David Luning to perform at Vintage

The piano was David Luning’s primary instrument while growing up, and since he usually found himself creating cinematic pieces, it made sense that he’d gravitate toward film scoring when he left his Sonoma County home at began studying at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Those silver screen dreams dissolved, however, the first time some friends invited him over and played an album by John Prine, the folksy singer-songwriter who has created a legion of fans in a career that dates back to the 1970s.

“It just blew my mind,” Luning said. “I realized that’s exactly what I need to do with my life. It resonated like nothing before.”

Luning, who was 21 at the time, honored that epiphany. He dropped out of school, returned home and devoted himself to songwriting.

Was it a tough decision to leave a conservatory that is so hard to get into?

“I don’t know. It was such a clear thing for me. It was what I wanted to do and that made it easier,” Luning, 30, said.

Luning started seeking out open mic nights and worked his way up to larger festival performances. Touring followed a few years later, as did his self-released debut album “Just Drop on By.”  Critics and musicians took notice (Keith Urban noted Luning’s “staunch originality” and booking agents soon had him sharing bills with artists like Jackie Greene, Dave and Phil Alvin and Elvin Bishop.

For his second, and latest, release, “Restless,” Luning sought out producer Karl Derfler (Tom Waits, Dave Matthews) and found the experience to be liberating. “I’d never worked with an outside producer before, so it was nerve-wracking going into the studio with Karl for the first time, but it was just a perfect fit.

“It was like he knew what I wanted in my music before I even did, and he could push my performances where they needed to go and really take my music to another level,” Luning said.

Luning just finished a tour with bassist/harmonica player Ben Dubin that saw the pair visiting 17 states in a month’s time, and he’s eager to get back on the road. He’ll be making a return visit to Vintage Wine Bar & Restaurant on Thursday and said he’s looking forward to it. “The last time we played there, man it was so nice, we said want to go back to Redding.”

What: David Luning in concert

Where: Vintage Wine Bar and Restaurant, 1790 Market St., Redding

When: 7 p.m. Thursday

Tickets: $10; call 229-9449 or visit www.vintageredding.com