit Suite. Please contact me for more information, check out my music, and sign up for the mailing list.